Learning Outcome:

I had a number of objectives in mind in designing this course. First, I want to introduce the participants to the major issues in the area of developmental neuroscience. To help you appreciate the range of experimental techniques that are used in the effort to address these question. Finally, I think it is important for all of you to gain an appreciation of the historical
and social context of the research presented in this course.

On completion of this subject, students should:

• students will also learn how to critically read primary research papers and
  present these papers to the class;
• students will become familiar with principles of neural development and the
  studies that led to those principles;
• appreciate the major processes involved in the development of the nervous
  system;
• have gained some insights into the cellular and molecular basis of those
  processes
• understand how disorders in developmental processes can lead to neural
  defects;
• be familiar with outstanding questions currently being addressed in research
  in neural development; and
• be familiar with modern experimental approaches used to investigate the
  development of the nervous system and appreciate their strengths and
  limitations.

This subject will help students develop the following generic skills:

• critical analysis of scientific research papers;
• literature searching skills; and
• capacity for independent critical thought, rational enquiry and self-directed learning

Readings:

This course is taught almost entirely using original research papers and reviews. All of the readings will be available on-line as PDFs. If you are unable to ‘efficiently acquire’ the PDFs please let me known and I will make alternative arrangements.

Assessment:

Exams:

There will be a midterm and a final exam. The midterm and final exams will be in two parts, an in-class exam (multiple choice and short answer questions) and a take home exam. The take home exams will consist of a list of 8 to 10 essay questions. You will be required to write a short 1 to 2-page) essay response for 3 to 5 of these questions. The take-home exams are open book and you are free to discuss these questions with your fellow students. However, the exchange of
written notes is not permitted. The take home portion of the mid-term exam will be handed out on Thursday, October 8 and your completed essays must be emailed to me by Monday, October 19, the day of the written in-class mid-term. The take home final will be distributed on Monday, November 30 and you will have until the end of the exam period
(December 16) to turn in your essays

15% In-class midterm
25% Take-home midterm
15% In-class final
25% Take-home Final
15% Submitted exam questions:

Student generated exam questions: A head of the in-class mid-term and final exams you will be expected to generate 5 complete multiple-choice and one short answer exam question(s) with the correct answer indicated. Your goal in writing the questions is to evaluate conceptual understanding not memorization of facts. You will receive full credit by simply completing the assignments. Late submissions will not be accepted!!! You can earn up to 5 points extra credit points per question based on the quality of the questions. Questions of outstanding quality will be included on the in-class exams. I will award partial credit based on the extent to which it is necessary to edit the question.


CODE of ACADEMIC CONDUCT Each student in this course is expected to follow the Code of Academic Integrity set forth by the Council of Representatives on May 24, 1974. The Code is explained on the CODE of Academic Integrity Web Page.