2010-11 Academic Year
Introduction to the University (20327)
Qualification/course: Bachelor's Degree in Human Biology
Year: 1st
Term: 1st
Number of ECTS credits: 6
Number of study hours: 150
Course Language(s): Spanish and Catalan
Teaching staff: the subject coordinator is Jordi Pérez, who is also the coordinator for the module Introduction to New Studies. The coordinator for Introduction to the Health System is Fernando Benavides, and the coordinator for Information Sources and Technologies is Jordi Mestres.
1. Presentation of the course
Introduction to the University is a basic subject of the Bachelor's Degree course in Human Biology with a value of 6 ECTS credits and is made up of three differing modules. Introduction to New Studies (2 ECTS credits), Introduction to the Health System (2 ECTS credits) and Information Sources and Technologies (2 ECTS credits). Each module has a different course plan.
2. Competences to be achieved
This activity has the following general objectives:
Provide the students with globally relevant information regarding their studies in general and especially the educational project of the centre.
- Introduce the students to the determinants of health and illness and their relationship with society.
- Encourage a command of information sources and technology
3. Content
MODULE: INTRODUCTION TO NEW STUDIES
Coordination and teaching staff
The subject coordinator is Jordi Pérez, dean of the Facultat, who will teach the course together with lecturers Jordi Camí, Magí Farré, Antoni Sitges, Anna Veiga and Olga Valverde. The practical elements of the course will be supervised by the professionals of the Library and IT Services.
General Objectives
This activity has the following general objectives:
- Provide the students with globally relevant information regarding their studies.
- Inform the students about the educational model planned for the development of their studies.
- Provide the necessary knowledge to locate, evaluate, use and communicate information of any of the specialist fields of the UPF, such as using technologies of information and communication.
Increase the student's motivation towards their course and encourage attitudes and ethical values towards their studies and their professional application.
Theory syllabus
The theory programme consists of nine 50 minute sessions, including the inaugural lesson and a film session.
1. The New Studies (J. Pérez)
2. The UPF and study regulations (J. Pérez)
3. The educational project of the cente (I) (J. Pérez)
4. The educational project of the cente (II) (J. Pérez)
5. Drugs and their effect on the brain (O. Valverde)
6. The study of the human body: integration of anatomy, histology and physiology. (A. Sitges)
7. Experimentation on animals and humans, general principals of bioethics
8. Profession and professionalism: knowledge, work and professional values (A. Oriol)
(inaugural lesson)
9. What is research and why do it? (J. Camí)
10. Film session: Despertares (Awakenings), by Penny Marshall (1990)
Practical syllabus
The practical programme consists of six modules over six sessions of one or two hours duration.
Module 1. The electronic learning platform
Module 2. Email, configuration and Internet resources
Module 3. Computers, software and other computer and audiovisual equipment
Module 4. How to find the necessary information and materials for the subjects.
Module 5. How to create an academic project
Module 6. PubMed
MODULE: INTRODUCTION TO THE HEALTH SYSTEM
Coordination and teaching staff
Fernando G. Benavides, professor of Public Health, Universitat Pompeu Fabra
General Objectives
Provide the student of Medicine and Biology with a framework of social reference to help him contextualize biological and clinical knowledge. At the end of the course, the student should be able to: 1) Analyze health from a collective perspective; 2) identify the relationship between health and society; 3) define the role of medicine within the framework of the health system, and 4) describe the main components of the health system.
Theory syllabus
Lectures:
1. Introduction to the health system
2. Health and illness
3. Perceived health and quality of life
4. Natural history of illness
5. Determinants of health
6. Social inequalities in health
7. Health System: organization and finance
8. Healthcare: primary and specialized
9. Quality of healthcare
10. Public Health
Seminars
1. 1. Presentation and debate of selected chapters contained within the reference texts.
MODULE: Information Sources and Technologies
Coordination and teaching staff
The teaching will be carried out by lecturers Francesc Manaut (Head of IT Resources at PRBB) and Jordi Mestres (Head of the Chemogenomics Laboratory), who is also the coordinator of the module.
General Objectives
The syllabus has the following aims:
1. Provide knowledge of scientific reporting and to take advantage of Internet resources
2. Provide students with a basic knowledge of algorithms and programming.
3. Encourage the application of the knowledge obtained in the area where biology and chemistry crossover in an ever more integrated environment.
