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

Medical microbiology involves research into human infectious diseases from multiple viewpoints, including: spectrum of disease, diagnosis, aetiology, treatment, prevention, control and epidemiology. An integral part of the practice of medical microbiology is laboratory processing of specimens derived from patients with infectious diseases. Ultimately you will need to have both a comprehensive and in-depth knowledge and understanding of theoretical concepts in infectious disease microbiology and be able to apply that knowledge and understanding safely, competently and skilfully in a PC2 diagnostic laboratory context. Such obligatory graduate attributes need to be constructed and refined in a stepwise progression.

LQB462 is designed to provide you with a more focussed and in-depth knowledge and understanding of theoretical concepts in medical microbiology and for you to be able to apply that knowledge and understanding in a PC2 diagnostic laboratory context.

LQB462is part of a structured progression from your earlier LS47 units, including: LQB182 Human Cell and Molecular Biology, LQB281 Human Health and Disease Concepts and LQB362 Microbiology: Principles and Practice. LQB462 precedes your progression to the advanced-level unit, LQB562 Advanced Microbial Diagnostics.

The LS47 medical microbiology stream as outlined above was specifically developed to ensure a stepwise and coherent learning pathway in your training to become a professionally-accredited medical laboratory scientist with expertise in diagnostic microbiology.

Aims

LQB462 aims to further stimulate your scientific enquiry as well as continuing to develop and refine your critical thinking-complex reasoning, data interpretation, scientific communication and information retrieval skills that were initiated in your earlier units. This unit continues your training in medical microbiology by using a more focussed approach embedded in a global medical laboratory science learning context. You will develop an appreciation for the importance of: (i) medical microbiology in human disease processes and (ii) the diagnostic microbiologist and the pivotal role they play in infectious disease research and diagnostics. The unit aims to develop your sub-discipline specific knowledge and understanding of concepts in medical bacteriology and parasitology and allows you to translate those learning experiences into hands-on diagnostic laboratory practice.

This unit will be taught in a way that encourages you to acquire and develop the graduate capabilities highly valued in a medical laboratory scientist by workplace employers. Such graduate capabilites and learning outcomes will also prepare you for postgraduate research or possibly, entry into postgraduate medicine courses as an alternate graduate destination.

Objectives

To successfully complete this unit and satisfy its aims, you will be able to:

1. demonstrate a working knowledge, understanding and terminological expertise regarding: (i) the infectious disease diagnosis pathway, (ii) bacterial diagnostic taxonomy, (iii) gastrointestinal tract bacterial disease states, (iv) viral disease diagnosis and (v) parasites of the human body. This learning outcome will be evaluated by written assessment strategies.

2. critically analyse patient case scenarios, solve problems by using complex reasoning skills and synthesise information/data in an intelligent manner so as to be able to draw useful interpretations and conclusions that construct your learning. This learning outcome will be evaluated by both written and laboratory-based assessment strategies.

3. demonstrate your ability to safely, competently and skilfully perform routine techniques required by biomedical scientists to satisfy baseline competencies in a diagnostic microbiology PC2 laboratory. This learning outcome will be evaluated by laboratory-based assessment strategies.

4. organise scientific data and critically report (both in written format and orally) the results, interpretations and conclusions derived from laboratory activities. This learning outcome will be evaluated by both written and laboratory-based assessment strategies.

Content

In this unit, you will develop and refine your knowledge, understanding and application as it applies to specific learning concepts in medical microbiology, including, but not limited to: the infectious disease diagnosis pathway, specimen processing, isolation, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility of human bacterial pathogens, bacterial diagnostic taxonomy, gastrointestinal tract bacterial disease states, viral disease diagnosis and medical parasitology.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be team taught and as such will employ a variety of teaching and learning models. You may also be provided with a series of self directed learning activities designed to assist you in monitoring your own learning outside of the classroom.

One model, a context-based approach, will help you construct your knowledge and understanding. In this model, theory and practice will be closely aligned to each other through integrating lectorials (lecture-tutorial-dry laboratory combination) with wet laboratory learning experiences. You should view lectorials as an opportunity to develop and refine your knowledge and understanding of learning concepts through the provision of an open forum where learning is constructed rather than delivered. Wherever appropriate, (dry) laboratory learning experiences will commence in the lectorial and then be followed up in the (wet) laboratory. Thus, there will be a seamless transition in your learning from the lectorial classroom space to the laboratory environment. Lectorials are of two hour duration, while wet laboratory activities will run for up to two hours. Time will be available in both lectorials and wet laboratory classes for discussions at the individual, group and class levels to help clarify and reinforce learning concepts and develop critical thinking-complex reasoning skills. Your lectorials together with your hands-on practical classes will focus on the interpretation of case scenarios that model realworld patient cases.

