MSc Key Skills for Global Marine Resources Management Students

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Use data processing software to analyse datasets
• Structure an academic literature review
• Understand the basis for planning research field or laboratory work to meet research objectives
• Write a well-structured scientific report
• Critically research, evaluate and synthesise the findings of peer-reviewed publications
• Work as a Team
• Understand the scientific method, formulate research questions, hypotheses, aims and objectives
• Write articles that communicate research effectively to non-specialist audiences

Workshops and fieldwork sessions covering the material in this course will take place through Semester 1 at the University of Southampton. These sessions will be supported with self-study materials and online resources, in some cases.

Sessions will cover the following areas:

• Communication and research skills; Ethics, Academic Integrity, Scientific Method;
• Critical appraisal of scientific literature, writing an academic literature review, and writing a project proposal;
• Information Technology and T and data analysis, including an introduction to MATLAB™, Surfer™, and Ocean Dataview™, which will all be used to support data presentation;

The module will include an essential component of boatwork, covering physical, chemical, biological oceanographic and marine geological techniques, and chartwork.

Teaching and learning methods

Communication and Research Skills: These group sessions will provide students with training and experience in critical thinking and critical appraisal, writing research papers, preparing academic literature reviews, and producing research proposals.

IT & Data Analysis: These data-led sessions will cover the fundamentals of data presentation, data visualization and general introductions to software platforms such as Ocean Dataview™, Matlab™ and Surfer™.

Boatwork: intensive MSc boatwork activities are intended to familiarise students with a range of techniques and equipment used in physical, chemical and biological oceanography and marine geology, while also exercising team working skills and exploring features of estuarine oceanography.

A wide range of support can be provided for those students who have further or specific learning and teaching needs.

Assessment strategy

Assessment will include the delivery of a literature review and project proposal, that will be related to the MSc Research Dissertation module.

Assessment of the boatwork activity will take the form of a research paper, describing the chemical, physical and biological features of the estuarine environment in Southampton Water.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External