The methodology used in this course to achieve the learning process is based on student work with available information. The function of the professor is to give the information or indicate where student can get it, helping and supervising the student during the learning process. To achieve this goal, the course is based on the following activities:

Lectures

The content of the theory program will be taught mainly by the teacher in the form of master classes with complementary interactive activities in which the student has a active role. The theory classes will be complemented with the visualization of animations and videos related to the topics covered in class. Likewise, some classes will be complemented with activities for evaluating student learning, by solving issues raised by the teacher that will be solved at the beginning of the session (when they serve as a review of contents already discussed in previous sessions) or at the end of the session (when questions help the reflection on the matter explained or the video analysed). The resolution of these issues will be evaluated individually or in groups. The visual aids used in class by the teacher will be available in the Virtual Campus. It is recommended that students take this material to class, to use it as support when taking notes. Students are advised to consult regularly the books recommended in the Bibliography section to consolidate and clarify, if necessary, the contents explained in class.

In these sessions the student acquires the basic scientific-technical knowledge of the course that must be complemented with personal study of the topics explained.

Seminars

They will consist of directed work classes, where current topics previously programmed by the teacher will be discussed in groups. The participation of students will be valued.

The aim of the seminars is to promotethe capacity for analysis and synthesis and critical reasoning.

Field and laboratory practices

Field practice consists of two trips (8 and 4hours respectively) to two beaches on the Catalan coast.

The laboratory practices consist of:

- 3 sessions of 4 hours for sample processing and obtaining results.

- 2 sessions of 2h aimed at the orientation of the treatment of results and discussion of results.

- 1 session of 2h aimed at the correction of the scientific article.

The students, based on the data collected in the field and the results obtained in the laboratory, will make a scientific mini-article with a maximum length of 15 pages (all included), with an Arial letter body of 12 with a line spacing of 1, 5, which will consist of the following mandatory sections:

- Title, authors, subject, course.

- Summary.

- Introduction to the topic of work with the objectives of the same at the end.

- Material and methods.

- Results

- Discussion.

- Bibliography (regulations in the Virtual Campus).

Once delivered and corrected the article by the teacher, a correction session will be made.

Tutorials

The aim of these sessions is to solve doubts, review basic concepts not explained in class and guide about the sources consulted by students. The schedule of the tutorials is specified with the teaching staff, and if the teacher considers it convenient, some can be done as a group in the classroom.

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.

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT MARINE BIOLOGY

Modulation -1/+1:

Assessment for this course is carried out throughout the academic year:

Assessment of students’ attitude and active participation throughout the entire course (fieldwork, laboratory sessions, seminars, project work), both individually and as a group.

This assessment acts as a -1/+1 modifier of the final course grade.

Examination Assessment:

Mid-term examinations:

The mid-term examinations will individually assess students’ knowledge acquired throughout the course, as well as their ability for analysis, synthesis, and critical reasoning.

Two mid-term examinations eliminating course content will be carried out.

The 1st mid-term examination accounts for 32.5% of the final grade.

The 2nd mid-term examination accounts for 17.5% of the final grade.

Resit examination:

Students who do not pass one of the two mid-term examinations (minimum grade: 5 out of 10) must retake the corresponding examination(s) in the final examination.

In order to average this component with the other assessment activities, students must obtain a minimum grade of 4 in the two mid-term examinations.

Practical Assessment:

Attendance at practical sessions (laboratory or fieldwork) and seminars is compulsory.

Attendance and performance in laboratory and fieldwork practical sessions, together with the preparation of a scientific article, will account for 50% of the final course grade.

Both the process and the final product of the scientific article preparation will be assessed. Therefore, the first version of the article will represent 15% of the grade, while the final submission will represent 35% of the grade.

The following aspects will be assessed:

• Study design (during classroom practical sessions and seminars).
• Structure and coherence of the proposed work.
• Introduction: conceptual clarity of the approach.
• Methodological accuracy.
• Clear and concise presentation of results.
• Ability to discuss and interpret results.
• Formal quality of the document (tables, figures, references).
• Compliance with the established length requirements.

A minimum grade of 4 is required in order to average this component with the other assessment activities.

Practical assessment is not eligible for reassessment.

Not assessed:

To participate in the resit examination, students must have previously been assessed through a set of activities whose weighting is equivalent to at least two thirds of the total course or module grade.

Therefore, students will receive the grade "Not Assessed" when the completed assessment activities represent less than 67% of the final grade.

Single Assessment:

The single assessment consists of one synthesis examination in which the contents of the entire theoretical programme of the course will be assessed.

The single assessment examination will take place on the same date established in the calendar for the final continuous assessment examination, and the same resit system as for continuous assessment will be applied.

Students who choose the single assessment option must complete fieldwork and laboratory practical sessions in person and must have successfully passed them.

Attendance at the sessions related to the practical article, as well as seminars and classroom practical sessions, is also compulsory.

The assessment of PAUL, PLAB, PCAM, and SEM will follow the same procedure as continuous assessment.

Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies:

For this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks, such as bibliographic or information searches.

Students must clearly identify which parts have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these tools have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity.

Failure to disclose the use of AI in this 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 sanctions in serious cases.

Irregularities in Assessment Activities:

Any irregularity committed during an assessment activity (academic fraud, plagiarism, or improper use of AI, unless such use is expressly authorised in the course guide) that may lead to a significant variation in the grade will result in that assessment activity receiving a grade of 0.

If the course guide establishes that obtaining a minimum grade in that assessment activity is an essential requirement to pass the course, or if multiple irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0.

In addition, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits any of these irregularities.