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 1
Code CHEM180
Coordinator Dr G Sedghi
Chemistry
G.Sedghi@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2016-17 Level 4 FHEQ Whole Session 15

Pre-requisites before taking this module (or general academic requirements):
A2 - level chemistry or equivalent  

Aims

The aim of this module is:

(i) to equip students with the basic quantitative transferable skills required for the first year of a Chemistry degree programme. (60% of module)

(ii) to broaden a student''s perspective of chemistry whilst developing their general transferable skills with a focus on communication and employability. (40% of module)


Learning Outcomes

The overarching leaning outcome is for students to have the key skills that will equip them to perform well in the rest of their chemistry degree programme.

The learning outcomes can be divided into two areas: Quantitative and General Key Skills.

Quantitative key skills:

By the end of this module a successful student should be able to handle:

  • Simple volumetric calculations as required for titrations in analytical chemistry;
  • Basic algebraic manipulation and functions needed for kinetics, thermodynamics and quantum mechanics;
  • Elementary geometry required for the understanding of molecular shapes and solid state chemistry;
  • The representa tion of data via graphs, particularly straight line graphs, and the manipulation of data in spreadsheet programs for data analysis;
  • The basic idea of a derivative and an integral for use in physical chemistry;
  • The physical concepts of energy, momentum and angular momentum;

General key skills:

 

By the end of this module a sucessful student will understand:

  • basic aspects of working safely in a chemistry laboratory;
  • aspects of chemical research;
  • the importance of chemistry in the development of our society;
  • chemical databases;
  • the need for academic integrity;
  • how chemistry can contribute to their transferable skills;

In addition successful students will have developed their:

  • investigative, critical, writing and presentation skills;
  • chemical database skills;
  • employability skill.;

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Lecture - General Key Skills Lectures

Tutorial - General Key Skills Session held with academic adviser

Lecture/workshop - Quantitative Key Skills - Maths lectures/workshops

Workshop - Database skills workshop

- Class tests

2 Class tests - each 2 hours, 1 per semester

Online Test - on-line maths assessments following workshops.

A 1 hour on-line assessment is provided after each of 10 maths workshops in order to help consolidate material

Syllabus
1  1

This section of the module will be the responsibility of Dr Gita Sedghi who will head the workshops using staff and student demonstrators as appropriate. The syllabus will involve:

  • Concepts of proportion: calculation of molarity, concentration after dilution, using results of titrations
  • Simple re-arrangement algebra, order of operations in brackets, quadratic equations, exponents and logarithms, the exponential function, trigonometric functions
  • Calculation of volume, identification of (molecular) shape, trigonometry and geometry
  • Drawing graphs, linearizing data, what to do with gradients and intercepts in practical examples
  • Data analysis with spreadsheet programs
  • Derivative as gradient, rates of change
  • Integration as the opposite of differentiation
  • Chain and product rules in differentiation
  • Stationary points of functions, maxima and minima
  • Forms of energy, conversion and conservation of energy– why it is important for Chemistry
  • What are momentum and angular momentum?
2

This section of the module will be the responsibility of Dr Susan Barlow with lectures given mainly by chemistry staff and tutorials given by academic advisers.

 Lectures and workshops 

  • Introduction: Study skills, importance of transferable skills, module organisation (Dr Barlow, Dr Sedghi)
  • Safety in the laboratory (Professor Cosstick)
  • Careers & employability  (Dr Gaynor & Careers service)
  • Chemical database skills (Dr Berry & Dr Cooper)
  • Research within the University of Liverpool Chemistry Department
    • Chemistry & nanotechnology (Professor Brust)
    • Medicinal Chemistry (Professor O''Neill)
    • Topics presented by post-doctoral researchers
  • Using Powerpoint (Professor Greeves)
  • Academic Integrity (Dr Barlow)

 Tutorials

  • An ice-breaker session and group discussion with ac ademic adviser.    
  • Detailed feedback on a scientific review.
  • A revision session, involving short student presentations on topics from a Year 1 module.
  • A PowerPoint presentation on the impact of chemistry in society, medicine or nanotechnology. 
  • Feedback on a final written essay based on subjects such as the ''impact of chemistry in society, medicine or nanotechnology'' or ''why should we study chemistry?''


Content provision

In addition to the face-to-face lectures, workshops and tutorials, module content will be provided on Vital with extensive use of Vital for consolidation material, lecture recordings, information on tutorials, workshops and assessments.

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 11
General Key Skills Lectures
  5
General Key Skills Session held with academic adviser
    39
Quantitative Key Skills - Maths lectures/workshops
2
Database skills workshop
4
Class tests
61
Timetable (if known)           2 Class tests - each 2 hours, 1 per semester
A 1 hour on-line assessment is provided after each of 10 maths workshops in order to help consolidate material
  		 
Private Study 89
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  2 hours each class t  Two class tests in semesters 1  20  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Maths Class Test 
Coursework  13 x 3 hours Quantit  Semesters 1 & 2  40  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Maths workshops 
Coursework  4 x 1 hour General K  Semesters 1 & 2  30  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  General Key Skills tutorial, workshop and review exercises 
Coursework  1000 words General K  Complete by end of week 8 Seme  10  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Final General Key Skills essay Notes (applying to all assessments) Quantitative problems - Class Test: Students who fail the class test will be required to resit the class test. Quantitative problem solving exercises: Students who fail this module will be given the opportunity to complete failed exercises during the summer. Assessed tutorial, workshop and review tasks: Written work is submitted via Vital and assessed by the tutor or module moderator as appropriate. Oral presentations in tutorials are assessed by the tutor during the tutorial. Students who fail this module will be allowed to resubmit assessed written tasks that have not reached the required standard at the first attempt over the summer. 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 on resit. Final report:The essay is submitted via Vital and assessed by the tutor. Students who fail this module will be allowed to resubmit a final report that has not reached the required standard at the first attempt.