In this subject, and as reflected in the Methodology section, whenever possible, innovative teaching methodologies will be used —such as Service Learning (APS), Challenge-Based Learning (ABR), flipped classroom, gamification, among others— with the aim of encouraging active student participation and improving teaching-learning processes. The methodology used in this subject to achieve the learning process is based on having students work with the information made available to them. The role of the teaching staff is to provide them with the information or indicate where they can obtain it, guiding and tutoring them so that the learning process can be carried out effectively. To achieve this objective, the subject is based on the following activities:

Lectures:

With these classes the students acquire the basic scientific-technical knowledge of the course that must be complemented with personal study of the topics explained.

Seminars:

The aim of the seminars is to promote the capacity for analysis and synthesis, critical reasoning and the capacity to solve problems. In the seminars, the scientific-technical knowledge exposed in the lectures is worked on to complete and deepen their understanding, developing various activities: videos on zoological themes, resolution of issues related to the topics covered, analysis of ecophysiological and zoological information, etc. ., analysis, discussion and resolution of physiology problems, working in small groups around topics of special interest in animal physiology, zoology, and microbiology.

Attendance at the seminars is mandatory.

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

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.

This subject does not include the single assessment system, and there is a continuous evaluation process throughout the course. This includes more than three evaluation activities of different typologies, distributed throughout the course, and none of the activities represents more than 50% of the final grade.

The evaluation of this course is done independently by the two parts of the subject, Zoology and Animal Physiology, and each part represents a 50% of the course. For each part, the evaluation is carried out according to the following criteria:

Evaluation of seminars:

Assessment is carried out on:

- Individual or group work submitted during the seminars or on dates after these.

- Group and/or individual tests, which may be carried out throughout the seminars.

- Other evaluative elements that the teacher deems appropriate.

The grade corresponding to the seminars has a weight of 25% in the Zoology module and 20% in the Animal Physiology module. This activity cannot be retaken.

Evaluation of theory:

Partial exams:

In this part, the knowledge acquired by the students in the subject is assessed individually, as well as their capacity for analysis, synthesis, and critical reasoning. Two partial exams are held in each module of the subject. The minimum grade to pass each partial exam of the same module is 5 out of 10 in Zoology, and 4.5 out of 10 in Animal Physiology. The grade corresponding to theory has a weight of 75% in the Zoology module and 80% in the Animal Physiology module. Each partial exam serves to clear the material covered.

Resit exam:

Students who have not passed any of the partial exams must take the resit exam.

Final considerations:

In both the Animal Biology module and the Animal Physiology module, a grade of 4.5 in the theoretical part allows averaging with the seminars, and the module is considered passed if the average of the theory and the seminars is 5 or higher. The subject can only be passed when the grade in each module is 5 or higher out of 10. The subject is passed with a final grade of 5 or higher out of 10.

To participate in the resit exam, students must have been previously assessed in a set of activities whose weight is equivalent to at least two-thirds of the total grade of the subject or module. Therefore, students will receive a grade of 'Not Assessable' when the assessment activities carried out have a weighting of less than 67% in the final grade.

This subject does not allow for grade improvement.

Repeating students: The grade for the approved parts (theory or seminars) will be maintained for one academic year.

Other considerations

In this course, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted as an integral part of the development of the assignment, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution from the student in terms of analysis and personal reflection. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. Lack of transparency in the use of AI will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may result in a penalty on the activity's grade, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.

The commission of any irregularity in an assessment event (academic fraud, plagiarism, or improper use of AI, unless such use is expressly authorized in the teaching guide) that may lead to a significant variation in the grade will result in that assessment event being graded as 0. If the teaching guide provides that passing the course requires obtaining a minimum grade in this assessment event, or if several irregularities occur in the assessment events of the same course, the final grade for this course will be 0. Additionally, a disciplinary process may be initiated against the student who commits any of these irregularities.