Australia is famous the world over for its unique and biodiverse vertebrate animals. You can only see a wild weedy sea dragon, turtle frog, sand goanna, emu or platypus in Australia. This course will provide an introduction to global vertebrate diversity, put Australian vertebrates in an evolutionary context, and consider recent research advances in Australian vertebrate biology through interactive lectures, lab practicals and workshops. Groups covered will include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Lab practicals will focus on biodiversity through hands-on learning about key features of structure and function. Workshops will focus on topical research questions on the ecology, evolution and conservation of vertebrate animals. The course is designed to complement the other whole-organism third year courses in evolution and ecology.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Critically examine the origin and diversification history of vertebrate animals, with a particular focus on Australian vertebrates, through lectures and practicals; 
2. Critically examine and describe the major patterns of biodiversity of vertebrate animals, with a particular focus on Australian vertebrates, through lectures and practicals;
3. Demonstrate an advanced understanding and appreciation of how detailed natural history knowledge facilitates research through lectures and apply and demonstrate this knowledge in workshops;
4. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the diversity of ANU's research on Australian vertebrate animals through lectures and workshops and apply this knowledge through a group presentation.

Research-Led Teaching

This course is strongly linked to the research going on in the Research School of Biology and elsewhere. All of the lecturers in this course are world-class researchers in vertebrate biology. The lecture material and practicals in the first half of the course are designed to provide an excellent grounding in vertebrate biology. The second half of the course is totally research-focussed with research symposia and discussion groups themed around major research strengths of the Research School of Biology.  

Required Resources

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Recommended Resources

Students will need to purchase the book The Ancestor’s Tale, revised edition (2016) by Richard Dawkins and Yan Wong. You can buy or order this any way you like. I found it online from between $20-$30 and it is in many larger book stores.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

The dates published in this document provide a general indication as to when assessment tasks are due and returned. For specific due dates please check the course Wattle site.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lectures	Overview of activities: Lectures and workshops are scheduled for 11am Tuesday and 12 noon Wednesday in the Slayter Seminar Room in the Robertson Building (Building 46). Practicals, workshops and discussion groups are scheduled for 2- 5pm on Wednesdays and these will take place for most of the semester. Wet practicals will run in the first half of the course and these will take place in Gould Practical Room 103 (bottom floor of the Gould Building, Building 116). Additional workshops and discussion groups will take place in the second half of the course and these will take place in the Slayter Seminar Room.
2	Lectures and Practical
3	Lectures and Practical
4	Lectures and Practical
5	Lectures and Practical
6	Lectures and Practical
7	Lecture, Workshop	Exam over first six weeks of the course and The Ancestor’s Tale
8	Lecture, Workshop	Oral presentation and leading discussion group sometime in weeks 8-10
9	Lecture, Workshop	Oral presentation and leading discussion group sometime in weeks 8-10
10	Lecture, Workshop	Oral presentation and leading discussion group sometime in weeks 8-10
11	Lecture, Workshop
12	Workshop	Species account

Tutorial Registration

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Exam	50 %	16/09/2019	30/09/2019	1, 2
Oral presentation on a research topic in ecology, evolution or conservation of vertebrates (one only)	15 %	23/09/2019	25/10/2019	3, 4
Facilitation of discussion on the topic presented in the oral presentation and general participation in the course.	10 %	23/09/2019	25/10/2019	3, 4
Written species account for course Field Guide	20 %	14/10/2019	08/11/2019	1, 2, 3, 4
Flash talk on species account for course Field Guide.	5 %	14/10/2019	08/11/2019	4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

All Practicals and Workshops are compulsory. Students are very strongly encouraged to come to all lectures.   The course is set up with relatively few lectures, so attendance for much of the course is required. 

Examination(s)

There will be one exam that will cover the first half of the course including all of the lecture and practical material.

*NOTE: Students must obtain a mean of at least 45% for the exam component of the course to pass.

Assessment Task 1

Exam

Due: Week 7

Returned: Within 2 weeks

There will be one exam that will cover the first half of the course including all of the lecture and practical material, as well as The Ancestor’s Tale.

The date range is a general indication of when the mid-semester exam will be held. Please check the course Wattle site and the ANU Examination Timetable to confirm the date, time and location of the end of semester exam.

Assessment Task 2

Oral presentation on a research topic in ecology, evolution or conservation of vertebrates (one only)

Each student will present one short introductory talk on a research topic as a prelude to running a discussion around the topic of their presentation. This may be done in groups, depending on numbers in the course.

Presentation requirements: Short oral presentation with powerpoint

Due: Sometime in weeks 8-10

Returned: Within two weeks of the due date, sooner if possible.

Assessment Task 3

Facilitation of discussion on the topic presented in the oral presentation and general participation in the course.

Each student will chair and facilitate a discussion around the topic of their presentation and also participate in discussions run by other students.

Due: Sometime in weeks 8-10

Returned: Within 2 weeks

Assessment Task 4

Written species account for course Field Guide

Each student will either choose or be assigned a local vertebrate species and they will be tasked with writing a detailed species account.

Word limit (where applicable): Requirements will be presented in class.

Presentation requirements: Requirements will be presented in class.

Due: Week 11 or 12

Returned: Within 2 weeks

Assessment Task 5

Flash talk on species account for course Field Guide.

Students will present a very short flash talk on the highlights of their species account.

Presentation requirements: Very short oral presentation.

Due: Week 11 or 12

Returned: Within two weeks of the due date, sooner if possible.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Marked assessment will be left at the Biology Teaching and Learning Centre.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Students cannot resubmit assignments.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students