Lecture rooms and small group teaching rooms appropriately equipped
Bookable rooms for one-to-one sessions with supervisor
Library access on and off campus
IT facilities and access to key resources via the internet
Networked PCs in bookable room

Critical thinkers demonstrate many key skills that we wish to develop within this module. They are able to recognise problems and to find ways of solving problems, they can gather and collate relevant information, they ask pertinent questions and recognise assumptions and unstated values, they are able to understand and use language with discernment, clarity and accuracy. Appraisal of evidence, data and arguments feature highly in critical thinkers as does the ability to recognise logical relationships and fallacies. Testing conclusions and generalisations, arriving at conclusions or judgements, reconstructing one's own concept maps and beliefs on the basis of experience, providing accurate judgements about specific things. In short, many valuable skills and attributes can be encompassed within the practitioner that is adept at critical thinking.
In this module you will have the opportunity to develop, through synoptic broad ranging activities, many of the skills and attributes of the critical thinker.
Beginning with an introduction to critical thinking and discipline paradigms within the Biosciences, the module will consider debate, discourse and disagreement within science through real life examples. These will be examined within an ethical context, considering differing ethical viewpoints and thinking.
Cutting edge topics in Bioscience research, including some controversial issues will be presented in a series of 'academic perspectives' sessions delivered by your award tutors and followed by structured discussion and debate. Specialist external speakers, from a range of backgrounds, will also contribute to the delivery of the module through these perspective lectures and workshops. The module will include workshop sessions which are student focused.
The module explores in overview, the role of Bioscience in the global economy and in knowledge industries and specifically the importance of graduates to this growing global scientific community.

Written assignment 100% max 4000 words (Learning Outcomes 1 - 4)
Students will develop the title and plan for the written assignment by negotiation with the tutors. The topic must relate to their award and be approved by the module co-ordinator together with a supervising tutor.

Additional Assessment Details (including formative feedback / assessment:

Formative feedback will be available on the written assignment plan. Workshops sessions are devised to enable students to receive formative feedback in addition to engaging in the activities. Specific criteria will be available in the module handbook at the start of the module.

Contact Hours

14 hours (7 x 2) of Perspectives lectures / workshop sessions given by academic staff either individually or in teams and/or external contributors and related to your award. Please note that awards will be grouped into two main themes; Biomedical & related and Biological Science awards.

10 hours (5 x 2) of workshops covering the module introduction, critical thinking, ethics, discipline case studies and paradigms, debate , discourse and disagreement in science, improving your writing skills for more challenging assignments and other similar topics.

Independent study hours

126 hours comprising:
Reading, researching literature and following up references, thinking 50 hours
Preparation for and summary review of workshop sessions 40 hours
Drafting, editing, reviewing and writing assignment 36 hours

Due to the diverse and topical nature of this module, students will be provided with a guide to resources on Blackboard at the start of the module.