This module enables you to develop the academic, personal and transferable skills required to ensure successful study at higher education level and beyond. Personal skills such as self-awareness, resilience, mindfulness, time management, prioritisation, communication, motivation and organisation are considered and developed in conjunction with academic skills pertinent to successful further academic study. In particular, you will develop the ability to write for academic submissions, source and use reference texts correctly and learn to utilise feedback effectively to inform and improve future submissions. Aspects of employability are also addressed, including the development of presentation skills, appropriate email etiquette and an awareness of digital footprints. You will undertake a range of tasks aligned to your chosen subject area aimed at developing your skill set in a supportive environment. You are encouraged to practice skills repeatedly until you feel confident and capable of tackling future assessments.
All knowledge and theory in biology has originated from practical observation and experiment. This module underpins the subsequent science-based modules at level 4 within the remainder of your chosen degree award. It introduces key biological principles, covering the cell as the basic unit of life, an introduction to cell energetics, the variety of living organisms and the basic concepts of genetics. The development of essential laboratory skills in also introduced, with fundamental techniques; approaches to investigation; observing, obtaining, identifying and manipulating specimens all forming part of the acquired skill set. Alongside knowledge of the health and safety requirements of working in a laboratory setting, this module prepares you for further laboratory work in the remainder of your course.
This module aims to develop your mathematical confidence and competency in basic statistical analysis and methods. Within your chosen sector, you'll demonstrate the ability to manipulate numerical information, including whole number, decimal, percentages and fractional forms, while learning how to collect, interpret, analyse and present data via standard techniques. You will gain relevant skills necessary for data analysis, including correlation, arithmetic and geometric sequences, and numerical problem solving. You will understand how to utilise basic software packages effectively (such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and project management software) within your studies. Utilising the internet and Writtle's virtual learning environment, you'll become conversant with the various information and support mechanisms available to a higher education student and capable of using modern technology to support your studies and independent learning.
This module introduces you to general, organic and biochemistry in a manner that enables understanding of your chosen topic of further study, utilising examples that are relevant to your career aspirations. Focusing on key concepts, you'll consider the chemical background of a living organism, including the structure and properties of matter, what comprises energy, atomic structure and the formation of compounds. In particular, the module enables you to develop an appreciation of why chemistry fundamentals will influence understanding of subjects studied later in the degree award.
The Applied Industry Techniques module is designed to form part of the self-development in which you can begin to build a career path and gain an understanding of the professional working environment. You will undertake a range of tasks aligned to your chosen subject area aimed at developing your skill set in a supportive environment. In consultation with teaching staff, you are offered the opportunity to undertake a personally relevant work placement on campus, that relates to your own vocational aims and ambitions. This will allow you to experience this aspect of the industry and begin to develop an appreciation of the working environment. You are encouraged to practice workplace skills repeatedly until you feel confident and capable of tackling future assessments. The practical sessions aim to develop your initiative, communication with other staff members, efficiency, confidence, autonomy and competence. Skills logs document the progressive development throughout the module. You will be expected to produce a Personal Development Plan (PDP) and a subsequent reflective journal outlining your experiences within your placement. The PDP and embedded SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis will encourage you to identify your current strengths and weaknesses, the need for development in specific areas, and an increased understanding of the diversity of opportunities presented by your chosen industry. This module enables you to develop the academic, personal and transferable skills required to ensure successful study at higher education level. The latter part of this module provides an opportunity for you to explore the remainder of the placement units and thus understand all of the potential degree pathways on offer. You'll achieve this by attending ‘walk and talk’ sessions hosted by peers, plus a series of lectures from the degree tutors intended to highlight exciting and innovative subjects as taster sessions.
This module places previous knowledge into the context of a short exploratory project conducted in a subject area of your choice. Working independently or in groups, you will plan and undertake a short, practical experiment that contributes to your knowledge-base in your chosen area. You will then individually write-up one aspect of the results of the investigation, ensuring the use of supporting information to inform your submission. The emphasis will be on utilising skills gained in previous modules to enable a thorough investigation of the chosen topic, practicing the academic and transferable skills required for further successful study. This will include the selection of a suitable research question, the sourcing and use of relevant literature, the use of practical competencies to conduct the experiment and gather data and the use of maths and IT skills to present that data in a manner suitable for higher education submissions. Enabling you to conduct the project will also encourage the development of criticality and reflection skills, as each student will be expected to comment on improvements and alterations were the project to be repeated.