Directed activities

Lectures

The lectures will be primarily expository and will take place in the classroom according to the established timetable.

The teaching staff will present the fundamental concepts of each block and guide students in their anatomical, histological, cellular and embryological integration. Explanations may be supplemented by anatomical images, histological specimens, diagrams, experimental results and scientific articles.

Students must complement the content presented in class through independent study and consultation of the recommended bibliography.

Laboratory practical sessions

Practical sessions will take place in the dissection room and the Neurohistology laboratory. They will be based on the guided observation and analysis of anatomical specimens, topographical sections, microscopic images, histological preparations and immunocytological techniques.

The practical sessions will be conducted in specifically equipped facilities, within the scheduled timetable and under the in-person supervision of the teaching staff.

Supervised activities

Supervised activities will include engagement with materials and activities made available through the Virtual Campus, reasoned resolution of questions related to the course content, interpretation of images or specimens, and academic tutorials.

Tutorials may be individual or conducted in small groups and must be arranged in advance with the teaching staff.

Autonomous activities

Autonomous activities will include:

• critical reading of texts and scientific articles;
• independent study of the content;
• preparation of diagrams and summaries;
• review of anatomical images and histological specimens;
• conceptual integration of the content of the different blocks.

Language

Teaching will be delivered primarily in Spanish. Certain teaching materials, scientific articles or specific activities may be in English.

Evaluation surveys

Fifteen minutes of one class will be reserved, within the period established by the faculty or degree programme, for students to complete the surveys evaluating teaching performance and the module.

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.

Module assessment

1. Continuous assessment of training activities: 10%

Students’ engagement and active participation in the module’s directed and supervised activities will be assessed.

The mark will be based on evidence such as completion of the proposed activities, reasoned resolution of questions, interpretation of images or specimens, relevant contributions during sessions and completion of tasks indicated by the teaching staff. Attendance alone will not be sufficient to obtain the highest mark.

To be assessed in this activity, students must attend at least 80% of the directed training activities for which attendance is monitored. Justified absences will be considered in accordance with the procedures established by the Faculty.

2. Practical assessment of Neuroanatomy: 5%

A structured objective examination involving the identification and analysis of anatomical structures in specimens, topographical sections or images of the nervous system.

3. Practical assessment of Neurohistology: 5%

A structured objective examination involving the identification and interpretation of structures, cell types and tissue characteristics in histological specimens or images.

4. Written assessment of Neuroanatomy and Development of the Nervous System: 40%

A written examination consisting of objective limited-response questions, short-answer questions and exercises involving the identification or recognition of structures.

5. Written assessment of Cellular Neurobiology and Neurohistology: 28%

A written examination consisting of objective limited-response questions, short-answer questions and exercises involving the identification or interpretation of structures and histological specimens.

6. Written assessment of Neurogenesis and Gliogenesis: 12%

A written examination consisting of objective limited-response questions and short-answer questions on the content of the block.

Criteria for passing the module

For the above weightings to be applied, all of the following requirements must be met:

• Students must not receive a mark of 0.0 in any assessment activity.
• Students must obtain a minimum mark of 4.0 out of 10.0 in each of the following activities:
• practical assessment of Neuroanatomy;
• practical assessment of Neurohistology;
• written assessment of Neuroanatomy and Development of the Nervous System;
• written assessment of Cellular Neurobiology and Neurohistology;
• written assessment of Neurogenesis and Gliogenesis.
• Students must obtain a final weighted mark of at least 5.0 out of 10.0.

When the weighted average is 5.0 or higher but the minimum required mark has not been obtained in one of the activities, the maximum final mark for the module will be 4.8.

The practical assessments and continuous assessment cannot be reassessed. Consequently, a mark below 4.0 in either practical assessment will prevent the student from passing the module in the corresponding assessment period.

Reassessment

Students who have not passed the module may take the reassessment examination for one or more of the following written assessments:

• Neuroanatomy and Development of the Nervous System;
• Cellular Neurobiology and Neurohistology;
• Neurogenesis and Gliogenesis.

The reassessment examination for each block will have characteristics equivalent to those of the corresponding ordinary written examination.

The mark obtained in the reassessment will replace the mark previously obtained for the same block, even when the reassessment mark is lower. Following reassessment, the weightings and minimum requirements established for passing the module will be applied again.

The following activities cannot be reassessed:

• continuous assessment of training activities;
• practical assessment of Neuroanatomy;
• practical assessment of Neurohistology.

To be eligible for reassessment, students must previously have been assessed in activities whose combined weight accounts for at least two thirds of the module’s total mark.

“Not assessable” criterion

Students will receive a final result of “Not assessable” when the assessment activities completed account for less than one third of the module’s final mark.

When students have completed activities accounting for at least one third but less than two thirds of the final mark, their mark will be calculated on the basis of the evidence submitted, but they will not be eligible for reassessment.

Review of marks

The teaching staff will announce, through the Virtual Campus, the date and procedure for reviewing the marks awarded for each assessment activity and the final module mark.

Single assessment

This module does not provide for the single-assessment system.

Irregularities in assessment activities

Any irregularity in an assessment activity—including academic fraud, plagiarism or the improper use of artificial-intelligence tools where such use has not been expressly authorised—that may lead to a significant change in the mark will result in a mark of 0 for that assessment activity.

When obtaining a minimum mark in the affected activity is an essential requirement for passing the module, or when several irregularities occur in assessment activities within the same module, the final mark for the module will be 0.

Irrespective of the academic consequences described above, the corresponding disciplinary procedure may be initiated.