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2024 Faculty Courses School of Life Science and Technology First-Year Courses

School of Life Science and Technology Literacy

Academic unit or major
First-Year Courses
Instructor(s)
Ayako Tsuji / Naoko Sato / Yuki Yamaguchi / Yoshitaka Ishii / Takehiko Itoh / Takao Yasui / Koichiro Uriu / Masayasu Mie / Yuriko Osakabe / Shoen Kume / Kumi Kuroda / Hitoshi Nakatogawa / Naohiko Koshikawa / Tetsuya Kadonosono / Akira Kato / Kiyohiko Kawai / Nobuhiro Nishiyama / Toshinori Fujie / Toshiaki Mori / Toshiaki Fukui / Susumu Kajiwara / Taiko To / Rie Yatsunami / Tetsuya Kitaguchi / Akihiro Ohkubo / Yutaka Miura / Hideki Taguchi
Class Format
Exercise (Face-to-face)
Media-enhanced courses
-
Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)
5-6 Fri / 5-6 Fri
Class
-
Course Code
XLS.B105
Number of credits
020
Course offered
2024
Offered quarter
2-3Q
Syllabus updated
Mar 14, 2025
Language
Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

In this course, problem-based learning (PBL)-type exercises and group works will be carried out repeatedly to nurture literacy, fundamental expertise, and creativity in life science and technology. The aim of this course is as follows:
(1) to nurture literacy in life science and technology, i.e., the ability to gather pieces of information concerning a given subject, analyze them, determine if they are correct, co-create ideas, and organize and express your thoughts on the subject.
(2) to nurture fundamental expertise in life science and technology.
(3) to foster students' aspirations for advanced study in life science and technology through the above.

Course description and aims

By the end of this course, students will nurture the following skills and foster aspirations for advanced study in life science and technology.
(1) Literacy in life science and technology
(2) Fundamental expertise in life science and technology
(3) Creativity in life science and technology

Keywords

Literacy, fundamental expertise, creativity, problem-based learning, exercises and group works

Competencies

  • Specialist skills
  • Intercultural skills
  • Communication skills
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

In this course, problem-based learning or PBL will be carried out concerning four short topics and four long topics after orientation and introduction at class 1. Each topic will be completed in one (for short topics) or two (for long topics) 100-min classes. To make full use of limited class time, class time will be separated into several parts. The following is an example. At class 14, "looking-back" presentation will be conducted.

Raising the topic (instructor) -> General introduction to the topic (instructor) -> Gathering pieces of information, analysis, and discussion (students) -> summarizing investigation (students) -> presentation (students) -> Q&A and review (entire class)

Examples of specific topics are as follows:

- Stability and instability of biomolecules: Is it a good thing or a bad thing?
- Chemical structures and properties of biomolecules.
- Creation of artificial proteins by evolutionary molecular engineering.
- Creation of living systems.
- How amazing living organisms are! Energy efficiency, extreme environment, rate of evolution.
- Mechanisms of action of pharmaceuticals.
- Is 〇〇 good or bad to your health? Evidence-based medicine.
- Science of infectious diseases.

Course schedule/Objectives

Course schedule Objectives
Class 1 Orientation and Introduction To understand the outline of this course and how to proceed group works.
Class 2 Short topic 1 To carry out PBL concerning short topic 1 and to complete assignments within class time.
Class 3 Short topic 2 To carry out PBL concerning short topic 2 and to complete assignments within class time.
Class 4 Short topic 3 To carry out PBL concerning short topic 3 and to complete assignments within class time.
Class 5 Short topic 4 To carry out PBL concerning short topic 4 and to complete assignments within class time.
Class 6 Long topic 1 (first half) To carry out PBL concerning long topic 1 (first half) and to complete assignments within class time.
Class 7 Long topic 1 (second half) To carry out PBL concerning long topic 1 (second half) and to complete assignments within class time.
Class 8 Long topic 2 (first half) To carry out PBL concerning long topic 2 (first half) and to complete assignments within class time.
Class 9 Long topic 2 (second half) To carry out PBL concerning long topic 2 (second half) and to complete assignments within class time.
Class 10 Long topic 3 (first half) To carry out PBL concerning long topic 3 (first half) and to complete assignments within class time.
Class 11 Long topic 3 (second half) To carry out PBL concerning long topic 3 (second half) and to complete assignments within class time.
Class 12 Long topic 4 (first half) To carry out PBL concerning long topic 4 (first half) and to complete assignments within class time.
Class 13 Long topic 4 (second half) To carry out PBL concerning long topic 4 (second half) and to complete assignments within class time.
Class 14 "Looking-back" presentation To carry out PBL concerning the topic each team selected and to prepare and give presentations.

Study advice (preparation and review)

Instructions as to the preparation and review necessary for each class will be given by each instructor.

Textbook(s)

None

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Teaching material will be distributed when necessary.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Students will be assessed on the following aspects:
- Attendance to each class
- Deliverables or reports resulting from exercises and group works
- Peer review among team members

Related courses

  • XLS.B101 ： Introduction to Bio-Frontier Research【School of Life Science and Technology】
  • XLS.P101 ： Processes for creation in science and technology【School of Life Science and Technology】
  • XLS.B104 ： International Bio-Creative Design【School of Life Science and Technology】
  • LST.A230 ： Advanced Bio-Creative Design

Prerequisites

None