This unit will provide you with the fundamental principles of chemistry that underpin the medical sciences and provide a strong foundation on which you can develop an understanding of biochemistry and molecular science. You will gain an appreciation of the nature of matter, classic atomic structure and how energy is involved in bond formation. These concepts will be developed to explain the forces between molecules that govern chemical interaction. You will be introduced to the chemistry of electrolytes, acids, bases and buffers. This study will be supported by simple calculations to assist you in relating to the pH scale. The study of organic chemistry and molecules central to the life sciences will enable you to develop an understanding of the biochemistry and molecular biology relevant to your specific discipline. The naming and classifying of chemical compounds will enable you to be conversant with accepted scientific terms. Tutorials and on-line activities will complement the theoretical knowledge gained in lectures and provide you with the basic mathematical and analytical tools required in the application of chemistry to your specific discipline.

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from SUTE

Some students commented that a clear requirement for using the Vancouver referencing style in Assessment 2 is needed.

The Vancouver referencing style is the standard citation method in medicine, health sciences, and related disciplines. As the majority of stakeholders in this unit are drawn from health sciences, it is essential that students are proficient in this style and apply it consistently in their assessments. To ensure this outcome and support students' learning, the Unit Coordinator should collaborate with the Academic Learning and Teaching Team to organise a dedicated training workshop at the commencement of the term. The workshop should provide students with the skills required to manage references effectively using platforms such as EndNote or Zotero, while also offering explicit instruction on the correct application of in-text citations. Implementing this initiative will foster academic integrity, improve consistency across submissions, and align student practice with professional and disciplinary standards. Alternatively, a different referencing style should be adopted for assessments in this unit once the referencing requirements of all disciplines have been confirmed, in order to ensure consistency.

Feedback from SUTE

Student enjoyed the unit coordinator delivered the unit content this term

This is encouraging feedback. The Unit Coordinator continually strives to improve teaching skills to meet the needs of multidisciplinary cohorts each term.

Feedback from SUTE

Some students commented that it was difficult to understand how the teaching content relates to their disciplines.

The Unit Coordinator should collaborate with the senior staff member from the Office of Education, Strategy and Quality, alongside the Learning Design Team, to determine and implement the required actions in response to the feedback. This may include, for instance, the integration of discipline-specific resources into weekly content and assessment descriptors. Furthermore, the Head of Course (HoC) will engage with the HoCs of each discipline to appoint a staff member to work closely with the Unit Coordinator in supporting the execution of these initiatives.

Feedback from SUTE

Some students commented that the online verbal communication sessions could be improved for greater smoothness and fluency, for example by reducing or eliminating filled pauses such as “um” and “uh.”

To improve verbal communication and reduce the use of filled pauses such as “uh” and “um,” speakers should practice pausing silently instead of using filler words and slow down the pace of their speech.

Feedback from SUTE

Some students noted that the questions in Assessment 2 were challenging, and that one of the questions requires more clarity.

The Unit Coordinator should continue conducting the peer assessment review to ensure that the questions are appropriately leveled. Additionally, the questions should be run through Copilot to verify their clarity and comprehensiveness.

Feedback from SUTE

The student noted that the unit has heavy content for the amount of time given, and most of it is not relevant to his/her course.

The Unit Coordinator previously held discussions with the Head of Course (HoC) and the teaching team regarding the unit's content. It was determined that the volume of material aligns with the unit's requirements. However, the Unit Coordinator should maintain ongoing dialogue with the HoC and seek feedback from the Heads of Course across all relevant disciplines involved in the unit.