CENTRE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING - SCIENCE

Level 1

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

Notes

(i) Assistive technologies may be required for any student who is unable to use a standard keyboard/mouse/computer monitor. Any students wishing to discuss this further should contact the School Disability Co-ordinator.

This course may NOT be included in a graduating curriculum with KL 107S or TS 1001/TS 1002.

Overview

Computing: an introduction to the use of computer systems, including word processing and spreadsheet software.

Maths: Introduction to 5 important topics in elementary Maths: numbers and their significance; handling formulae; graphing and plotting; modelling; and statistics.

Physics: foundational knowledge of some fundamental concepts in Physics, including motion and forces, electrical conduction and optics.

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through webCT. The two hours of practicals and tutorials will be delivered through an intensive practical weekend.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One 1.5 hour multiple-choice examination (60%); continuous assessments (40%): information technology in-class practical test (10%), mathematics test (10%), physics lab (10%), poster (10%).

Resit: One 1.5 hour multiple-choice examination (60%); continuous assessments mark carried forwards (40%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback

KL 107R - ESSENTIALS OF CHEMISTRY

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

Notes

Appropriate maths courses are recommended. The workshops for this course will be particularly suitable for life science students.

Overview

This course is intended to provide a grounding in the foundations of chemical science, with emphasis on the applications of chemistry in the life sciences. The course assumes no prior knowledge and includes a description of the basic concepts and language of chemistry, introduction to quantitative chemical calculations, atomic structure, the periodic table, and chemical bonding. The section on organic chemistry describes structural and stereochemical aspects and simple functional groups, and the section on physical chemistry includes study of the gas laws, heats of reaction and the energetics of chemical processes.

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through webCT. Students will be provided with recordings of the two one-hour lectures a week and the 6, three hour practicals will be delivered through an intensive practical weekend.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One two-hour written examination (50%), continuous assessment (30%) and lab work (20%).

Resit: One two-hour written examination (50%), carried over continuous assessment (30%) and lab work (20%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback

KL 107S - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

Notes

(i) Assistive technologies may be required for any student who is unable to use a standard keyboard/mouse/computer monitor. Any students wishing to discuss this further should contact the School Disability Co-ordinator.

(ii) Students should not take this course if they are currently registered for, or have already obtained credit points in Tools for Science, LS1513 or KL 107F.

Overview

As well as basic concepts it will introduce the more advanced concepts associated with long documents such as section breaks, table of contents and index. It will also introduce the concept of macros and if statements and construction of graphs using spreadsheets.

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through webCT. Students will be provided with recordings of the 1 hour lecture which takes place for the first 4 weeks. The 1 two-hour practical a week is delivered through the webCT medium.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One 1.5 hour multiple-choice examination (25%) and three practical in-class tests (25% each).

Resit: Candidates only resit those components which they have failed (CAS <9) at first attempt. Multiple-choice examination (25%) at resis is 1.5 hour; practical assessments are 45 minutes each.

Formative Assessment

Feedback

KL 107V - FOUNDATIONS OF COMPUTING SCIENCE

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

Notes

Overview

Topics will include: Introduction to Programming: Object creation and interaction; Class definitions; Simple data types; Strings; Method structure; Control structures; Structured program design; Scoping; Expressions: arithmetic, conditional, string; Internal and external method calls; Sets; Boolean algebra; Propositional logic and truth tables.

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through webCT. Students will be provided with recordings of the 2, one hour lectures a week. The 1, one hour tutorial and 1, two hour practical a week are delivered through the webCT medium.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour multiple-choice examination (50%), practical examination (30%) and continuous assessment (20%). Continuous assessment is a practical programming task.

Resit: 50% from a new practical examination; 50% new multiple-choice examination.

Formative Assessment

Feedback

KL 107X / KL 157X - PORTRAIT OF A PLANET

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Notes

The nature of the method of delivery of this course and the field trip and practical work may lead to difficulties for students with some disabilities however all possible alternatives will be investigated. Students with disabilities are highly recommended to seek a meeting with the School Disability Coordinator to discuss this further.

This course may NOT be included in a graduating curriculum with GL 1005 and GL 1505.

Overview

The rocks, of which the rigid, outer shell of the Earth is made, are themselves composed of a range of different minerals. Igneous rocks, which crystallise from rock melts (magma), contain minerals that reflect the processes operating within and at the margins of the plates that form the rigid shell. Metamorphic rocks are formed in response to the forces associated with the movement of the plates and/or to changes in temperatures. The weathering and erosion of pre-existing rock formations and the transport and deposition of this debris by ice, wind, water and gravity form most sedimentary rocks. However, some sedimentary rocks are mainly of biological or chemical origin (e.g. chalk, rock salt). The composition of, and the mineral associations in rocks are therefore directly related to the processes that formed them. The identification and classification of rocks is therefore a crucial skill in studies relating to the evolution of the Earth.

