The methodology used in this subject to achieve the learning process is based on making the student work with the information made avaiable to them. The teacher's role is to give the information or indicate where it can be obtained and to assist and tutor the student so that the learning process can be carried out effectively.

To achieve this goal, the subject is based on the following activities:

Lectures:

The content of the theory program will be mainly delivered in theoretical classes with the support of presentations, videos, and animations related to the topics covered in class. Through these expository classes, the students acquire the basic scientific-technical knowledge of the subject, which must be complemented by personal study of the explained topics. The visual aids used in class will be available on the Virtual Campus.

Question resolution:

Students, individually or in groups, must independently solve a series of questions or activities proposed by the teachers through the Virtual Campus. The objective of these activities is to complete and reinforce the knowledge acquired in the theoretical classes as well as to stimulate empirical skills such as reflection, analysis, and integration of zoological diversity.

Tutorials:

The objective of these sessions is to resolve doubts, clarify basic concepts, and provide guidance on the sources consulted. Likewise, these tutorials provide guidance in the resolution of questions proposed by the teachers.

Assessment in this course is carried out throughout the semester and consists of the following assessment activities:

Mid-term examinations:

These examinations assess students' individual acquisition of the course learning outcomes, as well as their analytical, synthesis and critical thinking skills. Two mid-term examinations will be held, each covering a different part of the syllabus: one on Plant Biology and the other on Animal Biology. Together, the two mid-term examinations account for 80% of the final course grade (40% each).

Assessment activities:

This component assesses, individually or in groups, students' responses to the questions and problems proposed by the teaching staff. These assessment activities account for 20% of the final course grade, of which 10% corresponds to the Plant Biology component and 10% to the Animal Biology component.

In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies will be permitted exclusively for support tasks, such as literature or information searches, text editing, and translation, within the context of the assessment activities. Students must clearly identify any content generated using AI, specify the tools employed, and include a critical reflection on how these tools influenced both the process and the final outcome of the activity. Failure to disclose the use of AI in any of these assessment activities will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or full penalty in the assessment grade.

Final grade and reassessment:

To pass the course, students must obtain a final grade of at least 5.0 out of 10, with a minimum grade of 4.5 out of 10 in each of the two mid-term examinations. Students who do not achieve the minimum passing grade may take the reassessment examination for one or both mid-term examinations, as appropriate. In the reassessment examination, students must obtain a minimum grade of 4.0 in each reassessed component in order for it to be averaged with the remaining course grades.

Students wishing to improve the grade obtained in one or both mid-term examinations may also sit the final examination. By taking the final examination, students waive the grade previously obtained for the corresponding component.

To be eligible for reassessment, students must previously have been assessed in activities whose combined weighting represents at least two thirds of the total course grade.

Not assessable:

Students will receive a NOT ASSESSABLE grade if the assessment activities completed account for less than 67% of the final course grade.

Single assessment:

The single assessment will consist of a comprehensive examination covering the entire theoretical syllabus (80% of the final course grade), together with the submission of the assessment activities corresponding to the Plant Biology and Animal Biology components (10% of the final course grade each).

The single assessment will take place on the date scheduled for the final examination, with the right to a reassessment examination where applicable.

The same NOT ASSESSABLE criterion will apply as in the continuous assessment system.