Unit Outline

This unit has been designed to systematically introduce the students to the common and diagnostically important fungal, parasitic and viral diseases of major organ systems in humans. The unit content is primarily concerned with laboratory diagnostic aspects of the above diseases, and students will be introduced to a range of relevant fungi and parasites in a diagnostic setting. This unit is co-taught with a related unit to students in the Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine, and although you will be provided with similar knowledge and laboratory skills as these students, you will also undertake additional learning activities and assessment. This is necessary for you to develop and demonstrate the higher level investigatory and communication skills to satisfy the Australian Qualification Framework level 9 requirements of a Master’s degree.

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 common fungal, parasitic and viral infectious diseases of humans and the associated pathogens.
2	Describe and discuss the systematic laboratory investigation of common fungal, parasitic and viral diseases, and interpret and evaluate the relevance of laboratory findings to clinical presentation.
3	Demonstrate competence in core laboratory skills, by appropriately identifying common fungal and parasitic pathogens in a mock clinical setting and interpreting and evaluating the relevance of laboratory findings to clinical presentation.
4	Interpret and evaluate contemporary scientific literature related to infectious diseases and discuss the impact on the routine practice of diagnostic microbiology.
5	Plan, evaluate, interpret and communicate research activities relevant to the practice of diagnostic microbiology.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CXA641

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Additional tutorial sessions have been added.

How will I be Assessed?

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
ASSESSMENT TASK 1:	Test	Week 5	10 %	LO1, LO2
ASSESSMENT TASK 2:	Practical Exam - mycology	Week 6	15 %	LO3
ASSESSMENT TASK 3:	Mycology Assignment	Week 7	10 %	LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5
ASSESSMENT TASK 4:	Method Development and evaluation	Week 9	20 %	LO3, LO4, LO5
ASSESSMENT TASK 5:	Practical Exam - parasitology	Exam Period	15 %	LO3
ASSESSMENT TASK 6:	Examination - Theory	Exam Period	30 %	LO1, LO2

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Test

TASK DESCRIPTION:

This is a closed book paper-based exam, where you will be required to demonstrate your individual ability to communicate and apply theoretical and practical knowledge. You may take one A4 double sided or two A4 single sided handwritten or typed notes into the exam.

TASK LENGTH:

50 minutes

DUE DATE:

Week 5

WEIGHT:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME


1	Describe the common fungal infectious diseases of humans and the associated pathogens.	LO1
2	Describe and discuss the systematic laboratory investigation of common fungal and interpret and evaluate the relevance of laboratory findings to clinical presentation.	LO2

Assessment Task 2: Practical Exam - mycology

TASK DESCRIPTION:

Identify fungi from mock clinical specimens/scenarios. This is a hurdle task that you must pass to pass the unit.

TASK LENGTH:

3 hours

DUE DATE:

Week 6

WEIGHT:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME


1	Demonstrate competence in identifying common fungal organisms using diagnostic criteria.	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Mycology Assignment

TASK DESCRIPTION:

Preparation of a “Laboratory Manual” on how to detect and identify pathogenic fungi from cases of tinea and how to evaluate the possible use of emerging technologies.

TASK LENGTH:

5 pages

DUE DATE:

Week 7

WEIGHT:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME


1	Written in an appropriate instructional style for a laboratory manual.	LO2
2	Describe diagnostic steps and process and criteria leading to identification.	LO1, LO2
3	Use appropriate sources of information.	LO4
4	Describe and discuss a strategy to evaluate new technologies.	LO5

Assessment Task 4: Method Development and evaluation

TASK DESCRIPTION:

Plan and execute a laboratory-based development and evaluation of a disc diffusion method to screen for antibiotic resistant organisms.

TASK LENGTH:

3 hour practical session, 500 research plan, 2000 word scientific report.

DUE DATE:

Week 9

WEIGHT:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME


1	Plan a simple laboratory protocol to develop and evaluate a disc diffusion method.	LO5
2	Ability to execute the laboratory protocol as planned.	LO3
3	Interpretation, evaluation and communication of results.	LO4, LO5

Assessment Task 5: Practical Exam - parasitology

TASK DESCRIPTION:

Identify parasites from mock clinical specimens/scenarios. This is a hurdle task that you must pass to pass the unit.

TASK LENGTH:

3 hours

DUE DATE:

Exam Period

WEIGHT:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME


1	Demonstrate competence in identifying common parasitic organisms using diagnostic criteria.	LO3

Assessment Task 6: Examination - Theory

TASK DESCRIPTION:

TASK LENGTH:

2 hours

DUE DATE:

Exam Period

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, and pass any hurdle tasks.

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.