Course Title: Conduct simple activities in a biological science laboratory
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2011
Course Code: BIOL5098
Course Title: Conduct simple activities in a biological science laboratory
School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences
Campus: City Campus
Program: C3209 - Certificate III in Science
Course Contact: Nevil Schultz
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4221
Course Contact Email: nevil.schultz@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Not Applicable
Nominal Hours: 10
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
This course will be run in conjunction with Cell Biology BIOL 5099
Course Description
This unit covers the skills required to conduct simple activities in a biological science laboratory. It involves performing basic microscopy tasks, including specimen preparation, staining and scientific sketching.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VPAU075 Conduct simple activities in a biological science laboratory |
Element: |
Operate monocular and stereo microscopes |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Perform basic cleaning and general maintenance of monocular and stereo microscopes 1.2 Obtain focussed images of slide specimens
|
Element: |
Prepare and stain plant and animal tissue specimens for microscopic examination |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Prepare wet & dry mount slides of biological material suitable for microscopic examination as demonstrated 2.2 Prepare unstained and stained wet mount slides of biological material suitable for microscopic examination as demostrated |
Element: |
Produce scientific diagrams of slide specimens |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Obtain focussed images of professionally prepared slide specimen 3.2 Accurately sketch biological material being viewed under the microscope |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
Use of Binocular microscopes, and operation of all settings such as objective lens selection, contrast adjustment, Coarse & Fine focus control, illumination selection.
Plant Tissue Preparation for microscope slide observation. Wet mount and squash preparation techniques used.
Tissue Staining Techniques demonstration and student practical work employing staining
Safety procedure demonstration for microscope handling & tissue preparation.
Scientific sketching of images observed through the microscopes, using freshly prepared and pre-prepared slides.
Teaching Schedule
Date | Topic | Assessment |
7 Feb 2011 | Cell Theory | |
14 Feb | Eukaryotic Cells Under the Microscope | |
21 Feb | Microscope Practical part I | |
28 Feb | Microscope Practical part II | Skill Test |
21 March | Drafting of microscope report | |
28 March | Hand in Practical Report | |
4 April | Feedback on Practical Work |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
The First Basics on How to use a Microscope: http://www.microscope-microscope.org/basic/how-to-use-a-microscope.htm
Overview of Assessment
This course is competency based and students will be assessed as competent in the above learning outcomes with:
verbal & written questions on microscope terms, correct handling & use
• practical demonstration by the student of wet mount & squash preparations of plant material
• practical demonstration by the student of microscope techniques
• research assignment on cell images
• a laboratory report
Students must be assessed as competent in all assessment tasks to receive a COMPETENT result (A pass) in this course.
Assessment Tasks
This Competency is assessed such that the final result will CA, competent or NYC, Not yet competent
Task 1
Microscope skills test CA/NYC
Task 2
Practical report CA/NYC
Assessment Matrix
Other Information
Nominal Hours: 10
2 practical session @ 2 hours each = 4 hours
4 theory classes with one hour devoted to microscope theory & practice = 4 hours
2 hours report preparation time = 2 hours
Course Overview: Access Course Overview