Subject Specific
The information will be delivered using lectures and demonstrations. Worksheets will be used to engage students in an active role in the learning process. Problem solving activities will be used to consolidate learning. The active learning is continued in the practical sessions where investigative procedures will be discussed, planned and carried out by the students.
Formative learning will be aided by assignments and class tests. Summative learning will be assessed by an end of term module test and assessment of coursework and classwork assignments.
The lecture and laboratory classes will be for 48 hours. There will be 4 hours of class contact per week , which will comprise a combination of laboratory work and theoretical work.
The remainder of the time for independent study will be taken up with assignment work, library investigation and report writing.

Study Skills
When the Science Foundation Year is viewed as a whole, there are 72 hours of class contact and 96 hours of independent study (guided reading, tutorial tasks etc.) that are dedicated to study skills. All modules will have an equal share of this time. The 72 hours of class contact will be spread evenly throughout the teaching year and will be split between tutorials (48 hours) and IT workshops (24 hours). The tutorial programme will be designed to emphasise and develop independent study, whilst delivering the study skills indicative content outlined above. The dedicated IT workshops are to familiarise the students with the use of the common computer packages, indicated above, within a scientific context. The overall ethos will be one of encouraging active rather than passive learning.

Mike Boyle & Kathryn Senior, Biology, Collins Advanced Science (2008) ISBN 978-0-00-726745-3
Indge.B, Rowland. M, Baker. M. A new introduction to Biology Hodder & Stoughton (2000) ISBN 0-340-78167
Fullick A Biology Heinemann 2nd edition (2000) ISBN 0-435-57095 1
Mary Jones, AS/A Level Biology, Cambridge international, (2007) ISBN 9780521703062

An EXAM length 1.5 HOURS weighted at 60%. An ESSAY length 1000 WORDS weighted at 24%. And a Study skills portfolio (16%)

An end of module test (60%) to test outcomes (i) to (iv)
The duration of the examination will be 1 1/2 hours.

Coursework, totalling 24%, made up of:
a 1000 word written assignment (or equivalent) will be used to assess learning outcome (iii),
and,
continuous assessment to test practical components (outcome (iv) )

A study skills portfolio will be used to assess learning outcome V (please see additional assessment information)

Additional Assessment Information:
Students will be required to complete 2 pieces of summative assessment, namely coursework and an end of module examination. These will be used to assess both mastery of the subject of each module and the attainment of study skills. Both elements will be used to assess the former of these (these elements will, respectively, be given weightings of 40 % and 60%), whilst study skills will be wholly assessed via the coursework element. In each case, the nature of the coursework will be chosen to develop one or more facets of study skills, such as report writing, essay writing, oral presentation, problem solving, use of IT, teamwork and information retrieval. A tutor will be assigned to monitor and coordinate study skills provision across the modules, thereby ensuring that each student has the opportunity to attain and be assessed in each of the study skills learning outcomes. By the end of each teaching block, each students overall performance across all 7 of the study skills outcomes will have been assessed. For each student the mark attained will then form 40% of the coursework mark for each module. By this means, the study skills element of each module is given a weighting of 16% of the available marks (i.e. 0.4 x 40) .

Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback via:
Continuous informal feedback in class and mid-module tests

Study Skills -
An ability to:
1. Think critically and examine practical problems from the scientific perspective. SS1, SS2, K&U, L, An, PS, Ap.
2. Collect, interpret and report results in a variety of media. SS1, SS2, K&U, L, E, An, PS, C, Ap.
3. Work individually and as a team member in the solving of problems. SS1, L, E, An, PS, Ap.
4. Show a basic working ability with a range of PC and IT based software. SS1, C.
5. Display a basic understanding of the fundamental basis of scientific endeavour. SS1, SS2, K&U, L, An, PS, Ap.
6. Undertake self-appraisal of learning achievements and understand the need for and value of a reflective approach to intellectual and personal development and thereby have begun to develop a sense of awareness and a degree of responsibility for their own learning. SS1, L, R.
7. Display familiarity and competence in the use of basic 'study skills'. SS1, C.

Note that these study skills learning outcomes are common to all of the modules of the Science Foundation Year. Also, note that the letter codes following the individual learning outcomes refer to the learning outcomes for the Science Foundation Year as a whole. For details, see Table 1 of the Science Foundation Year Programme Specification.

Subject Specific
The first module will undertake to provide the introduction of the core concepts in Biology. To this end, the physical and chemical processes in biology will be studied. The study will involve investigation of diffusion, osmosis and active transport. The significance of the biological membrane will be appreciated. The study of biological molecules will include the importance of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells will be compared. The importance of energy in living systems will be reviewed. The factors affecting enzyme activity will be introduced and practical investigative procedures will be carried out.

Meet the admissions requirements of the Science Foundation Year