Course Coordinator:David McKay (dmckay@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton BayUniSC Fraser Coast |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
In this course, you'll explore life on Earth, focusing on cellular structures and functions, guided by the core principles of cell theory, evolution, and the laws of matter and energy. Discover life's diversity, from common animals and plants to rock and petrol eating bacteria. Explore how cells interact with their environment and their impact on the world. Gain a deeper appreciation for cellular inter-connectedness and its role in building a resilient planet. Additionally, you will develop laboratory skills typical of professional scientists.
Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
Blended learning | |||
Learning materials – Learning Materials are available online and delivered asynchronously. Learning Materials consist primarily of formative quizzes and screen-casts. Other available materials include simulations and on-line demonstrations. | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Tutorials/workshops are delivered face-to-face on-campus and consist of focus questions and group work. | 2hrs | Week 1 | 7 times |
Laboratory 1 – Laboratory work is conducted face-to-face on-campus. Each practical session is thematically linked to theoretical material. Students are expected to work in teams during practical sessions. | 3hrs | Week 1 | 7 times |
Seminar – Delivered in Weeks 1, 5 & 13 | 1hr | Week 1 | 3 times |
100 Level (Introductory)
12 units
Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | |
1 | Summarise and discuss the fundamental processes and themes involved in cellular function and apply these to explain cellular phenomena. |
Knowledgeable Engaged |
2 | Compare and contrast the cellular functions of different organisms using their evolutionary connections and explain the relationship between cellular function and ecological interactions and inter-dependencies. |
Knowledgeable Engaged Sustainability-focussed |
3 | Demonstrate proficiency in experimental techniques while working safely to collect and analyse data and effectively communicate experimental outcomes. |
Knowledgeable Engaged |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Standard Grading (GRD)
High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Early and continuing feedback on your progress in the course is provided using each module's self-assessment questions, as well as in the laboratory quizzes.
Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
All | 1 | Portfolio | Individual | 35% | You maintain a notebook as you work through each practical.Each of the 7 laboratory quizzes are 10 minutes long. |
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) | In Class |
All | 2 | Written Piece | Individual | 25% | 500-1000 words |
Week 12 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 40% | 2 hours |
Exam Period | Online Submission |
All - Assessment Task 1:Laboratory Portfolio | ||||||||||||||||
Goal: | To learn how to conduct experiments safely, work as a member of a group, accurately follow instructions, proficiently handle equipment, effectively communicate results, and relate results to underlying theoretical concepts. |
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Product: | Portfolio | |||||||||||||||
Format: | For each of the 7 practical sessions, you are to maintain a laboratory notebook. Upon each practical's satisfactory completion, as evidenced by the notebook, a quiz will follow that is based on underlying theoretical concepts. |
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Criteria: |
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Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Applying technologies |
All - Assessment Task 2:Literature Assignment | |||||||||||||
Goal: | To enhance your proficiency in deciphering complex scientific terminology from pertinent papers on cell diversity. This task aims to foster your capability to extract detailed information presented in expert language and contextualise it, showcasing overarching concepts in cell diversity. |
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Product: | Written Piece | ||||||||||||
Format: | Written interpretive piece based on a scientific paper in the area of cell diversity. |
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Criteria: |
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Generic Skills: | Communication, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
All - Assessment Task 3:Final Examination | |||||||||||||
Goal: | To demonstrate your understanding of cellular mechanisms, articulate core themes, apply this knowledge in varied contexts, and link cellular functions to evolutionary and ecological relationships. |
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Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | ||||||||||||
Format: | Multiple choice, short and extended answer exam. |
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Criteria: |
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Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving |
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.
Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
Required | Mary Ann Clark, Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi | 0 | Biology | 2e | n/a |
Laboratory coat, safety glasses, closed in footwear in laboratories.
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty
UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.
The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.
For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.
If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.
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To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.
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To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.
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