SLE205 - Vertebrate Structure and Function

Unit details

Year:

2024 unit information

Enrolment modes:Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Previously coded as:SBB205
Unit Chair:Trimester 2: Anneke Veenstra
Prerequisite:

SLE132

Corequisite:

SLE010

Incompatible with: Nil
Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment:

2 x 1 hour lectures per week, 6 x 3 hour practical experience (laboratory) per trimester.

Content

This unit is designed to enable students to: gain an understanding of the major anatomical and functional developments throughout vertebrate evolution and their influence on the life history characteristics, ecology and diversity of this animal group; further develop skills in analysing, interpreting and critically evaluating scientific data; and gain experience in communicating scientific reports and making an oral presentation.

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1 Develop an appreciation of the range and diversity of vertebrate animals enabling students to categorize vertebrates based on their form and function.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO6: Self-management

ULO2

Attain an insight into the evolutionary history and relationships of the vertebrate groups enabling students to interpret and deduce the reasons for the success of some vertebrate animals over others. GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO3

Develop an understanding of the anatomy and functional organisation of the vertebrate body enabling them to compare and contrast various adaptations thereby inferring reasons for a particular animals evolutionary success. GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1
Oral presentation
10-minute collaborative presentation 25% Week 8
Assessment 2
Practical test
In-class test 35% Week 9
Assessment 3
Online quizzes
Five online quizzes (after each practical) 10% (5 x 2%) Week 11
Assessment 4
End-of-Trimester test
50-minute in class written test 30% Week 11

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

Prescribed text(s): Hildebrand & Goslow, 2001, Analysis of Vertebrate Structure, 5th edition, John Wiley.

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: SLE205 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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