Practical sessions allow you to apply your learning, demonstrate your skill development and ability to critically analyse and evaluate data, while obtaining learning support and feedback from laboratory teaching staff. Teamwork and independent learning will be encouraged in the laboratory. Apart from discipline specific knowledge and practical skills, you will also learn how to troubleshoot and problem-solve in the laboratory, develop effective written and oral communication skills as well as the ability to work individually or as a team in an ethical, culturally sensitive and professional manner.

Your learning activities and assessment tasks will be focused on developing and demonstrating these skills and capabilities, respectively.

Assessment

Your ability to meet the various learning milestones embedded in this unit is critical to successful completion of this unit while ensuring that learning outcomes and aims have been met. Your first learning milestone assessment will be in the form of a Progress Exam in Week 7 or 8 covering theoretical/practical learning experiences in medical bacteriology. This progress assessment will allow us and yourself to monitor your performance in the unit and provide, where needed, the opportunity for you to seek feedback and assistance from the teaching team. In Week 10, your second learning milestone assessment, in the form of a hands-on diagnostic bacteriology laboratory examination, will focus on theoretical/practical learning experiences as well as PC2 diagnostic laboratory skill competence. The third milestone learning assessment will be a take home examination based on theoretical/practical learning experiences in medical parasitology.Your final learning milestone assessment will be conducted in the central examination timeslot and will assess ¿whole-of-unit¿ learning experiences in both medical bacteriology and parasitology.

Close integration of theory and practice in this unit, and accrediation requirements from professional bodies, necessitate a requirement for you to obtain ?50% in both the theory and practical assessment tasks to successfully complete this unit.

Formative
A series of formative question and answer sets for you to work through outside of the classroom are included in the LQB462 Microbial Diagnostics Teaching and Learning Guide. Additional formative question and answer sets may be made available on Blackboard.To the student: Throughout the semester you will be provided with feedback on your learning by participating in formative learning activities and discussing them with your classmates and teaching staff. You can also receive immediate feedback on your own progress by completing the self directed learning activities available to you on Blackboard, where available. Feedback on assessment items will be through criteria marking sheets and you should use these resources to identify areas you might need to focus your learning.

To the teaching team: During the semester and at the end of semester you will also be provided with the opportunity to give your feedback on the teaching and learning strategies employed this unit via online and/or hardcopy surveys and by other evaluation instruments, as available. At any time, your feedback and suggestions will be used to make changes to the unit where possible to improve the learning outcomes for you and future students.

Assessment name: Examination (written)
Description: Review and challenge-type multiple-choice questions.
Relates to objectives: 1 and 2
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 7 or 8

Assessment name: Laboratory/Practical
Description: Practical Examination.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 10

Assessment name: Laboratory/Practical
Description: Practical Examination.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 4
Weight: 15%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

Assessment name: Examination (written)
Description: Review and challenge-type multiple-choice and short answer questions.
Relates to objectives: 1 and 2
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Central Exam Period

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

Recommended Learning Tools:
The LQB462 Microbial Diagnostics Teaching and Learning Guide is one of several useful resources for you. This hardcopy learning tool includes: lectorial learning framework notes, detailed laboratory instructional notes, health and safety information for the PC2 diagnostic laboratory, diagnostic tests and identification tables and bacterial growth media formularies. It also contains formative question and answer sets and useful advices/tips to help you prepare for the various formative and summative assessments re: your learning milestones.

References:
1. Brock Biology of Microorganisms. Madigan, Martinko and Parker. Prentice-Hall, USA. Latest Edition.
2. Microbiology: A Clinical Approach. Strelkauskas, Strelkauskas and Moszyk- Strelkauskas. Garland Science, USA. Latest Edition.
3. Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology. Forbes, Sahm and Weissfeld. Mosby, USA. Latest Edition.
4. Clinical Parasitology: A Handbook for Medical Practitioners and Microbiologists. Sheorey, Walker and Bigg. Melbourne Univ Press, Australia. Latest Edition.
5. Markell & Voge's Medical Parasitology. Markell, John and Krotoski. Latest Edition.
6. Medical Microbiology. Mims, Playfair, Roitt, Wakelin and Williams Mosby, USA. Latest Edition.
7. Antibiotic Therapeutic Guidelines. Antibiotic Expert Group. Therapeutic Guidelines, Melbourne, Australia. Latest Edition.

You will be referred to additional texts, peer reviewed scientific journal articles, websites and online resources via Blackboard when required.

Risk assessment statement

In order that you become proficient in the necessary laboratory skills required for employment in a medical microbiology PC2 laboratory you will be trained in the handling of equipment, materials and human clinical specimens normally associated with this discipline. For the classes or assessment tasks (e.g. practical exam) where you will handle such samples or materials you must have the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) to enter and work in the laboratory. You will be required to adhere to and follow the safety procedures at all times. Further, it is expected that you will complete the online student Health and Safety quiz available on QUT Virtual before classes commence at the beginning of Semester. You will be required to submit a copy of your completion certificate for the quiz to your unit coordinator the first week practical classes commence. Refer to the university health and safety web site for further information.

If you have an underlying health condition you are encouraged to consult your 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: 08-Oct-2012