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 types of training activities: 

Theoretical classes
The contents of the Theory program are taught by the professors. Lessons are suported by multimedia sources (Powerpoint format), which include at the beginning of each lesson an index with the most important points that are developed in each topic.
The presentations will be available in the Moodle classroom web  for students todownload and to use them as a basis for taking notes during the classes.
Students are advised to regularly consult the books recommended in the basic bibliography of the subject to consolidate and clarify, if necessary, the contents explained. In addition, it will also be recommended to consult the links that will be made available through the Moodle classroom of the Virtual Campus.

Seminars
During the seminars, students work in the scientific and technical knowledge exposed in the lectures to complete and deepen their understanding, developing various activities: analysis and discussion of videos on zoological topics, resolution of issues related to the topics discussed, analysis of zoological information, etc.  Some of the seminars will be talks given by scientists specializing in a topic related to the course.
The aim of the seminars is to promote the capacity for analysis and synthesis, critical reasoning and the capacity to solve problems.

Tutorials
The objective of these sessions is to solve doubts, to review basic concepts not explained in classes and to guide about the sources consulted by thestudents. The schedule of individualized tutorials is specified with the professor through the virtual campus. Itis recommended to do at least one group tutoring before each of the exams, for the resolution of doubts.

To pass the course, a minimum mark of 5 points out of 10 possible is required from the sumatori of theory exam + seminars.

ATTENTION Attendance to the seminars is mandatory. Non-attendance to seminars without justification will imply that the student will NOT be able to pass the subject.

1- CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT

The programmed continuous assessment activities are:

1.1- THEORY

Partial theory exams: Each of the two partial exams will represent 25% of the final grade and will assess the acquired knowledge during the course, as well as analytical and synthesis skills, and critical reasoning. The exam may include multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, conceptual questions, or schemes.

• To obtain the average of the two partial exams, the minimum grade for each exam must be equal to or higher than 5.0. If the student obtains a grade lower than 5.0 in a partial exam, student will be allowed to re-assess that examen on the day of the recovery exam. In the case of the exam was not re-assessed, the average cannot be calculated with the rest of the course activities.

Re-assessment of theory exam: This exam will be used to re-assess the necessary partial exams.

• To re-assess an exam, the student must have been evaluated in a set of activities equaling at least at least two-thirds of the total evaluation activities of the course.

• For the theory, to be averaged with the seminar activities,the average of the two partial exams must be equal to or higher than 4.0.

• Students who wish to improve a grade in one or both parts can do the final exam, but they will lose the previous grade.

1.2- SEMINARS

Seminar assignments (questions) that must be presented on the days of the seminar, and the evaluative tests (groups and individuals) that are conducted during the seminar classes will be assessed. The grade corresponding to the seminars of each of the two blocks of the course will represent 25% of the grade, being in total 50% of the final mark of the subject.

• Attendance to seminars is mandatory.

• This activity cannot be re-assessed.

• For the seminars, to be averaged with the theory, the average seminar mark must be equal to or higher than 4.0.

SUMMARY TABLE OF THE WEIGHT OF EACH COMPONENT:

1.4- OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• To pass the course, the final grade must be equal to or higher than 5.0.
• NO ASSESSMENTS: It is considered as not assessed the students who carry out less than 50% of the assessment activities described above.
• For students who do not pass the theoretical part of the course but pass the part of seminars (obtaining a minimum of 5 points out of 10), this mark will be kept for a three additional registration periods (but student will have to register for the ENTIRE course again).
• The students who could not attend an individual assessment test for justified reasons (such as a health problem, death of a family member, accident, have the status of elite athlete and have a competition or sports activity with compulsory attendance, etc.) and provide the official documentation corresponding to the professor and the coordination of the degree (official medical certificate stating the incapacity to take an exam, police certificate, justification of the competent sports body, etc.), will have the right to take the test in a later date. The coordination of the degree will ensure for the concretion of this test, after consulting with the professor of the course.
• Students who cannot attend an individual evaluation test for reasons not mentioned previously (for example, they are taking other subjects in Madrid) must give notice at least two weeks before the date of the evaluation test in order to arrange the exam at the UAM. Failure to communicate by the student will result in the failure of the test.
• Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies: For this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks, such as literature searches or information retrieval. Students must clearly identify which parts of their work have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these tools have influenced both the process and the final outcome of the activity. Failure to disclose the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total reduction of the mark for the activity, or more severe disciplinary sanctions in serious cases.
• Irregularities in Assessment Activities: Any irregularity committed during an assessment activity (including academic fraud, plagiarism, or the improper use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), unless such use is expressly authorised in the course guide) that may lead to a significant alteration of the assessment result will result in that assessment activity being awarded a mark of 0. If the course guide establishes that obtaining a minimum mark in that assessment activity is an essential requirement for passing the course, or if multiple irregularities are committed 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.