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through WebCT, with an intensive practical weekend.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One 1½-hour written examination (60%) and continuous assessent (40%).

Resit: One 1½-hour written examination (100%).

Formative Assessment

A one day comprehensive fieldtrip and one day intensive laboratory practical are used to assess the knowledge the students have gained thus far on the course.

Feedback

Feedback will be given orally on the day.

KL 107Y - GLOBAL WORLDS, GLOBAL CHALLENGES

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

Notes

This course may NOT be included in a graduating curriculum with GG 1005, GG 1006 or GC 1001.

Overview

Related study blocks will address:

• How the planet works? The interdependence of natural and human systems: interaction of atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, world cultures, economic and political systems.

• Global environmental change. Atmosphere and oceans. The relationships between land cover and land use, population, and development. Political, economic and ethical consequences.

• Resources, development and environmental degradation. Natural resources as the foundation of prosperity and human well-being. Agricultural and industrial development, social and environmental justice.

• Energy. The science, technology, politics and economics of fossil fuels and alternative energy sources.

• Globalisation, society and lifestyles. What are the impacts of global economic and technological change? What is sustainable development and is it achievable?

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through WebCT. Students will be provided with recordings of the two, one-hour lectures a week and the workshops will be delivered through a mixture of WebCT and an intensive practical day.

Assessment

1st Attempt:

• For students who complete the coursework to a satisfactory standard: coursework, 100%. These students will obtain exemption from the degree exam, and their coursework mark will provide the overall course CAS mark.

• For students who do not obtain exemption from the degree exam: coursework, 50% plus exam, 50%.

Resit: Original coursework carried forward, 50%, plus exam, 50%.

Formative Assessment

Feedback

KL 157I - ASTRONOMY AND METEOROLOGY

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

TS 1002, KL 107S or equivalent.

Overview

A course of general interest providing an introduction to Astronomy. There will be an emphasis on the current knowledge of the solar system but the course will also look at astronomy on a larger scale. Whilst the meterology component will discuss the atmosphere and how its dynamics are driven by the sun, special interest issues such as ozone depletion, climate change and El Nino will be highlighted.

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through webCT. Students will be provided with recordings of the three one-hour lectures a week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two hour multiple choice exam (75%), in-course assessment (25%).

Resit: 1 two hour multiple choice exam (75%), in-course assessment (25%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback

KL 157M - CHEMISTRY 1B: APPLICATIONS

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

Pass in CM 1015 or CM 1016 or KL 107S. Chemical Engineers can enter without CM 1015 or CM 1016 although this is not recommended.

Co-requisites

As specified in the University Calendar for certain degree programs, otherwise none.

Notes

Overview

This course develops the foundations of chemical science, with emphasis on the applications of chemistry in the "real world". The course includes a development of chemical bonding theory as applied to multi-atom molecules, and an introduction to entropy, free energy and chemical equilibria. The properties of solutions (phase equilibria) are discussed and elementary mechanistic organic chemistry is introduced. The Lab component provides appropriate experiments to reinforce the materials learned in the lectures.

Structure

Assessment

Formative Assessment

Feedback

KL 157O - WEB TECHNOLOGY

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

Familiarity with the Windows environment.

Co-requisites

As specified in the University Calendar for certain degree programs, otherwise none.

Notes

Overview

The design of Web sites is discussed and students are given opportunities to critique existing Web sites and design their own sites. The course will cover the following technologies: XHTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through webCT. Students will be provided with recordings of the 2, one hour lectures a week. The 1 two-hour practical a week is delivered through the webCT medium.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One 1.5 hour multiple-choice examination (25%) and two practical examinations (45% and 30% respectively).

Resit: Candidates only resit those components (multiple-choice examination, practical examinations) which they failed at first attempt. Multiple-choice examination at resit is 1.5 hours.

Formative Assessment

Feedback

KL 157V - ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

Compulsory course for students with a degree intention in many programme coordinated by SBS. Part of sustained study programme in Conservation & Environment.

Overview

The content includes topics in Ecology: (Biodiversity, Ecological Resources, Population Ecology, Community Ecology, Ecosystem Functioning) and topics in Environmental Science: (Ecosystems and Environment, The Atmosphere and the Oceans, Land Use and the Global Environment, Global Environmental Change - including Climate Change, GMOs, Acid Deposition, Ozone Depletion, Biodegradation of Crude Oils, - Waste Management and the Environment).

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through webCT. Students will be provided with recordings of the three one-hour lectures a week and the 5, three hour practicals will be delivered through a mixture of webCT and an intensive practical weekend.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One 2 hour MCQ exam (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

To pass this course, a pass must be achieved in both the theory exam and the in-course assessment.

Resit: One 2 hour MCQ exam in the same format as the main exam. The resit paper may contain questions pertaining to both the practical and lecture components of the course.

