Objectives
The Graduate Certificate in Neuroscience (Learning) focuses on the application of principles of modern neuroscience to understanding how people learn in the classroom environment. Therefore, the overall educational aim of the program is to provide a framework for: 1. understanding the principles of modern neuroscience; 2. critically appraising the neuroscientific literature as it applies to learning; and 3. application of the principles of neuroscience to understanding classroom practice and behaviour. These broad educational aims will be achieved through the following: * providing students with the opportunity to relate modern concepts in neuroscience to aspects of behaviour relevant to learning in a classroom environment; * using a range of modern teaching methodologies and learning environments, including problem-based learning, interactive practical sessions, and on-line tutorials, to engage students from a wide variety of backgrounds; * exposing students to current concepts in neuroscience from molecular and cellular levels through to the neuroscientific bases of behaviour; * incorporation of critical appraisal training to allow students to evaluate public domain literature on the functions of the brain and nervous system; * application of assessment methods that reflect the backgrounds of the students and their professional practice, such that assessment is an integral component of the learning process and its feedback into practice. * At the completion of this course, students will have achieved the following learning outcomes: * demonstrable capacity to interpret a range of behaviours, especially those relating to learning, in the context of concepts of modern neuroscience; * demonstrable ability to apply concepts of modern neuroscience to generate proposals to critically evaluate and potentially modify learning environments and behaviour; * demonstrable skills in the critical appraisal of neuroscientific literature in the public domain, especially as it relates to learning; * demonstrable understanding of the core concepts of modern neuroscience from molecular and cellular levels through to the neuroscientific bases of behaviour. These concepts include, but are not limited to, neurotransmission and its interactions with drugs; processing of sensory information; generation and control of motor activity; different types of memory; neural development and its relation to the acquisition of behaviour. Learning outcomes At the completion of the course, students are expected to be able to have: * demonstrable capacity to interpret a range of behaviours, especially those relating to learning, in the context of concepts of modern neuroscience; * demonstrable ability to apply concepts of modern neuroscience to generate proposals to critically evaluate and potentially modify learning environments and behaviour; * demonstrable skills in the critical appraisal of neuroscientific literature in the public domain, especially as it relates to learning; * demonstrable understanding of the core concepts of modern neuroscience from molecular and cellular levels through to the neuroscientific bases of behaviour. These concepts include, but are not limited to, neurotransmission and its interactions with drugs; processing of sensory information; generation and control of motor activity; different types of memory; neural development and its relation to the acquisition of behaviour.
