Unit Outline

This unit examines the neurobiology, pathology and disease processes of the primary diseases causing dementia. Damage and pathology are contextualised in terms of the functions of the nervous system, providing insights to the causes, symptoms and progression of the most common dementias. Current research on causes, risk factors including genetics, and the prospects for effective treatments are explored. Students complete five content modules, and are assessed both online for the content modules, and in the form of a written MyContext assignment requiring the student to directly relate the course material to their individual professional and/or personal context.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Describe the normal structure and function of the nervous system.
2	Describe the pathological and clinical features of Alzheimer's Disease, Frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia and Vascular dementia.
3	Evaluate how modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors affect the neurobiology of dementia
4	Evaluate the efficacy of and evidence base for common pharmacological approaches to dementia.
5	Critically analyse neurobiology literature in the context of dementia.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES

Alterations as a result of student feedback

No alteration has been made to this semester offering.

How will I be Assessed?

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
ASSESSMENT TASK 1:	Online MCQ quizzes	Week 3	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
ASSESSMENT TASK 2:	Module short answer questions	Week 4	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
ASSESSMENT TASK 3:	MyContext Proposal	Week 8	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO5
ASSESSMENT TASK 4:	MyContext Final assignment	Week 13	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Online MCQ quizzes

TASK DESCRIPTION:

Online MCQ Quizzes (5 quizzes x 5% grade)

TASK LENGTH:

The time limit for each quiz is 20 minutes

DUE DATE:

Week 3

WEIGHT:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME


1	Demonstrate an understanding and applying the knowledge presented in the module content to answer the quiz items.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 2: Module short answer questions

TASK DESCRIPTION:

Short answer questions

TASK LENGTH:

2 x 500 words

DUE DATE:

Week 4

WEIGHT:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME


1	Refer to the scoring rubrics on MyLO for specific criteria.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment Task 3: MyContext Proposal

TASK DESCRIPTION:

MyContext assignment proposal. This task consists of two parts:
AT3A MyContext Proposal
AT3B Reflection

TASK LENGTH:

AT3A 700 Words AT3B 300 Words

DUE DATE:

Week 8

WEIGHT:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME


1	Refer to the scoring rubrics on MyLO for specific criteria (additionally measures ILO3 or ILO4 depending on the topic of choice).	LO1, LO2, LO5

Assessment Task 4: MyContext Final assignment

TASK DESCRIPTION:

MyContext Final assignment

TASK LENGTH:

2000 words

DUE DATE:

Week 13

WEIGHT:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME


1	Refer to the scoring rubrics on MyLO for specific criteria (also measures ILO3 or 4 depending on the topic of choice)	LO1, LO2, LO5

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late Penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.