Formative Assessment

Feedback

KL 157Y - SCOTLAND: GLOBAL WORLDS, LOCAL CHALLENGES

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

Notes

This course may not be included in a graduating curriculum with GG 1506, GG 1507 or GC 1501.

Overview

Related study blocks will address:

• Working with the theme of Scotland in Transition this course examines how global processes produce and reflect local-scale changes. Related study blocks will address:

• Environmental change and landscape response. Topography, climate, reconstruction of past relationships between humans, plants and animals.

• Landscape and society. Environment opportunity or risk? Resources and hazards as local manifestations of global drivers. People, land, water, soils who controls what?

• Globalisation the economics and politics of urban industrial change. Agents and scales of change: nations and states; local government; multinational corporations and local entrepreneurialism. Regional development and the post-industrial economy.

• New social and cultural spaces. Mobility and difference; poverty and exclusion; imaginative geographies: unequal power relationships; memories, places and nations.

Structure

Assessment

Formative Assessment

Feedback

KL 157Z - WEB APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

Familiarity with the Windows environment.

Co-requisites

As specified in the University Calendar for certain degree programs, otherwise none.

Notes

Overview

Topics will include:

a) programming using a scripting language, including objects, methods, control structures, data types and collections;
b) programming for the internet, including forms, application logic, database programming, and interaction with other applications using Web 2.0 technology such as Google Maps.

Structure

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two hour written examination (75%); continuous assessment (25%).

Resit: 1 two hour written examination (75%); continuous assessment mark carried forward (25%). Continuous assessment consists of programming tasks.

Formative Assessment

Feedback

Level 2

KL 2072 - ENERGETICS OF CHANGE IN CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

CM 1013 or CM 1014 or KL 170W, CM 1509 or KL 157N

Notes

This course cannot be taken as part of a graduating curriculum with CM 2008.

Overview

An introduction to the roles of energy and mechanism in chemical and biological processes. Topics covered include the spontaneity of reactions, free energy and equilibrium properties, properties of mixtures and pure substances; the predictions of reaction pathways; devising reaction mechanisms; enzymes, and activation energies; how ions behave in solution; batteries and electrochemical sensing.

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through WebCT, but students will be given the option of attending the 2 one-hour lectures, 1 one-hour turorial in alternate weeks and 2 three-hour laboratories (Weeks 12-17) per week on campus. For those students unable to attend on campus 2 practical weekends will be provided.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (60%) and in-course assesment (40%).

Resit: 1 two-hour examination (60%) and in-course assesment (40%).

KL 2073 - SHAPES, PROPERTIES AND REACTIONS OF MOLECULES

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr Sally Middleton

Pre-requisites

KL 107W or CM 1013 or CM 1014 or KL 157N or CM 1509

Overview

This course provides an introduction to the bonding and structure of inorganic compounds of elements from the s-, p- and d- blocks. Particular emphasis will be placed on the relationships between structure, properties and reactivity and will include a discussion of catalysts. Reference will be made to the economic importance of these compounds and their environmental impact.

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through WebCT and intensive practical long weekend, but students will be given the option of attending the 2 one-hour lectures, 1 one-hour tutorial in alternate weeks and 2 three-hour laboratories (Weeks 18-23) per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).
Resit: 1 two-hour examination (60% and in-course assessment (40%).

KL 2074 - DATA MANAGEMENT

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

Good general IT skills and some familiarity with the use of computers and Internet technologies including HTML, Java and PHP. A basic knowledge of programming is required for the latter half of the course.

Notes

Assistive technologies may be required for any student who is unable to use a standard keyboard/mouse/computer monitor. Any students wishing to discuss this further should contact the Departmental Disability Co-ordinator.

Overview

The concepts of a database and database management. Database development. Illustrations. Entity-Relationship model. Database design: logical design and the relational model. Normalisation; different normal forms. Physical design; file organisation and access; indexing. Database administration. Query by Example and SQL. Query optimisation. Practical examples using MS Access.

Client-server model. Database servers. Database access from client applications. Web-based database access through server-side scripting. Practical examples using MS Access, My SQL, Php and JDBC.

A brief overview of key concepts in distributed, object-oriented, multimedia, spatial and geo-referenced database systems. Data mining.

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through WebCT, but students will be given the option of attending the 2 one-hour lecture and 1 two-hour practical.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (75%) and continuous assessment (25%). In order to pass the course, candidates must obtain a pass mark (CAS>8) in the examination and in the overall combination of examination and continuous assessment (with the above weights).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (75%) and original continuous assessment carried over (25%). In order to pass the resit, candidates must obtain a pass mark (CAS>8) in the examination and in the overall combination of examination and continuous assessment (with the above weights).

