Unit information: Anatomy Capstone Project in 2019/20

Unit name	Anatomy Capstone Project
Unit code	ANAT30012
Credit points	40
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Miller
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	Research Concepts in Applied Anatomy
School/department	School of Anatomy
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

Students will conduct an original research project and present their findings in the form of a research dissertation and oral presentation. The unit aims to encourage students to investigate a specific research question in considerable depth and to develop an understanding of the process of scientific research.

The project can take a variety of forms, including but not limited to:

1. Collection of original, primary data, on a topic relevant to applied anatomy.
2. Analysis of data gathered from literature sources, or from the corpus of the literature itself.
3. Design and testing of a significant piece of work related to an appropriate facet of anatomy, such as Anatomical learning and teaching, prosection and preservation of specimens to demonstrate anatomical structures, or anatomical illustration.

Students on pathway A & B will produce a dissertation. Pathway C students will produce one or more appropriate objects (digital or physical) accompanied by a written justification. For all three pathways, data collection or project development effort should represent substantial and accountable research effort.

Aims:

The aim of this unit is to develop in the student the ability to source information relevant to a research question, to formulate and test an hypothesis based on that information, and to produce a substantial body of supporting work.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Developed a deep understanding of a specific anatomical question through independent research.
• The ability to gather information from the primary literature, to critically evaluate the material, and to appraise competing theories.
• The ability to present original findings and ideas to a specialist audience in written and oral forms.

Teaching Information

Project planning and discussion meetings with project supervisors. Training in techniques and analysis relevant to the specific area.

Assessment Information

The unit will be assessed through:

Progress report (10%). Students on all three pathways will produce a progress report.

Project Dissertation (70%). Students on pathway A & B will produce a dissertation. Pathway C students will produce one or more appropriate objects (digital or physical) accompanied by a written justification.

Oral presentation (10%). Assessment by a marking panel of a short oral presentation about the student’s research and findings. Students on pathway C will present and/or demonstrate their object.

Professionalism and enterprise (10%). A summative assessment by the project supervisor(s) of the student’s engagement with the project.

Reading and References

Students will be guided to the appropriate literature by their research supervisor in the first instance.