Biological Concepts (11722.1)

Required texts

There are no required texts for this unit. However, you may want to purchase our custom text: Biological Concepts 11722 (2022), Pearson Publishing. 

This may be purchased online as an e-text, or a print version. There are copies of this text, and copies of the parent book: Campbell Biology 11th edition by Urry et al, 2018, in the University of Canberra library.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

All assessment items are to be submitted electronically via the unit Canvas site, unless explicitly stated.

Special assessment requirements

1. A total mark of at least 50% must be achieved as a requirement to pass the unit. Your participation in both class and online activities will enhance your understanding of the unit content and therefore the quality of your assessment responses. Lack of participation may result in your inability to meet learning outcomes and satisfactorily pass assessment items. Participation in the face-to-face classes will enable students to achieve the learning outcomes of this unit. 

2. It is required that students participate in practical sessions in order to attain required practical skills and meet Learning Outcomes (LO) 2 and 3:

LO 2. Apply knowledge of biological concepts to predict and explain observations of the natural world; and
LO 3. Apply knowledge and skills of the scientific process to collect, record, analyse and interpret biological data from a range of sources.

The required laboratory skills are laboratory safety, use of microscope, correct waste procedures, scientific drawing, preparation of slides, pipetting, interpretation and collection of data, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), traditional uses of plants and animals, chromatography, and patterns of inheritance. To demonstrate achievement of the required number of skills, students are required to participate in at least 75% of the face-to-face practical sessions (6 out of 8 on-campus practical sessions). Participation involves attending and completing the required tasks during the practical session. Participation and completion all of activities will be recorded in the student's laboratory manual or laboratory passport at the end of each practical session.

If you are unable to attend your allocated workshop or practical session, please contact the unit convener to arrange attendance at another session. A medical certificate, or other supporting documentation, is required when a student is unable to participate in a practical session in any given week. 

The unit convener reserves the right to question students on any of their submitted work for moderation and academic integrity purposes.

The use of GenAI in assessments

In this unit, unless explicitly stated for a specific assessment, the use of GenAI is not permitted when writing assessments. Minor editing assistance provided by authoring tools which correct spelling and suggest improvements in grammar (for example, Microsoft Word) is permitted. However, the use of text generated by GenAI tools, or substantial redrafting of paragraphs by GenAI tools is not permitted. For more information on the use of GenAI tools, please refer to the information on the UC Library site.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

In this unit, students are required to participate in 16 on-campus contact hours (16 hours of practical sessions).  It is expected that students will also attend 24 hours of workshops during the semester. The remaining 110 hours are devoted to private and group study to prepare for, and complete, quizzes and assessments and to develop a good depth of understanding of the content delivered in this unit. This includes viewing a weekly recorded lecture. There are also PALS sessions (it is strongly recommended that students attend these).

Inclusion and engagement

Students are encouraged to contact the Wellbeing team if they would like extra support in order to thrive at UC. 

For support in this unit, please contact the convener at any time on katie.cohen@canberra.edu.au

Participation requirements

In order to meet the learning outcomes (particularly LO 3), students are required to attain the laboratory skills taught in this unit. These laboratory skills are laboratory safety, use of microscope, correct waste procedures, scientific drawing, preparation of slides, pipetting, interpretation and collection of data, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), traditional uses of plants and animals, chromatography, and patterns of inheritance. To demonstrate achievement of the required number of skills, students are required to participate in at least 75% of the face-to-face practical sessions (6 out of 8 on-campus practical sessions). Participation involves attending and completing the required tasks during the practical session.  At the end of each session, the demonstrators will sign the Biological Concepts Laboratory passport.

If you are unable to attend your allocated workshop or practical session, please contact the unit convener to arrange attendance at another session. A medical certificate, or other supporting documentation, is required when a student is unable to participate in a practical session in any given week. 

Required IT skills

It is assumed that students have skills in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

In-unit costs

A laboratory coat and a botany exercise book (with alternating ruled and blank pages) are to be purchased for this unit. These items can be purchased from the UC Shop.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

The practical classes in this unit are held in a biological laboratory. Safety standards are strictly followed in this environment, and all students are expected to read the safety instructions found in the practical and workshop manual prior to entry into the laboratory for the first time.

• Semester 1, 2025, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (224967)
• Semester 2, 2024, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (219500)
• Semester 1, 2024, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (217149)
• Semester 2, 2023, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (214955)
• Semester 1, 2023, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (213320)
• Semester 2, 2022, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (209095)
• Semester 1, 2022, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (209094)