- Department: Chemistry
- Module co-ordinator: Dr. Annie Hodgson
- Credit value: 10 credits
- Credit level: C
- Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
- See module specification for other years: 2022-23
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Autumn Term 2021-22 to Summer Term 2021-22 |
This module will provide students with vital skills required for their degree programme, and will introduce students to the more independent learning styles expected at university level. There will be a major focus on mathematical/quantitative skills, introduction to coding and biological/physical background in one part of the module. The other part of the module will focus on developing the students’ skills in independent library research work; synthesising arguments to solve problems; team-working and presenting their findings succinctly both verbally and visually. The topics covered in this module aim to support and complement the subjects studied by the students as part of their individual A-level programmes.
To carry out mathematical manipulation, including simple algebraic work, manipulation/conversion of units and propagation of errors.
To use mathematical and computational/coding methods to solve a range of chemically relevant problems, and be able to quantify uncertainties.
To use physical units to check the validity of equations, as well as to derive equations informally.
To carry out scientific calculations using units, and be fluent in manipulating units.
To gain the knowledge required to understand the areas of chemistry relying on the use of mathematical methods.
To appreciate the molecular/chemical aspects of life processes, building the basic biological background needed for further chemistry modules.
To develop transferable and problem-solving skills, with particular emphasis on communication.
The mathematics course is designed to support all the students in coping with the mathematical aspects of the chemistry course, but in particular those who do not have a post-16 maths qualification. All students are provided with support materials for private study. The survey identifies those who require additional support and who therefore need to attend the workshops. Other students may attend specific workshops as required to support particular topics they have difficulty with.
By the end of this course students will be able to:
“Quantitative Skills” deals with an essential skill for chemists: mastery over physical units. This art is not only useful in preventing mistakes, but also in quick justification, or even derivation, of various mathematical equations used in chemistry.
Students will develop transferable skills in team-working, problem solving, thinking/reading critically, working ethically and with integrity, independent learning, literature searching, referencing, handling information, synthesis of arguments from a range of different sources, abstract writing and oral/visual presentation skills. Students will use their independent learning approach to address key problems in cutting-edge chemistry or (in the absence of an A-level, or equivalent, biology qualification) an aspect of biological chemistry.
The online materials cover selected aspects of Biology/Biochemistry that are especially relevant for further core and option modules, familiarising students with biological/biochemical nomenclature.
Students will use free-access graphics programmes for display and manipulation of protein/DNA structures. They will perform practical analysis of secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures, 3-D analysis of selected enzyme mechanisms and learn the basics of making figures of proteins for presentations and written work.
Mathematics is taught in a chemical context and covers topics from calculus, power series, vectors and statistics. In the combined lecture and workshop sessions the students are introduced to a topic and then work through problems with guidance and supervision in order to develop their problem-solving skills in a 'hands-on' way.
The ability to understand, manipulate and write computer code is a key skill with applications across science, including the analysis, manipulation and interpretation of data, and controlling the interface with instrumentation involved in measurements. This introduction to the Python language will prepare the ground for future applications to kinetics and other data-based (physical chemistry) applications.
A lecture to introduce the various 'Self Directed Learning Packages' (“Chemists’ Toolkit”) available online, which are designed to equip students with some of the skills required as a professional chemist. These packages introduce skills needed throughout the degree programme and are designed to be worked through prior to the skills being required in other areas of the course. Those designed for Year 1 support basic IT skills (including word processing), the use of ChemDraw and Excel, and searching for information about chemicals.
Looking at issues of Equality & Diversity as part of Becoming a Professional Chemist,
1 hour computer workshop to introduce the Employability Tutorial (to be completed online)
Five 1 hour drop-in sessions delivered by college student mentors to revise the material covered during the previous half term.
Interactive 1 hour session (including role-play) to identify opportunities for work experience with organisations outside of the University and to gain confidence in applying for work experience.
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) Errors & Uncertainty & Physics & Quantitative Skills |
1 hours | 30 |
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) Mathematics for Chemists |
3.5 hours | 40 |
Oral presentation/seminar/exam Group Presentation |
3 hours | 30 |
Non-reassessable
The Group presentations take place in college symposia during Week 10 of term 1 (Groups A and C are on Thursday, Group B is on Friday). Each presentation lasts 10 minutes followed by 5 minutes of audience questions. The deadline for submitting the abstracts for these presentations is 09:00 of Monday of week 9, term 1.
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) Errors & Uncertainty & Physics & Quantitative Skills |
1 hours | 30 |
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) Mathematics for Chemists |
3.5 hours | 40 |
Verbal feedback available in workshops; marks from presentations supplied at the start of the Spring Term.
Closed exam results with per-question breakdown are returned to the students, along with the marked scripts, via supervisors within 5 weeks (as per special approval by the University Teaching Committee). Outline answers are made available via the Chemistry web pages when the students receive their marks, so that they can assess their own detailed progress/achievement. The examiners’ reports for each question are made available to the students via the Chemistry web pages.
For the Mathematics for Chemists course, students need to submit homework on a weekly basis, which is checked and corrected by graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) and returned to the students during the next maths session where they have the opportunity to discuss their mistakes with the GTAs and the lecturer. The GTAs also organise weekly office hours during which the students can discuss the material and obtain further assistance with the problems.
The online Building a Biological Background test provides instant feedback after each question.
Cockett and Doggett, "Maths for Chemists", RSC publishing, 2nd Edition
Voet and Voet, "Biochemistry", John Wiley and sons, 4th Edition