This module aims to provide timely, accurate and up-to-date advice, instruction and support in matters of medical importance pertaining to parasitology, entomology and the management of insect vectors of human diseases. Training will take place as a period of block study lasting 5 days at the Defence Medical Services (Whittington) Lichfield, Staffordshire. The advice and identification service which you will have access to is based in the Biological & Biomedical Department of Staffordshire University.

You are expected to be independent self-learners and work beyond the contact time. For example you should aim to:
1) use the invertebrate collections in the local Museums
2) make your own links with local specialists and local/national organisations
3) make voucher collections from the field based on your specialist interest.

The specialists staff available to you as part of the delivery team are willing to become mentors to help you improve your field-craft and invertebrate identification. The depth and scope of the module assignments mixes identification skills with background theory .

Assessment Strategies: The assessment includes both formative and summative components
• Summative components: Comprising of a 2-hour unseen exam (to assess learning outcomes 1 and 2 and worth 50% of the overall module mark) and a series of four, 1hour, identification skills tests (to assess learning outcome 3 and each worth 12.5% of the overall mark). These will all take place in an assessment day at the end of the block delivery
• Formative Components: The summative work will be supported by formative, ‘at the point of delivery’, guidance and via Email contact with the tutors and access to the Faculty VLE discussion board for this module. In the lead up to the face-to-face delivery background information and formative tasks will be made available via the VLE so that the students arrive prepared for the delivery (this will make up the bulk of the self-directed study).

Timetable for contact and independent study
36 hours of contact time comprising of lectures and workshops over 5 days
114 hours of self-managed time in order to develop identification skills and explore the theoretical background of the topics presented
Brief Guide to time management
For each hour of face to face contact you should have 3 to 4 hours of self-directed study. As a rough guide self-directed study should involve
• Reading the presentations and making notes from reference sources before attending the workshops and lectures
• Reviewing and reflecting on the delivery, making additional notes post the session (i.e. re-read reference notes).
• Researching and making notes on issues that arise, extending your learning and preparing assessment materials.

• Ruppert, E.; Fox, R.S. & Barnes, R.D. (2004) Invertebrate Zoology: A Functional Evolutionary Approach 7th Ed. Brooks Cole, Florence KY
• Various taxonomic keys linked to Groups being studied. AIDGAP keys are highly recommended but there may be others that are mentioned during the sessions

Internet enabled PC and Blackboard registration

MoD funding.

1) Explain and discuss how a knowledge and understanding of insects and other invertebrates can be used to help identify invertebrates deleterious to human health.
(KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING)

2) Evaluate the impact that various abiotic and biotic factors have on the life cycle of the invertebrates deleterious to human health.
(ANALYSIS, ENQUIRY, LEARNING)

3) Identify relevant invertebrates deleterious to human health to family level, and know when to consider asking for specialist help.
(ANALYSIS, ENQUIRY)