| CODE | MSS3006 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Fact or Fiction | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Mathematics and Science Education | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Society is constantly bombarded by information that may be true or pure fiction. This study-unit proposes a set of the most common phenomena (from the fields of cryptozoology, UFOlogy and the paranormal) and invites students to apply their scientific knowledge to explore the phemomena and to argue/decide whether they are fact or fiction. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit will enable students to: - learn about various paranormal phenomena that have influenced public opinion; - review paranormal phenomena with an open mind through the use of scientific reasoning; - present and defend their conclusions about the phenomena presented; and - apply the skills developed during the study-unit to investigate other phenomena. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - list the evidence (e.g. images, videos and online information) available about various 'unexplained' phenomena; - critically discuss and evaluate eyewitness accounts of these phenomena; - apply scientific research to investigate clues and evidence to decide the veracity of claims about paranormal phenomena; and - integrate information from different sources and disciplines to develop an informed stance about the phenomena studied. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - critically analyze evidence of unexplained phenomena via science and technology; - provide scientific explanations for claims of paranormal phenomena; - debate about the veracity of claims about paranormal phenomena; and - summarise arguments into coherent reports. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Lecturer will provide case studies and evidence (images, videos and online information) that will be used as the basis of the studies conducted during the study-unit. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Paul J. Pace |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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