MSc Tissue Engineering for Regenerative Medicine / Course details

The Tutorial unit will provide the students with the skills to communicate complex ideas both verbally and in writing. It is a 15 credit unit that forms part of the taught element of the programme.

The unit aims to:

Oral  presentations: 10-minute (max. 15 slide) individual presentations summarising and critiquing the whole manuscript. A wider view of the field is also expected from additional reading.

Written assignment: Written summary and critique of the whole manuscript, maximum 4-5 A4 pages, Arial, 11pt (or equivalent).

Group discussion: Facilitated student-led group discussion of the manuscript focussing on the wider implications of the research paper and how it moves the field forward.

In total, three tutorials will run in 2/3-week intervals. The first two tutorials will be based on a  

critique of a research paper by individual oral presentation followed by a group  discussion. The third tutorial will involve a critique of a research paper in the format of an  individual written assignment followed by a group discussion. Each tutorial group will  comprise between 4-6 students.  

For each tutorial, the academic member of staff (the tutor) provides a title and supplies  ONE research paper. For the first part of the tutorial students  are expected to work individually to critique the manuscript and prepare an oral  presentation or written critique. Guidance on how to review a manuscript is provided at  the start of the module.  

The second part of all 3 tutorials involves a group discussion focused on the wider  implications of the research paper and how it moves the field of tissue  engineering/regenerative medicine forward. It is each student's responsibility to prepare  beforehand and to be able to explain and debate their own review during the group  discussion. The tutor will facilitate the group discussion, but the sessions are student-led.  

Students should be able to: 

• Show critical thinking capacity, including  abstraction, analysis and critical judgement
• Synthesise and analyse data and information
• Command of communication skills – written and spoken word and images – to engage in constructive dialogue with peers and supervisor
• Critically reflect and evaluate
• Make a reasoned argument for a particular point of view
• Be able to draw reasoned conclusions

Students should be able to: 

• Use library, electronic and online resource  
• Use reference management software  
• Produce high-quality slides for oral presentation  

Students should be able to: 

• To listen effectively and make a constructive contribution to a discussion
• To improve their own learning through planning, monitoring, critical reflection, evaluation and altering strategies
• Independently gather, sift, synthesise and organise material from various sources (including library, electronic and online resources), and critically evaluate its significance.
• Make a succinct oral presentation, using appropriate media for a specialist target audience
• Answer questions and engage in constructive debate of a specialist topic
• Produce a written presentation using language appropriate to a specialist readership
• Collect and integrate evidence to formulate and test a research hypothesis
• To participate in peer review by providing a fair assessment of, and constructive feedback on, fellow students’ participation in group work

Also:

• Schedule tasks in order of importance
• Use personal resources effectively to meet challenges
• Maintain independence of thought and be self-reliant
• Work independently and show capacity for self-discipline, motivation and diligence
• Work as part of a group to help deliver the group’s objectives
• Show capacity for self-appraisal, reflection and time management

Tutorial 1: 50% oral presentation, 50% group discussion

Tutorial 2: 50% oral presentation, 50% group discussion

Tutorial 3: 50% written assignment, 50% group discussion 

Written feedback given.