Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit includes specialised radiotherapy techniques and equipment including particle therapy, volumetric arc therapy and brachytherapy. Previous radiation therapy units have provided knowledge and experience with a wide range of treatment techniques encompassing the relatively simple and highly complex procedures and tumour sites. This unit aims to introduce the student to more novel treatment topics that are currently in development and areas of current and future research. Improvements in new equipment and less common procedures will be outlined to make students aware of these techniques and technologies even though they may not be using them on a regular basis yet. This unit draws heavily on the current evidence base and content will necessarily change in response to new developments arising.

Aims

This unit aims to stimulate student interest in advanced radiotherapy equipment, techniques and associated treatment procedures, as well as providing them with an overview of current and future avenues of research.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, you should be able to

1. Critically evaluate the use of advanced radiotherapy equipment and techniques.

2. Appraise the impact of technological advances on role development, quality assurance, patient quality of life and departmental resources.

3. Present findings in an appropriate format supported by a wide range of critically appraised literature.

Content

This unit includes the following:

Department Design and equipment commissioning
Quality Assurance for novel technologies
Advanced Radiotherapy Equipment and clinical techniques including:
Image guided radiotherapy techniques
Stereotactic treatments
4D treatment
Adaptive RT Systems
Particle therapy,
Tomotherapy
Volumetric arc therapy (linac-based)

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

A range of learning and teaching strategies will be employed in this unit. The lectures will introduce you to key concepts relating to advances in treatment. Problem-based learning will challenge you to apply your knowledge and understanding to realistic clinical situations utilising complex planning techniques.

At this stage of the Course you should be autonomous in your learning. For this unit, you will still be provided with the essential information but you will need to supplement this considerably with further reading,and self-directed study. You will be required to reflect on your progress and performance in the unit at regular intervals. Additionally you should identify areas for development and address these with the aid of unit teaching staff where appropriate.

This unit requires you to engage with the Blackboard learning environment regularly. Specific learning materials including suggested reading, links to relevant internet sites and other electronic resources will be located on Blackboard. You will be required to use Blackboard to submit your written assessments. A key aspect of the Course is fostering a thriving learning community and for this unit, you will need to participate in regular online debate with your peers and tutors via the Blackboard discussion board.

The final approach to teaching and learning relates to assessment for learning. The assessments for this unit are designed to ensure maximum understanding of the content as well as development of critical appraisal skills and it is important that you recognise the role of assessment in your learning. You should view the assessments as part of your learning and ensure that you utilise the feedback to progress your learning and personal development.

Assessment

All assessment contributes to unit results. Students must achieve at least 50% to be awarded a passing grade.Feedback is provided throughout the semester, where work is reviewed and assessed. Feedback will aim to provide students with suggestions for further development of academic skills as well as suggestions for further study where appropriate. Timescales for feedback will be communicated to students prior to assessment submission but will aim to be returned within 4 weeks where possible. Provisional marks and feedback for this unit will be made available via Blackboard and accessible from the ¿My Grades¿ tool.

Assessment name: Quiz/Test
Description: Summative quizzes on Blackboard - one per topic.
Relates to objectives: 1 and 2.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: See Blackboard Site

Assessment name: Viva voce
Description: Students will be required to answer questions set by the panel in relation to their submitted business case.
Relates to objectives: 2.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: See Blackboard Site

Assessment name: Professional Plans
Description: A business case proposing new technology in a clinical department.
Relates to objectives: All.
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

1. W. Schlegel, T Bortfeld, A.L. Grosu (ed) (2006): New Technologies in Radiation Oncology, Springer

Given the novelty of much of the content resources for this Unit are constantly evolving and students are expected to utilise literature searching methods to locate the most up to date evidence for themselves.

A range of literature from journals including:
1. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
2 Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice
3. Medical Dosimetry
4. Radiotherapy and Oncology

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 17-Oct-2012