Theory syllabus
1. Fonaments de redacció científica (I i II)
2. Fonaments d'Internet (I i II)
3. Fonaments de bases de dades (I i II)
4. Fonaments de nomenclatura (I i II)
5. Fonaments d'algorísmica (I i II)
Seminar sessions
1. Algorismes per a biologia (I i II)
2. Algorismes per a química (I i II)
Practical Sessions
1. Programming for bioinformatics (I and II)
2. Programming for Chemoinformatics
3. Tools for Biochemoinformatics
4. Assessment
a) Each module has its own assessment criteria, which will be made available to students in the specific course syllabus.
b) The final mark will be the average of the three marks attained in each of the three modules.
c) To pass the subject, it is necessary to obtain a mark equal to or higher than 4 in each of the three modules.
d) If a student does not pass the subject on the first exam sitting, then he will need to resit the module(s) failed on the second exam sitting.
MODULE: INTRODUCTION TO NEW STUDIES
The results of the evaluation for this block will be added proportionally to the whole mark awarded for the subject Introduction to the University.
1. The evaluation of the module will consist of:
a) A written test of short answers based on the theory topics
b) A short written text based on the inaugural lesson (Topic 10)
c) the practical exercises
d) A written test of short answers based on the practical objectives
2. The weighting of the different tests is as follows
a) Theory: 5 points
- Written test: 4.5 points
- Written text based on the inaugural lesson: 0.5 points
b) Practicals: 5 points
Exercises 2.5 points
- Written test: 2.5 points
3. The evaluation sessions are as follows:
a) After theory session 9, on Monday 6th October at 8.40a.m., there will be a short answers test based on the contents of the course so far. A selection of questions will make reference to the film seen the previous day.
b) On Wednesday 29th October, the day scheduled for the formative evaluations, there will be a written test based on the practical sessions.
c) The practical exercises will have specific time restraints which will be announced at the appropriate time.
d) After the inaugural lesson (Topic 10 ) on the 7th October, the students will need to produce a text of between 150 to 300 words (maximum) about the inaugural lesson. These texts should be sent in Word format by email to the coordinator ([email protected]) before 1200 on Friday 10th October.
4. Any form of copying or plagiarism will result in failing the module and subsequently the
general subject
5. It is necessary to obtain a minimum mark of 4 as this will be counted towards the final mark of the subject.
MODULE: INTRODUCTION TO THE HEALTH SYSTEM
The specific evaluation of this module - forming part of the subject Introduction to the university - will be through the active participation of the student during the seminars. In order to accomplish this , the students will be divided into groups of four, each of which will prepare a presentation on one of the chapters form the reference books, with approval from the lecturer for the subject. Each group will have between 10 and 15 minutes (a maximum of 10 slides/transparencies) to give the presentation on the selected chapter, after which the other students and lecturer will be able to ask questions and debate the content.
Parameters: Student presentations (60% of the mark), exam (40% of the mark).
MODULE: Information Sources and Technologies
a) Methods of assessment
Assessment will be carried out by means of multiple-choice tests (with five alternatives with one single correct answer, discounting accidental correct answers), "true or false" tests (discounting accidental correct answers) and short answer tests with objective correction criteria.
b) Type and number of assessments
There will be two types of assessment: formative and summative.
1. During the course two formative assessment tests will be held (with a small augmentative effect on the final mark if they are passed). This test will consist of multiple choice questions followed by a short essay questions test.
2. At the end of the teaching process the final theoretical assessment test will be held, which will consist of a multiple-choice test with questions concerning all the modules dealt with, together with a short answer test.
c) Effect of the different types of assessment on the final mark The final mark will be calculated using the following formula:
Total = 0,04*AF + (0,30*PEM + 0,70*PA)
Where AF is the mark from the formative evaluation (if its value is greater than 5), PEM is the mark from the multiple choice questions and PA is the mark for the essay questions.
Any form of copying or plagiarism will result in failing the module and subsequently the whole course.
It is necessary to obtain a minimum mark of 4 as this will be counted towards the final mark of the subject.
5. Bibliography and teaching resources
5.1. Basic bibliography
MODULE: Introduction to the health system
Rose, G. A. La estrategia de la medicina preventiva. Barcelona: Masson-Salvat Editores, 1994.
Mckeown T. El papel de la medicina. ¿Sueño, espejismo o némesis? Mèxic: Siglo XXI Editores, 1982.
Cochrane A. L. Eficacia y eficiencia. Reflexiones al azar sobre los servicios sanitarios. Barcelona: Salvat, 1985.
MODULE: Information Sources and Technologies
As the assessments are based solely on the information given during the class, this encourages the students to search for additional information on the Internet.
6. Methodology
7. Activities schedule