2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

FOBS3394 Capstone Research Project

40 Credits Class Size: 320

Module manager: Dr David Lewis
Email: D.I Lewis@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

Entry into Level 3 of an undergraduate degree programme offered by the School of Biomedical Sciences. Students on Level 2 of MBChB or BDS programmes.

Pre-requisites

BMSC2341 Experimental Skills in Pharmacology
BMSC2342 Experimental Skills in Neuroscience
BMSC2343 Experimental Skills in Human Physiology
BMSC2344 Experimental Skills in Medical Sciences

Co-requisites

FOBS3393 Advanced Skills

Mutually Exclusive

BIOL3396 Molecular & Cellular Biology Research Projects
BLGY3345 Biology Integrated Research Projects

Module replaces

BMSC3394: Capstone Research Project, 40c SPSC3061: Research Project in Sport and Exercise Science II, 40c

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Students will design and undertake, either individually or as part of a team, an extended enquiry-based project in an area or topic relevant to the Biomedical Sciences. They will use knowledge and skills gained in earlier years of their programme, create new knowledge and understanding, and develop new research and employability skills themselves. On completion, they will communicate the outcomes or outputs of their project in different ways to different audiences.

Objectives

This module provides students with the opportunity to integrate, develop and apply the knowledge, understanding and skills gained in earlier years of their programme to a problem related to the Biomedical Sciences. They will create a defined output or outcome which they can use to showcase their knowledge and skills to potential graduate recruiters. It will be the pinnacle of their degree programme, the culminating or Capstone experience which brings everything they have learnt together; the opportunity to apply it to a real-world problem and, in so doing, bring reflection, focus and purpose to the whole of their degree experience.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module, students will be able to:
1. Apply knowledge, understanding and skills gained in earlier years of their programme to a problem relevant to the Biomedical Sciences;
2. Gather or generate information, critically analysing this information to address this problem;
3. Gain new knowledge, understanding and skills in creating a solution to, or output for, this problem;
4. Develop and apply skills required in employment including 4th Industrial Revolution skills;
5. Develop global awareness and understanding
6. Effectively communicate the outcomes and outputs of this enquiry-based learning experience;
7. Recognise health, safety and ethical considerations where appropriate.

Skills outcomes

Technical or experimental skills; creativity; judgement & decision making; emotional intelligence; negotiation; cognitive flexibility; ethics and responsibility; global and cultural insight.

Syllabus

Students will undertake a capstone research or enquiry-based project in an area relevant to Biomedical Sciences. This capstone may take many formats including, but not limited to, laboratory or fieldwork-based research, critical reviews, systematic reviews, grant proposals, innovation, commercial or technical research, service-learning, educational development, science communication and public engagement. It will build on knowledge and skills developed in earlier years of their programme; an opportunity to apply these to a real-world problem. In so doing, create new knowledge and develop new skills.

By the end of their capstone, students will communicate their outcomes and outputs in an academic paper, report, reflective e-portfolio or other applicable assessment, and an oral presentation. Students undertaking critical review projects will also undertake an extension exercise, for example creating a grant application.

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Presentation 1 2.5 2.5
Independent Learning 224 1 224
presentation 1 1 1
Lecture 1 1 1
Seminar 1 2.5 2.5
Tutorial 11 1 11
Private study hours 158
Total Contact hours 242
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 400

Private study

Students should devote the time allocated to private study to designing/planning their capstone, reflecting on progress and modifying as required, collating and critical analysing relevant information including published literature and preparation/writing of reports and other assessments.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will have 11 formal one hour meetings with their Mentor over the course of the project where formative feedback on the project and any developing outputs will be provided. They will deliver a formative oral presentation, be required to gather feedback on this and reflect on this feedback. In the linked Advanced skills module, they will undertake an assessed literature review (5 pages) relevant to their project. They will also be required to submit a 1 page critical writing piece on the data/information one third of the way through their research/enquiry time. They will be provided with formative feedback on both of these assessments.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
Presentation Presentation (verbal) 10
In-course Assessment Extension exercise or Engagement mark (depending on project type) 20
Project Project report / reflective portfolio (depending on project type) 70
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 100

All projects except Critical Review capstones: Academic paper OR report OR reflective e-portfolio OR other assessment (70%), oral presentation + defence (10%), engagement mark (20%) Critical review capstone: Scientific paper (60%), extension exercise (20%), oral presentation + defence (10%), engagement mark (10%) Delivery and defence of an oral presentation is a required element. Non-delivery or not defending an oral presentation will attract a v-code. To remove the v-code, a student must deliver and defend their presentation at the next available opportunity.

Reading List

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 4/29/2024

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team