Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title KEY SKILLS FOR CHEMISTS 2
Code CHEM280
Coordinator Dr SM Barlow
Chemistry
S.Barlow@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2015-16 Level 5 FHEQ Whole Session 15

Pre-requisites before taking this module (or general academic requirements):
Completion of Year 1 of an MChem or BSc(Hons) Chemistry programme  

Aims

  • To further develop the quantitative skills of a student, through more advanced skills in the application of mathematics, physics and information technology applicable to the second year of an undergraduate degree in chemistry. (60% of module)

  • To further broaden a student''s perspective on chemistry and to develop general transferable skills in studying, accessing information, oral and written communication, presentation, team working and employability. (40% of module).

    • Learning Outcomes

    The overarching learning outcome is that students will gain the necessary key skills to perform well in their chemistry degree programmes.

    Quantitative key skills:
    By the end of the module a successful student will have improved their ability to:
    • perform basic calculus (integral and differential) as applied to kinetics, thermodynamics and quantum mechanics
    • apply algebraic manipulation in kinetics, thermodynamics and quantum mechanics
    • apply the algebra of complex numbers in quantum mechanics problems
    • use basic matrix vector algebra
    • use matrices and vectors to represent molecular symmetry
    General key skills:
    By the end of this module, a successful student will have gained:
    • knowledge and understanding of a variety of areas of chemical research.
    • knowledge of methods of presenting chemical research.
    • further knowledge of how to conduct chemical experiments in a safe fashion.
    • further awareness of employability issues for chemists.

    Teaching and Learning Strategies

    Lecture -

    General Key Skills Lectures

    Tutorial -

    General Key Skills Tutorials

    Workshop -

    Problem lecture/workshops (quantitative skills)

    Assessment -

    Quantitative Key Skills Class Test

    Syllabus
    1 

    Quantitative Key Skills

    This section of the module will be the responsibility of Dr George Darling who will ensure that activities build on the quantitative skills developed in Year 1. These skills will include:
    • Revision of re-arrangement algebra, quadratic equations, exponents and logarithms, the exponential function, trigonometric functions
    • Revision of basic calculus, rules of differentiation – chain rule etc. - basic integration
    • Calculus used in kinetics, thermodynamics and quantum mechanics
    • Partial differentiation
    •  Complex numbers and their use in quantum mechanics
    • Basic matrix-vector algebra
    • Eigenfunctions, eigenvalues and their relationship to quantum mechanics
    • Eigenvectors, eigenvalues, the matrix determinant and matrix inverses
    • More analysis with spreadsheet programs
    General Key Skills
     

    This section of the module will be the responsibility of Dr Susan Barlow who will arrange the lectures and tutorial sessions in conjunction with Year 2 tutorial teaching staff and research-active staff as appropriate.

    The planned activities will enable the Chemist ry Department to integrate key skills provision with personal development planning as well as providing an opportunity to demonstrate to students the range of research undertaken.

    Lecture Presentations

    The lecture presentations will involve topics such as:

    • Introduction: What we are aiming to do in this General Key Skills part of the module, how it will be taught, what the student needs to do, integration of tasks with PDP planning. (Dr Barlow)
    • Lectures on research areas within the Chemistry Department at Liverpool not covered in CHEM180: e.g. Synthetic chemistry, biological chemistry, catalysis, materials chemistry, surface & interface chemistry, theoretical/computational chemistry (senior members of research groups.)
    • Year 2 Safety Lecture (Professor Jianliang Xiao).

    Tutorials

    Students will be expected to complete six main assessed tasks as part of their tutorials .

    • Review a series of scientific papers and write a summary for different audiences.
    • Find and review material on an area of chemical research (eg conducting polymers) and check submitted work for plagiarism.
    • Take part in a team exercise to develop a piece of work under time pressure e.g. a press release.
    • Produce and give a team-based PowerPoint presentation on a topical area of research.
    • Give a short talk without the use of visual aids.
    • Write an essay discussing the research in the Chemistry Department.

    Further tasks to be covered in tutorials will include a short exercise to demonstrate forms of plagiarism, and use of the Year 2 PDP exercise to encourage students to reflect on their key skills training in connection with future career prospects.

     


    Recommended Texts
    Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
    Explanation of Reading List:

    Teaching Schedule
      Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
    Study Hours 8

    		   6

    		     33

    2

    		 49
    Timetable (if known) General Key Skills Lectures
          		  General Key Skills Tutorials
          		    Problem lecture/workshops (quantitative skills)
    Quantitative Key Skills Class Test
          		 
    Private Study 101
    TOTAL HOURS 150

    Assessment
    EXAM Duration Timing
    (Semester)    		 % of
    final
    mark    		 Resit/resubmission
    opportunity    		 Penalty for late
    submission    		 Notes
                 
    CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
    (Semester)    		 % of
    final
    mark    		 Resit/resubmission
    opportunity    		 Penalty for late
    submission    		 Notes
    Coursework  11 x 3 hour Quantita  Semester 1 & 2  50  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 1 
    Coursework  2 hour Quantitative   week 6 Semester 2  10  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 2 
    Coursework  5x1 hour General Key  Semester 1 & 2  30  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 3 
    Coursework  1500 word General Ke  week 9 Semester 2  10  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 4 Notes (applying to all assessments) Quantitative Key Skills (QKS) Workshops: problem based assessments to be completed by end of each workshop with demonstrator assistance. Marked by demonstrators and moderated by staff member in charge of QKS section of module. Quantitative Key Skills Class Test: problem based assessments to be completed with no assistance. Marked by demonstrators and moderated by staff member in charge of QKS section of module. General Key Skills (GKS) tutorials, exercises and lecture reviews: Written tutorial exercises submitted via Vital and assessed by the tutor. Oral tutorial presentations assessed by the tutor during the tutorial. Lecture review tasks submitted via Vital and marked by Module leader. General Key Skills Final Essay: Essays submitted via Vital assessed by the tutor. Feedback is provided before the end of Semester 2 in person and via Vital. All GKS marks moderated by staff member in charge of this section of module. Students who fail this module will be given the opportunity to resubmit missing or failed exercises during the summer. Note that PowerPoint slides associated with failed presentations can be resubmitted for marking but it will not be possible to gain any marks associated with the oral part of the presentations. The nature of this module is such that work cannot be marked anonymously as marking is either done within the timetabled sessions in front of students or via Vital.