Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

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

Rationale

Medical laboratory scientists work in clinical diagnostic pathology or research laboratories and perform many different laboratory based tests on tissue(s) or bodily fluid specimens e.g. tissue biopsies, blood or urine; these assist medical practitioners and allied healthcare workers in the diagnosis, management of patient care and ongoing research into disease. In order to work effectively and with confidence as a medical laboratory scientist it is critical that you have an understanding of the nature of the profession, practice of diagnostic pathology and clinical disciplines of the field. The unit will also provide you with an overview of your learning throughout the LS47 course in preparation for you future career as a medical laboratory scientist, and is completed in the first Semester introductory phase of your studies in conjunction with your core foundation units LQB182, MAB141 and PQB105.

Aims

This unit is in the course to provide you with foundation knowledge and practical skills to prepare you for the later years of your course, and a future career as a medical laboratory scientist. This unit will introduce you to the role of medical laboratory scientists in the diagnosis of disease, ongoing management of patient care and the profession of medical laboratory science in the Australian and international context. You will have the opportunity to learn and apply basic laboratory skills required by medical laboratory scientists to practice in clinical pathology. You will also identify your preferred learning style and be introduced to the information literacy, study and learning resources available for you to successfully transition into first year and the rest of your studies in the LS47 course at QUT.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you will demonstrate evidence of:

1. Appropriate knowledge of the theoretical, practical and professional aspects of medical laboratory science in disease diagnosis, ongoing patient care/management or medical research in the local and global context.


2. Ethical knowledge and behaviours required in the workplace and at QUT with respect to safe laboratory practice and the use of patients' personal information in a confidential, intercultural and sensitive manner appropriate for medical laboratory scientists.


3. The ability to reflect on and communicate your learning and understanding of your future role as a medical laboratory scientist, and the profession of medical laboratory science by providing evidence of your academic and professional development plans.


4. The ability to locate, interpret and communicate your knowledge and learning in spoken, written and online/digital contexts for a range of purposes and audiences, including international and intercultural communication contexts.


5. Collaboration and contribution in a group learning environment and the ability to provide and receive peer assessment in a manner appropriate for medical laboratory scientists and your ongoing studies at QUT.

Content

The content of the unit includes:

• An introduction to the profession and scope of practice for medical laboratory scientists;


• Laboratory OHS and basic practical skills required in the workplace and for students at QUT;


• Ethical knowledge and behaviours appropriate for medical laboratory scientists and students at QUT;


• An introduction to the core clinical disciplines, and its' specific knowledge and application in chemical pathology, microbiology, haematology and anatomical pathology contexts;


• Clinical diagnostic pathology in the Australian and international context;


• Successful study skills and learning approaches in the transition to study at university;


• Information literacy including locating, evaluating, reflecting on, and communicating your learning; and,


• Your professional development, career plans and graduate destination options.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be taught by a team of teaching staff from across the course and consists of a 1 hour lecture, 2 hour tutorial session and 2 hour practical class each week. The lectures will provide you with broad theoretical and practical knowledge relevant to the profession and clinical disciplines of medical laboratory science. Tutorials and practical sessions will allow you to apply your learning and acquire basic laboratory skills to produce, analyse and evaluate data while obtaining learning support and feedback from teaching staff.

As well as introducing you to the discipline specific knowledge and practical skills, you will also learn how to develop effective study and written/oral communication skills, as well as the ability to work individually or as a team in an ethical, culturally sensitive and professional manner. You will also attend an offsite laboratory visit to a recognised pathology laboratory, an industry speaker session and participate in a poster presentation event to place your learning, course and career development in context. Your learning activities and assessment tasks will therefore be focused on developing and demonstrating these skills and capabilities.

Assessment

General Assessment Information
Due to the applied clinical laboratory nature of this course and the requirements of professional course accreditation, you must obtain a minimum of 50% in both the theory and practical components, and at least 50% overall for successful completion of this unit. Where appropriate, this unit will use Assignment Minder for the submission of assessment items.

Practical Class Attendance and Assessment
Participation in the practical classes is an integral part of your learning experience in LQB181. If you are unable to attend a practical session, you should inform the unit coordinator by email and provide supporting documentation for your absence the following week at the start of practical class, e.g. medical certificate. In the case of unapproved absence from practicals, no marks will be given for related assessment.

Late Submission and Requests for Extensions
Assessment tasks will not be accepted if they are more than one working week late (five days) or the material has been subsequently reviewed in class. For assessment tasks submitted late where an extension has not been sought and approved, 20% from the total mark available will be subtracted for each day or part day of lateness until five working days have passed. A mark of zero and did not complete will then be recorded as your final result. If you need an extension it must be requested before the due date by emailing the unit coordinator, with supporting documentation attached, outlining why you need an extension and how long you are seeking. Requests for extensions received after the due date without appropriate supporting evidence will not be approved.Throughout the Semester you will receive immediate feedback on your progress as you complete learning tasks in tutorial and practical classes each week. You will also be provided with verbal and written feedback from the teaching staff on your professional plans, reflections and learning activities in your Practical Reports and Learning Portfolio; and for your group's poster presentation, from your peers.

During and at the end of Semester you will have the opportunity to share your experiences and thoughts by providing your feedback on the teaching and content of this unit. Your ideas and suggestions may be used to make changes to the unit (e.g. classroom activities, practicals or assessment) where appropriate to improve the learning outcomes for you and future students.

Assessment name: Laboratory/Practical
Description: At various stages throughout the Semester you will submit a series of case study based practical reports. (Formative and summative)
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, and 5.
Weight: 35%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Ongoing-Blackboard

Assessment name: Poster Presentation
Description: You will form a group and prepare/present a poster on a designated topic in a format appropriate for scientific communication within the field of medical laboratory science. (Formative and summative).
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 4 and 5.
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 13

Assessment name: Portfolio
Description: A collection of your reflections, assessment items and professional/personal plans for your future career as a medical laboratory scientist, and academic success in the course at QUT. You will continue to add to your Learning Portfolio in your second, third and final year units, and are required to submit it for final evaluation in the final Semester of the course in LSB881 Professional Development for Medical Laboratory Scientists. (Formative and summative).
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Ongoing-Blackboard

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

You will be referred to appropriate textbooks, scientific articles, peer reviewed journals, websites and online learning materials and/or information resources via the unit BlackBoard site throughout the Semester.

For all practical classes held in the laboratory, you are required to wear appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) including your lab coat, safety glasses and closed, non-slip footwear, i.e. if you can see the top of your feet when you look down, do not wear those shoes to class as you will not be permitted to enter the laboratory as this breaches Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements/guidelines.

Risk assessment statement

This unit includes a practical laboratory component. In order that you become proficient in the required practical skills, you will be trained in the handling and disposal of equipment, materials and specimens in a manner associated with good laboratory practice and OHS in the workplace and at QUT.

You are also required to complete the online Student Health and Safety Quiz available on QUT Virtual before classes commence at the beginning of Semester. You should then provide a printed hard-copy of your certificate of completion for the quiz to your unit coordinator in your first practical class. You are referred to the university's health and safety web site and for further information. You are required to adhere to and follow the safety procedures at all times.

If you have an underlying health condition you are encouraged to consult the unit coordinator, as you may be required to take additional precautions on occasions.

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: 11-Feb-2013