Unit Outline

In this unit, you will integrate and extend prior knowledge and skills about the laboratory differentiation of normal and abnormal haematological health conditions gained in CXA631 Haematology 1. You will systematically investigate the causes, laboratory investigations and treatment of anaemia and neoplastic disorders of the bone marrow and lymphatic system, e.g. leukaemia. You will explore the topics using an integrated series of instructional learning activities, tutorials and practicals, with an emphasis on the development of theoretical knowledge, professional terminology, laboratory skills and problem solving using haematological case studies. Knowledge and skills learned in this unit are transferable across co-taught units Clinical Chemistry 2 (CXA652), Medical Microbiology A (CXA642), in the upcoming unit, Transfusion Science (CXA633) and during your Professional Experience Placement unit, CXA704. 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.	Identify, differentiate and diagnose anaemias and neoplasia using haematological problem-solving techniques and laboratory practices.
2.	Justify haematological diagnoses using laboratory data and clinical information.
3.	Communicate, laboratory methods, results and diagnoses using the language of laboratory medicine.
4.	Demonstrate research and communication skills by performing a critical review of a scientific paper from the Haematology research literature

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CXA631

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Review of unit content to reduce complexity and workload where possible, while keeping it relevant to industry expectations. Increased tutorial time to allow further explanation and application of unit content.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Quizzes	Week 1	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Written assignment	Week 3	10 %	LO1, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Mid Semester Theory Test	Week 7	10 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:	Final Practical Exam	Exam Period	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 5:	Final Theory Examination	Exam Period	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Quizzes

Task Description:

Tests completed throughout the semester provide ongoing assessment and feedback in preparation for the in-class practical test and the practical exam. These activities include:
• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) (8% weighting) completed on MyLO. Ten questions based on the practical activities, after the weekly practical sessions.
• Blood film skills check x 2 (4%)
• In-class practical test, held under exam conditions (8%)
Specific instructions will be given closer to the time of each activity.

Task Length:

MCQs: 15 minutes each. Practical test: 3 hours. Skill check: 50 minutes each

Due Date:

Week 1

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate and apply practical knowledge of haematological disorders by using appropriate tools and techniques to detect, analyse, differentiate, and diagnose them.	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Justify an haematological diagnosis by analysing and interpreting laboratory data and correlating it with clinical information.	LO2, LO3
3	Communicate laboratory methods, results and diagnoses using the language of laboratory medicine.	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Written assignment

Task Description:

Written assignment: Critical review of a Scientific Paper - You are allocated a paper from the scientific literature in Week 3. You will research the paper and the appropriate background information and present a critique of the paper, as a written report, backed up by your research.

Task Length:

4000 words

Due Date:

Week 3

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Exhibit developed knowledge of the Haematology discipline by summarising the relevant literature and situating the allocated paper within its research topic	LO1, LO4
2	Critically analyse, evaluate and discuss the allocated paper with reference to (and citing) appropriate Haematology research literature	LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 3: Mid Semester Theory Test

Task Description:

This is a closed book paper-based, face to face, invigilated test, designed to assess your individual knowledge of causes, differentiation and diagnoses of anaemia. You will answer a series of questions about haematology content presented in weeks 1-6 of semester. You may take one A4 single-sided, typed notes into the test (Verdana 12-point, single line).

Task Length:

100 minutes

Due Date:

Week 7

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Exhibit knowledge of the Haematology discipline by identifying, differentiating and diagnosing haematological disorders (anaemias).	LO1, LO3
2	Critically justify haematological diagnoses by analysing and interpreting laboratory data and correlating it with clinical information.	LO2, LO3
3	Communicate laboratory methods, results and diagnoses using the language of laboratory medicine.	LO3

Assessment Task 4: Final Practical Exam

Task Description:

This is an on-campus, closed book, paper-based individual assessment task. You perform a series of haematological laboratory tests, then record and interpret your results and suggest a diagnosis (with further testing and expected results as appropriate). You will also answer short answer questions in which you justify your test results, interpretations and diagnoses.
This is a hurdle task that you must pass to pass the unit.

Task Length:

3 hours

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate and apply theoretical and practical knowledge of haematological disorders (anaemias and neoplastic disorders) by using appropriate tools and techniques to detect, analyse, differentiate, and diagnose them.	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Justify haematological diagnoses by analysing and interpreting laboratory data and correlating it with clinical information.	LO2, LO3
3	Communicate laboratory methods, results and diagnoses using the language of laboratory medicine.	LO3

Assessment Task 5: Final Theory Examination

Task Description:

This is a closed book paper-based, face to face, invigilated exam, where you will be required to demonstrate your individual ability to communicate and apply theoretical knowledge. You may take one A4 double sided or two A4 single sided typed notes into the exam (Verdana 12-point, single line).
This is a hurdle task that you must pass to pass the unit.

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.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

Notes from Haematology 1.
You will need the following texts:
1. McKenzie, SB, Landis-Piwowar, K, Williams, L, 2020, Clinical Laboratory Hematology, 4th edn, Pearson, Boston.
· This text is only available as an eBook and can be purchased from Pearson
2. Carr J 2022, Clinical Hematology Atlas, 6th edn, Elsevier Saunders, St Louis, Missouri
· Hard copy: purchased last semester via Booktopia
· eText via Elsevier
These are the same books used in Haematology 1. Current and previous editions of both of these texts are available for a limited loan period from the University of Tasmania Library collection. It is important that you have ongoing access to these texts, even if you choose not to purchase them. Thus, you are strongly encouraged to buy these texts, especially the Clinical hematology Atlas, as they are the source of most of the reference material used in this unit.
3. Jaffee: WHO Classification of Tumors of Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues.
· Several chapters available via the Reading List icon on the unit home page