COMM06057 2019 COMMUNICATION FOR SCIENTISTS
This module aims to develop the learner's written and oral communications skills to effectively encode a technical message to a technical and non-technical audience.
On completion of this module the learner will/should be able to;
Deliver effective oral presentations on Scientific topics.
Visually Represent Scientific Data in a manner that facilitates ease of communication.
Paraphrase and Summarise written scientific information, reference sources and write a bibliography.
Use appropriate software to format, structure and publish short scientific report according to established conventions.
Assess own communications skills and develop a personal development plan.
Teaching and Learning Strategies
This module will be delivered full time. This will include lectures in a blended learning environment, augmented by experience and reflection, and independent learning and directed learning. This approach is expected to address student learning needs. Moodle may be used as a repository of educational resources and as a means of assessment (e.g. quizzes, uploading assignments and journals). Teamwork / Group Activities/ Group Discussions are a feature of the module. This practical module requires a 75% minimum attendance.
Module Assessment Strategies
Module will be assessed by Continuous assessment (100%)
1. Written Assessment (30%)
Individual mark: Present a series of short written pieces (essays; lab reports)
2. Group Presentation (30%)
In small groups (2 or 3 people per group) deliver a presentation. Individual Mark for Delivery Skills and Group Mark awarded for Slides content & structure.
3. Personal Learning Journal
- Demonstrate effective reflective learning skills
- Learners will be encouraged to read and reflect on current issues that relate to their course and to a scientist., and to be involved in group discussions that may be facilitated by the students themselves.
- Learners will be encouraged to demonstrate knowledge about communications models and key communications skills that relate to presenting and writing information to a technical and non-technical audience.
- Short quizzes such as multiple choice questions(MCQ) or short answer questions may be a feature of the learning journal..
Students must repeat attend, if attendance requirement not met.
If students have met the attendance requirement and still have not achieved a Pass mark (40%), they can complete a repeat assessment.
Professional Delivery Skills;
Explaining, Informing, Demonstrating
Visual Communication and Data Representation;
Laboratory report - (Pre-reading. Setting up Lines of Enquiry. Seeking information to complete gaps in knowledge. Develop Discussions.)
Referencing (Paraphrasing, Summarising, Quoting).
Produce meaningful, clear and concise sentences and paragraphs.
Scientific values demonstrated in the written word.
Coursework & Assessment Breakdown
|Title||Type||Form||Percent||Week||Learning Outcomes Assessed|
|1||Individual in class communication tasks||Formative||Assessment||- %||OnGoing||1,2,5|
|2||Communications portfolio/journal /workshop||Continuous Assessment||Individual Project||40 %||OnGoing||5|
|3||Short written pieces (essays, lab report components)||Continuous Assessment||Individual Project||30 %||OnGoing||2,3,4|
|4||Presentation - Slides & Delivery||Continuous Assessment||Oral Exam||30 %||Week 13||1,2|
Full Time Mode Workload
|Problem Based Learning||Problem Based Learning Room||Practical workshops max 16 students per group||2||Weekly||2.00|
|Independent Learning||Not Specified||Self Study||5||Weekly||5.00|
Glasman-Deal, H. (2010) Science Research Writing – For Non-Native Speakers of English, Imperial College Press, London
Langford, A. (2019) Practical skills in forensic science. Pearson Education
Lobban, C.S. & Schefter, M. (2002) Successful Lab Reports: A Manual for Science Students, Cambridge University Press.
Matthews, J. R. and Matthews, R. W. (2014) Successful scientific writing : a step-by-step guide for the biological and medical sciences. Cambridge University Press
Nelson-Jones, R. (2004), Effective thinking skills : preventing and managing personal problems, Sage Publications, London
Summers, J. (2004) Communication skills handbook : how to succeed in written and oral communication, Wiley & Sons, Australia
See Moodle learning environment
See Moodle learning environment