The methodology used in this subject to achieve the learning process is a project based learning approach, based on making the student work the information that is available to her/him. The role of the teaching staff is to give you the information or to indicate where you can get it and help it, with tutorials, so that the learning process can be carried out effectively.

Within the framework of the course, Service-Learning (S-L) can be developed. Through this approach, students learn by participating in a project aimed at addressing a real need in a community, thus improving people's living conditions or the quality of the environment.

To achieve the course objectives, the following activities are undertaken:

Classroom sessions

Part of the content of the program of the subject will be accessible by students through thematic capsules, documents or videos, which can be accessed at any time. There will be sessions of discussion or debate on specific topics with the whole class group, and most classroom sessions will be work sessions where students will develop the project of the subject, and the teaching staff will be present in-person to guide in the elaboration of this. The sessions will be complemented by the display of animations and videos related to the topics covered in class. Part of the content of the subject will be developed through student learning activities, by solving questions raised by the teaching staff that will be resolved either during the session or at the beginning of the session (when they serve as a review of content or questions of interest to the whole group) or at the end of it as questions for reflection. The TIC material used by teachers will be available on the virtual platform. It is essential that students consult and work on the material and have it accessible during classroom sessions, especially to be able to use it as a support when working and advancing in the development of the project. It is advisable for students to regularly consult the books recommended in the Bibliography section in order to consolidate and clarify, if necessary, the TIC content approved by the teaching staff. With these classroom sessions students acquire the basic knowledge of the subject, which must be complemented by personal study, and apply this knowledge to a practical case, the project of the subject.

Seminars

They will consist of lectures, where we will discuss in groups current issues / transfers previously programmed by the teaching staff. The participation of the students will be valued. The mission of the seminars is to promote critical thinking and awareness in relation to environmental issues.

Field and laboratory practices

Field practices, visits and laboratory will consist of outings to obtain and measure research parameters in the field of ichthyology. The laboratory practices will be aimed at the processing of samples / data and treatment of results of field practice. There will also be different practices where subjects will be given about the anatomical and functional aspects, as well as aspects of diversity.

One of the laboratory practices will be devoted to a practical group work that will consist of generating a question in consensus with the students based on a justified background, and a hypothesis to be resolved through work. This work is a fundamental component of training. The final document will be the creation of a poster in which the experience will be summarized.

During this course, one of the fieldtrips to the sea is coordinated with a fieldtrip from the subject Biology and diversity of non-arthropod invertebrates. The fieldtrip has been coordinated in calendar and destination (Montgrí Natural Park, the Medes Islands and the Baix Ter), in order to encourage students to attend the two subjects. One day in the sea will be devoted to Biology and diversity of non-arthropod invertebrates and the other day at sea in Ichthyology. In the case of taking the two subjects, the stay in Estartit is carried out by the students.

Tutorials

The purpose of these sessions is to solve doubts, to review basic concepts not explained in class and to guide the sources consulted by students. The schedule of the individualized tutorials will be specified with the teaching staff. The tutorials will also be used to track the work of the seminar and to follow the practical work.

The aim of these sessions is to resolve doubts, review basic concepts not explained in class and guide on the sources consulted by students. The schedule of individualized tutorials will be specified with the teaching staff. The tutorials will also be used to monitor the practical final work.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

The evaluation of this subject is carried out throughout the course following the following criteria:

Evaluation of the project:

The project will be evaluated in groups in two stages, the first at the initial version (version 1), and the second at the final version. The results of the correction of this first version are communicated orally to the students responsible for the work together with suggestions for improvement. The presentation and reasoning of the project presented during the presentation sessions will also be evaluated.

The grade between the first assessment (version 1) and the second assessment (final version) cannot be differentiated by more than 3 points.

This assessment has an overall weight of 25% (version 1) and 25% (final version) of the final grade. The minimum grade to be able to average with the other evaluations is 4.

This assessment activity is not eligible for reassessment.

Student learning folder:

In this part the knowledge acquired by the student in the subject will be evaluated individually (not only during the classroom sessions, but during all the subject), as well as his/her capacity of analysis and synthesis, and of critical reasoning. It consists of a series of learning items that are made during field and lab practices, and classroom sessions, and that each student accumulates. They will be corrected during the course. In some cases, they will be practicum sheets and in others they may be small assessment tests done during classroom sessions.

The different learning evidences will be averaged. These individual notes have a weight of 25% of the overall grade. The minimum grade to be able to average with the other evaluations is 4.

This assessment activity is not eligible for reassessment.

Evaluation of the practices:

Practices (both field and laboratory) will be evaluated by delivering a group poster once the practices have finished.

This evaluation has a global weight of 25% of the final grade. The minimum grade to be able to average with the other assessments is 4. Attendance at all outings and all laboratory sessions is mandatory to pass the course.

Not evaluable:

Attendance to practical sessions (field trips or laboratory pracices) and seminars is mandatory.

The student will be graded as "No Avaluable" if the weighthin of all conducted evaluation activities is less than 67% of the final score.

Single Assessment

Students opting for the single-assessment pathway must attend all fieldwork and laboratory practical sessions in person and must successfully complete them. Attendance at the project oral presentation session is also compulsory.

The deadlines for the initial submission, oral presentation, and final submission of the project are the same as those established for students following continuous assessment (i.e., they are not postponed until the end of the semester), owing to the project-based learning methodology used in this course.

Under the single-assessment system, the learning portfolio (25% of the final grade) consists of a single comprehensive assessment, which includes all the individual assessment components normally included in the learning portfolio, together with the submission of the activities that form part of it.

The single assessment will take place on the same date scheduled for the final continuous assessment activity and will follow the same reassessment regulations as the continuous assessment system.

Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies

For this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively as a support tool, such as for literature searches or information retrieval. Students must clearly identify any sections generated with AI technologies, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these tools influenced both the development process and the final outcome of the assignment. Failure to disclose the use of AI in an assessed activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in partial or total grade penalties for the activity, or more severe disciplinary sanctions in serious cases.

Academic Misconduct in Assessment Activities

Any form of academic misconduct during an assessment activity (including academic fraud, plagiarism, or the improper use of AI, unless such use is explicitly authorised in the course syllabus) that could significantly affect the assessment outcome will result in a grade of 0 (zero) for that assessment activity. If the course syllabus establishes that obtaining a minimum grade in that assessment activity is a compulsory requirement to pass the course, or if multiple instances of academic misconduct occur within the same course, the student will receive a final course grade of 0 (zero). In addition, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student found to have committed such academic misconduct.