2- SINGLE ASSESSMENT

This subject does not allow for a single assessment.

2.1- THEORY

This part represents 50% of the final grade of the course, and will be evaluated through:

Unique theory exam: The unique theory assessment will consist of an exam that will take place on the day of the 2nd partial exam of the course. The exam may include multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, conceptual questions, or schemes.

Re-assessment of theory exam: The recovery of the single assessment will be the same day and time that the continuous assessment recovery test.

• To re-assess an exam, the student must have been evaluated in a set of activities equaling at least at least two-thirds of the total evaluation activities of the course.

• For the theory, to be averaged with the seminar activities, the grade of the exam must be equal to or higher than 4.0.

• Students who wish to improve the grade of the exam can do the re-assessment exam, but they will lose the previous grade.

2.2- SEMINARS

IMPORTANT: Even if students choose the unique evaluation, they will have to present tasks equivalent to the seminars of the two blocks of the course.

Seminars will be evaluated through works that must be delivered. The list of tasks to be done will be given on the day of the 2nd partial test of the subject. The assignments must be submitted to the course's virtual campus no later than the day of the re-assessment of theory exam. The grade corresponding to the seminars of each of the two blocks will represent 25% of the final grade of the subject, being a total of 50%.

• This activity cannot be re-assessed.

• Forthe seminars, to be averaged with the theory, the average seminar mark must be equal to or higher than 4.0.

SUMMARY TABLE OF THE WEIGHT OF EACH COMPONENT:

2.4- OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• To pass the course, the final grade must be equal to or higher than 5.0.
• For students who do not pass the theoretical part of the course but pass the part of seminars (obtaining a minimum of 5 points out of 10), this mark will be kept for a three additional registration periods (but student will have to register for the ENTIRE course again).
• The students who could not attend an individual assessment test for justified reasons (such as a health problem, death of a family member, accident, have the status of elite athlete and have a competition or sports activity with compulsory attendance, etc.) and provide the official documentation corresponding to the professor and the coordination of the degree (official medical certificate stating the incapacity to take an exam, police certificate, justification of the competent sports body, etc.), willhave the right to take the test in a later date. The coordination of the degree will ensure for the concretion of this test, after consulting with the professor of the course.
• Students who have passed the theory part and have a grade of 4.0 or higher in the seminar parts may take the recovery exam to improve their grade. To be eligible, they must formally renounce (via email) the previous grade, notifying the responsible professor of the course at least three days before the re-assessment exam. The theory grade that will be considered is the one obtained in the most recent exam taken by the student.
• Students who cannot attend an individual evaluation test for reasons not mentioned previously (for example, they are taking other subjects in Madrid) must give notice at least two weeks before the date of the evaluation test in order to arrange the exam at the UAM. Failure to communicate by the student will result in the failure of the test.
• Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies: For this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks, such as literature searches or information retrieval. Students must clearly identify which parts of their work have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these tools have influenced both the process and the final outcome of the activity. Failure to disclose the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total reduction of the mark for the activity, or more severe disciplinary sanctions in serious cases.
• Irregularities in Assessment Activities: Any irregularity committed during an assessment activity (including academic fraud, plagiarism, or the improper use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), unless such use is expressly authorised in the course guide) that may lead to a significant alteration of the assessment result will result in that assessment activity being awarded a mark of 0. If the course guide establishes that obtaining a minimum mark in that assessment activity is an essential requirement for passing the course, or if multiple irregularities are committed 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.