KL 2075 - THE ELECTRONIC SOCIETY

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

None

Notes

Overview

The course looks at the interaction between modern technology (especially the internet) and human society. In particular it looks at the impact of the electronic society on organisations, and the impact of specific technologies on various sectors of society. Sectors analysed include: eCommerce, eGovernment, Education (eLearning), eHealth, eScience, Entertainment (eg online computer games), and socialising (especially social networking technology). The course then looks at the major issues which are relevant to all these sectors, including: legal and ethical issues, online security and crime, privacy, intellectual property, software failure, professional issues, the digital divide, the developing world, public policies and standards.

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through WebCT, but students will be given the option of attending 2 one-hour lectures (to be arranged) and 1 one-hour tutorial (to be arranged) per week on-campus.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (75%); continuous assessment (25%). In order to pass the course, candidates must obtain a pass mark (CAS >8) in the examination and in the overall combination of examination and continuous assessment (with the above weights).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (75%); continuous assessment mark carried forwards (25%). In order to pass the course, candidates must obtain a pass mark (CAS >8) in the examination and in the overall combination of examination and continuous assessment (with the above weights).

KL 2573 - ORGANIC AND BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

CM 1013 or CM 1014 or KL 107W, CM 1509 or KL 157N

Notes

This course cannot be taken as part of a graduating curriculum with CM 2512.

Overview

Shape, conformation, and stereochemistry in organic and biologically relevant compounds. Reactions and reactivity of both aliphant and armatic compounds will be considered with particular reference to spatial and electronic effects.

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through WebCT, but students will be given the option of attending the 2 one-hour lectures, 1 one-hour tutorial in alternate weeks and 2 three-hour laboratories (Weeks 30-35) per week on campus. For those students unable to attend on campus 2 practical weekends will be provided.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: 1 two-hour examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

KL 2574 - HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

None

Notes

Overview

- What is usability and why is it important?
- User and task analysis
- Contextual design
- Query techniques and focus groups
- Information architecture and navigation
- Prototyping
- Universal access / users with special needs
- Cross-cultural design
- Analytical usability evaluation: Cognitive walthrough, Heuristic evaluation, Model-based evaluation
- User testing: planning a test, observational techniques, experimental design
- Evaluation of safety-critical systems
- Technical writing
- Advanced HCI topics such as speech interfaces, web credibility, conversational interfaces

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through WebCT, but students will be given the option of attending the on campus lectures.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (75%) and in-course assessment (25%). In order to pass the course, candidates must obtain a pass mark in the examination and in the overall combination of examination and in-course assessment (with the above weights).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (75%); 25% carried forward from original in-course assessment. Candidates must obtain a pass mark in the exam and the overall combination of exam and in-course assessment.

KL 2575 - MODERN PHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr S Middleton

Pre-requisites

TS 1001 / KL 107G or PX 1013 or PS 1512 / KL 157P or equivalent.

Notes

This course cannot be taken as part of a graduating curriculum with PX 2512.

Overview

By the end of the course you should have a knowledge and understanding of:

the historical scientific background which gave rise to Modern Physics;

the observations that led to the demise of classical physics;

how these observations led to the development of relativity and quantum mechanics;

some of the concenpts and consequences of special relativity - time dilation, length contraction, mass increase and energy/mass equivalence;

the problems encountered in the understanding of blackbody radiation and the idea of quantisation of energy;

how the observation and analysis of atomic line spectra led to the Bohr model of the atom;

the de Broglie relationship and how this fitted with the Bohr model;

the concenpts and impact of the Schrodinger Wave Equation and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle;

alpha, beta and gamma decay and the processes of radioactive decay;

the basic concepts of particle physics;

the application of physics in the Big Bang model of the evolution of the Universe;

the various eras in the Big Bang model of the Universe;

the importance of determining the density of the Universe;

the expansion of the Universe;

the role of the dark energy and dark matter;

the classification and evolution of galaxies;

the development of stars.

Structure

This course will be delivered independently through WebCT, but students will be given the option of attending the 2 one-hour lectures.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

KL 2576 - ANALYTICAL METHODS IN FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr Sally Middleton

Pre-requisites

KL 107W/CM 1014 or CM 1013, KL 157N/CM 1509 or KL 157R/BI 1508

Overview

This course provides an introduction to analytical chemistry, with particular reference to the use of analytical techniques to solve forensic problems. It covers the underlying theory of the identification and determination of, for example, poisons such as pesticides or heavy metals in biological fluids, and of alcohol and drugs of abuse in mixtures of organic compounds including thier structure determination by spectroscopic methods. This will involve study of the chemical reactions useful in analytical chemistry such as acid-base, complex formation, precipitation, redox and seperation by transfer between phases, and also an introduction to both theory and practical experience of modern instrumental methods of analysis, with particular reference to forensic chemistry, and also to the closely related topic of environmental monitoring.

Structure

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: 1 two-hour examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).