Hello and welcome to the presentation of
the IATL module Genetics and Society.
It is open to cross-faculty students
in the second and third years,
and no pre existing knowledge is a
requisite for enrolling on the module.
In this module in which you will learn
through a variety of active learning methods,
like, for example, team learning and
problem based learning and from a range
of experts from all the departments or
from a variety of departments at Warwick.
The main aim of this module is for you to
understand the value of an interdisciplinary
approach to the field of genetics,
and in particular the relevance of looking
at human genetic technologies such as
for example, prenatal testing, IVF.
DNA editing and cloning and so on.
The relevance of utilizing an
interdisciplinary approach for looking
at such human genetic technologies
and for thinking about the issues
related to them and possible solution.
Many disciplines of an interest
in looking at these human genetic
technology well beyond the life Sciences.
Think about the social questions that
the application of such technology raise.
For example, what is the impact
on the makeup of our society
when we apply these technologies?
Think about the moral
question is a right of wrong
to select certain traits,
think about the effect that the application
of genetic technologies have caused in history.
the rays of eugenics
In the not too far distant past.
And you will really appreciate the
importance of taking in account the different
perspectives when approaching
modern issues linked to human genetic
technologies an important to take in account.
It is very round nature when we
think about possible solutions.
In doing so you will be facilitated
by the utilization,
the use of a variety of sources,
not only academic papers,
not only academic contribution
but you will also approach
the topics utilizing,
for example, movies and you will be
reflecting on the impact of the use
of popular art on our ideas around
genetics and how this is shaped,
the ways in which society look
at genetic technologies.
What is the assessment? This
assessment consists of two pieces.
The first one,
50% is an academic writing piece
and we will set a question
to which you will have to reply
by writing an essay, an academic
scientific Journal
Article Style piece or a report.
The other 50% is a Student Devised Assessment,
which means that you will devise
your own assessment,
choosing at research question,
an area of interest that you wish.
to investigate further.
You will undertake an interdisciplinary
research and you will report your
findings in the medium of choice.
That could be,
for example, a presentation,
a poster, another essay, a dance,
and so on and so forth. For allowing
you to familiarize more with
this student devised assessment
you should follow the link reported
where you can listen to a longer
explanation of what a student devised
assessment is and you can also have
a look at the work produced for
the SDA the student devised assessment
from previous cohorts. Here is just
added a few comments of your fellow
students with testimonials about
approaching this student devised assessment,
which is a personal project and
their their positive experiences of
learning in a very active learning
environment when they have the
possibility to work with fellow
students from other disciplines
and they have the opportunity to
think about problems and issues
and linked to very topical themes,
very timely themes utilizing also a
variety of different sources.
I hope to see you on the module and
please email me at the email reported
below if you have any questions.
Thank you.