AP0406 - Practical Skills

On this module you will learn through a combination of tutorials, laboratory classes, workshops and independent learning. Tutorials will give you an opportunity to meet and engage with your tutors to allow for effective and continual feedback to be obtained. A combination of classic laboratory classes and workshops will provide you an understanding of both how to generate data through experimentation, how to use the data effectively through data analysis and presentation and how to relate and use scientific literature.

At the outset of this module you will be assigned a guidance tutor who will meet with you to discuss your progress through this module. Each week you will be taught by an academic member of staff and they will guide you through the associated material and provide continual formative feedback in session and on assessed work.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. You will be expected to be able to carry out basic laboratory procedures with due regard for Health &
Safety regulations.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

2. You will be expected to be able to retrieve, summarise, interpret and report data from multiple sources.

3. You will be expected to understand the requirement for clear and effective communication using a range of different formats.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

The assessment for this module will be split into 2 parts. The first part (50%) will be divided into 2 further parts of equal weighting (25% each) and will form an assessment of online tests and a themed poster presentation. This mode allows for on-going feedback and assessment of practical competency in all key skills.
The second part of the assessment (50%) will take the form of a practical exam which will assess practical competencies in laboratory techniques.

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Practical skills is a primary module taken by undergraduate Applied Sciences students. It offers key laboratory and transferable skills providing essential knowledge to enable responsible and efficient laboratory working. The module provides an optimum grounding in skills required for subsequent modules. The module will provide students with the knowledge and confidence to undertake laboratory and literature enquiry based learning through guided activities and continued tutor support, assessment and feedback. Assessment will be varied, utilising a combination of traditional workbooks, online assessments and examinations with an equal focus on the assessment of technical laboratory skills and analysis skills. The transferable nature of the skills taught means this module will be of benefit to any future career path requiring either laboratory or enquiry based analysis.