Masterclasses Green Life Sciences

Course manual 2018/2019

Course content

In this course, students are trained to discuss important topics within the Green Life Sciences, in the form of a masterclass, consisting of a tutorial meeting and a seminar. Students will attend lectures from internationally renowned scientists in the Amsterdam Green Life Science Seminars series organized by ~10 Plant Science groups within the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS) and the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED). This seminar series is organized on a monthly basis throughout the year (except the summer period). The topics for the seminars cover the whole spectrum of plant molecular biology and signal transduction. Students must attend six masterclasses during the 2-yearprogramme. Students may attend more theme lectures on a facultative basis.

Study materials

Literature

• Recent primary literature by the guest speakers, to be announced at least one week before each masterclass.

Objectives

To obtain a broad overview and understanding of the latest research in plant molecular biology and signal transduction- by following lectures by top-level international speakers and discussing the science they present.

Intended learning objectives

phase 1 focus on understanding and applying knowledge, analysis

• The student is able to read and understand scientific literature
• The student is able to formulate relevant, open research questions
• The student is able to acquire information that can be used to put new findings into perspective
• The student is able to transmit information in a logic, understandable and activating manner

phase 2 focus on critical thinking (apply information and argument into context

• The student is able compile and integrate information and convey his/her theory, speculation and/or questions
• The student is able to participate in scientific discussion in a respectful and constructive manner, through perceiving and defending viewpoints and argumentations.

Teaching methods

• Seminar
• Presentation/symposium
• Self-study

Teaching methods:

Selfstudy:

• student gets assigned two papers by renowned researcher in the field of Green Life Sciences
• student reads papers and formulates two questions
• student gets assigned two questions of a (random) peer and selects one question to answer
• student searches for additional information to combine with the information in the paper
• student prepares (ppt) presentation where he/she introduces and answers the peer question

tutorial:

• student presents his/her analysis to the peers
• student who asked the question opens the discussion by elaborating on his/her question and evaluation of the answer
• students come up with additional questions and observations, engage in discussion

seminar:

• students visit seminar by renowned researcher and are encouraged to ask relevant questions
• optional:students are invited to stay with speaker and PhD students for a private discussion with the speaker.

Learning activities

Attendance

The programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).

Additional requirements for this course:

• Students will not receive a grade if they do not turn in two questions
• Students will not receive a grade if not present at the tutorial

Assessment

• weight of the sub-scores for the different learning objectives changes over time. In the first phase (MC1-3) the focal point is on the levels understanding and application whereas in the final phase (MC4-6), the emphasis is on analysis and evaluation levels.
• To pass an individual MC, students must score a 5.5 or higher.
• Students can eliminate an individual MC score, by doing an additional MC.
• The final grade is composed by the weighted average of 6 MCs.
• Students are allowed to score 1 MC below 5.5, however this grade counts for the final score and the weighted average of all MCs should a 5.5 or higher.
• final overall scores are turned in as .0 or .5 only

  		phase 1				phase 2
  level	learning goal	MC-1	MC-2	MC-3	learning goal	MC-4	MC-5	MC-6
  understanding	reading and understand literature	25%	25%	20%	reading and understand literature	15%	10%	10%
  application	formulate open research questions	25%	20%	15%	formulate open research questions	15%	10%	10%
  	scientific communication	20%	20%	20%	scientific communication	15%	10%	10%
  analysis	information acquisition and connection	10%	15%	15%	information acquisition and connection	15%	20%	20%
  										evaluation	combine information and convey opinion	10%	10%	15%	combine information and convey opinion	20%	25%	25%
  											participation scientific discussion	10%	10%	15%	participation scientific discussion	20%	25%	25%
  total		100%	100%	100%		100%	100%	100%
  weight		16,7%	16,7%	16,7%		16,7%	16,7%	16,7%	100%

Assignments

• On Canvas you will find 2 scientific papers in preparation of the seminar of a visiting scientist.
• formulate 2 questions about one or both of the papers, and e-mail these to the course coordinator
• You will be assigned 2 questions of one of your peers to anwer.
• Answer one question and explain this in a short power-point presentation in the tutorial meeting. You will have around 5 minutes for this presentation. To answer the question you are encouraged make use of additional information (papers, alternative sources, be creative).
• You are expected to actively participate, evoke and answer questions and engage in discussion. 
• The presentation (slides, performance, discussion and especially engagement) and your questions will be graded according to the rubric provided on Canvas
• you will be asked to give feedback on the presentation of one of your peers

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

Location: Science Park 904, 1098XH, Amsterdam. Meeting rooms will be announced per masterclass through  Canvas

BSc Biology with sufficient background in (Plant) Molecular Biology. All MSc Green Life Science students meet these entry requirements. Other MSc students are encouraged to contact the coordinator before the course to discuss whether they meet this requirement, and suggestions for additional background reading, if applicable.

20 students

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. P.M. Bleeker

p.m.bleeker@uva.nl