Programme

Introduction to Botany and on the understanting of the scientific literature (structure of a scientific article, scientific journals, browsers of scientific articles, the peer-review process).

Core Documentation

No textbook indicated -The student can ask the teacher for PDFs of the Power Point presentations.

Type of delivery of the course

Classroom lectures

Type of evaluation

Written multiple choice test.

Programme

The program focuses on major themes of Biological Evolution of animal and plant organisms.
Light and Life, Evolution of photomorphogenesis, Secondary metabolites of plants, The conquest of emerged lands, plants-insect co-evolution.

Core Documentation

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, Lincoln Taiz and Eduardo Zeiger, editor SINAUER ASSOCIATES (Sixth EDITION; in english language)

Type of delivery of the course

Classroom lessons

Type of evaluation

Written test: questions with open and/or multiple choice answers

Programme

The aim of the course is to make evolutionary processes understood by trying to evade an anthropocentric vision of the system. Concrete examples of case studies are associated with basic notions to understand how the scientific method is applied. The main topics covered are: how to apply the scientific method; history of evolutionary thought; basic principles of evolution; reproductive strategies; symbiosis; history of life on Earth.

Core Documentation

handouts provided by the teacher

Type of delivery of the course

-

Type of evaluation

multiple choice questions

Programme

The course is based on the modern notions of Educational Neuroscience, a recent branch
of Neuroscience, aimed at carrying out research and popularize the brain mechanisms through
which we learn. It suggests institutions and people of all ages
the best approaches and methods to become more efficient and productive.
The course illustrates different concepts drawn from neurobiology and cognitive psychology
useful to understand the potential and limits of our brain when we learn something new. At the
same time it provides practical tools to improve our study, work and teaching activities
throughout the whole course of our life.
The main topics of the course are:
• The fundamental concepts of neuroscience
• Introduction to educational Neuroscience
• Why "Learn to Learn"
• How cognitive skills change with age
• What happens in the brain when we learn
• The ways we think
• Attention
• Stress and learning
• The best study strategies and the worst ones
• The Illusion of knowledge
• Procrastination and how to fight it
• Why sleep if you want to learn better
• Is multitasking really effective?
• Neuromiths
• Physical activity and its effects on the brain
• Cognitive biases and scientific reasoning
• MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) as a model of study

Core Documentation

A. Zocchi, Learning to Learn: Knowing the brain to improve learning at any age. Amazon ed.
(ebook and paperbook.)

Type of evaluation

Online multiple choice test.