Course Title: Plan and conduct a research project in food analysis

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2013

Course Code: ONPS5247

Course Title: Plan and conduct a research project in food analysis

School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5184 - Diploma of Food Science & Technology

Course Contact: Judith McCann

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 8366

Course Contact Email: judith.mccann@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Veluppillai Packiyasothy

Building 51, Level 7, Room 5

Tel NO: 9925 4723

FAX: 9925 4144

veluppillai.packiyasothy@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 25

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

PMLTEST300A - Perform basic tests
PLMTEST405A - Perform food tests
 

Course Description

This unit of competency covers the ability to plan and conduct a research project and submit the findings in a technical presentation. This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to clearly review, plan and conduct research experiment(s) in food analysis. Students will be required to submit a preliminary plan using a proposal draft of their food research project(s), submit written practical reports and a final independent well written and referenced thesis (research assignment). A talk on a student’s research results and findings will also be assessed. Students will be required to undertake the course Perform Food Tests (ONPS5246C) concurrently with this subject. All laboratory food investigations will be conducted in the course Perform Food Tests and the results will be presented in this course.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VBP096 Plan and conduct a research project in food analysis

Element:

1. Plan, organise and conduct a food analysis project

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Food products for research and appropriate analytical methods are selected.

1.2 A project brief is selected.

1.3 Analytical tests are conducted.

1.4 Tests results are evaluated.

1.5 A written research report method based on collection and interpretation of the test data is prepared.
 


Learning Outcomes


Plan, organise and conduct a food analysis project.


Details of Learning Activities

Students will study and develop basic skills in communicating ideas, collecting, planning, analysing and organising information obtained from theory and laboratory sessions in the course Perform Food Tests (ONPS5246C). Problem solving concepts will be explored through a range of food tests and measurements.


Teaching Schedule

 

Week 1
08th July Introduction to the subject
Week 2
15th July Discussion of Research Methods
Week 3
22th July Discussion of Research Methods
Week 4
29th July 13 Discussion of Research Methods

Week 5
5th August Discussion of Research Methods/Research findings & difficulties.

Week 6
12th August  Discussion of Research Methods. Review of how to write a scientific project/ Assignments & correct Referencing.

Week 7
19th August Preparation of research proposal and write up.

Week 8
26thAugust Assignment proposal Submission of Food Technology. Research Project/Assignment proposal.Discussion of Research Methods
Research findings difficulties.
Week 9
2nd September Submission of Practical report 1
Week 10
09th September  Discussion and help with scientific project/assignment/practical reports

Week 11
16th September Discussion and help with scientific project/assignment/practical reports

Week 12
07th October  Submission of Practical report 2
 

Week 13
14th October Discussion and help with scientific project/assignment/practical reports

Week 14
21st October  Discussion and help with scientific project/assignment/practical reports
Week 15

28th November Submission of Project/Assignment/Logbook


Week 16
4th November
Project/ AssignmentTalk


Week 17
11th November
Course Review
Final week for Submission of Written work (Thesis and lab report)


 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Food Analysis(2000) Neilson. S, Suzanne (Editor)
3rd Edition Plenum Publisher Corp. Publisher
ISBN 0-30-647495-6
 


References

Food Chemistry (1996): Fennema R. Owen (Editor).
3rd Edition : Marcel Dekker.Inc. Publisher.
ISBN: 0 - 8247 - 9691 – 8
 

Food and Nutrition (2002) Wahlquist, M.L.,
2nd Edition, Allen and Unwin Pty Ltd. N.S.W Aus.Publisher.
ISBN: 1 - 86508 - 692 – 4
 


Other Resources

Laboratory proforma from previous courses
Internet resources on laboratory methodologies
 


Overview of Assessment

- One proposal submission for Food Technology Assignment/Project
- Two practical reports to be submitted as per the Course schedule
- One written 3000 word Assignment/Project.
- Assignment/Project talk.
-Log Book
 


Assessment Tasks

The following should be presented on the due date as in the above Course Schedule:

- One proposal submission for Food Technology Assignment/Project
- Two practical reports to be submitted as per the Course schedule (These 2 practical reports must not be the same practical reports submitted for assessment in the Course Perform Food Tests).
- One written 3000 word Assignment/Project.
- Assignment/Project talk.
-Log Book

Marking scheme – The following is towards a students final grade mark for this course:

Task 1 -Proposal submission for Food Technology Assignment/Project -20%
Task 2 -2 practical reports - 20%
Task 3 - One written 3000 word Assignment/Project.- 30%
Task 4 - Assignment/Project talk-15%
Task 5 - Log Book -15%
There will be NO resits or resubmits for any of the above and valid special consideration requests will be considered as per RMIT policy.

In summary the course is assessed using the following Assessment table:

Assessment Tasks % of Total
Task 1 - Proposal submission 20
Task 2 - 2 submitted laboratory reports 20
Task 3 - 3000 written word assignment 30
Task 4 - Short talk on a students chosen topic 15
Task 5 - Log Book 15

TOTAL
100
 


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

The 30 hours allowed for this are allocated as follows:

Class Theory 5 hours

Practical and lab work 18 hours

Research Task 5 hours

Test/Presentation 2 hours

Course Overview: Access Course Overview