Unit Outline

This is a professional experience placement (PEP) unit, undertaken while off campus in diagnostic pathology laboratories accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), or equivalent. Students develop a holistic view of the role of the diagnostic pathology laboratory in the health-care industry in preparation for post-graduate employment, thorough observation and hands-on application of university learning. Assessment in this unit focusses on evaluating and reviewing work health and safety and laboratory accreditation, and practicing professional and academic research and communication. Students are subject to the rules and regulations of the host laboratory, supervised by laboratory staff.

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	Evaluate and review laboratory protocols and procedures, quality systems and practice.
2	Communicate professional information about laboratory procedures and protocols to professional and academic audiences.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	All prior units within the Master of Laboratory Medicine degree – CXA622, CXA625, CXA631, CXA632, CXA633, CXA641, CXA642, CXA643, CXA651, CXA652, CXA6XX Human Molecular Biology, CXA601 Integrated Laboratory Medicine
Co-requisite	CXA7XX Medical Laboratory Placement 1 and CXA7XX Medical Laboratory Placement 2

Alterations as a result of student feedback

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:	Risk Assessment and Safe Work Practices	Refer to Assessment Description	20 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:	Quality Control	Refer to Assessment Description	20 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 3:	Take home examination	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1
Assessment Task 4:	Oral presentation & referenced abstract	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1, LO2

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Risk Assessment and Safe Work Practices

Task Description:

Risk Assessment and SWP.

This assignment evaluates your ability to manage five laboratory safety hazards identified in your first few weeks of placement (and thus, keep safe). Do this by completing a risk assessment for each safety hazard identified. You will then create a Safe Work Practices procedure for one of your identified hazards, which incorporates the outcomes of your risk assessment and management of that hazard.

Task Length:

1500 words excluding tables and reference list.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Integrate and apply knowledge of pathology laboratory work health and safety.	LO1
2	Evaluate and review pathology laboratory work health and safety.	LO1
3	Demonstrate the ability to communicate professional information about laboratory procedures and protocols.	LO2

Assessment Task 2: Quality Control

Task Description:

Quality Control .

This assignment provides a context within which you can apply your academic knowledge of QC and QA systems by interpreting analytical performance parameters in the laboratory and evaluating and reviewing QA information. N.B. All information must be de-identified.

Task Length:

2000 words

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Integrate and apply knowledge of pathology laboratory quality control systems.	LO1
2	Evaluate and review pathology laboratory quality systems.	LO1
3	Demonstrate the ability to communicate professional information about laboratory procedures and protocols.	LO2

Assessment Task 3: Take home examination

Task Description:

This is a timed, downloadable, open book short-answer exam designed to test your individual knowledge of the protocols and procedures of the core professional streams of diagnostic pathology. You must pass each section to pass the exam.

Task Length:

2 hours

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify, analyse and evaluate laboratory protocols and procedures across the core professional streams: Histology, Microbiology, Clinical Chemistry, Haematology and Transfusion.	LO1

Assessment Task 4: Oral presentation & referenced abstract

Task Description:

You will prepare a PowerPoint presentation (and an abstract of the presentation) on a topic that relates to a professional issue (preferably that you experienced during placement) that is new to you or that you found interesting. In your final week at your host laboratory, you will present your PowerPoint to laboratory staff to check facts, gain feedback and presentation experience. It is up to you to arrange the date and time of your presentation with your laboratory supervisor. During the Post Placement Seminar week, you will present your PowerPoint to the class and to academics of SHS. Assessment takes place at this time.

Task Length:

15 minutes presentation plus 500 word abstract.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify, analyse and evaluate laboratory protocols and procedures.	LO1
2	Evaluate with reference to current research.	LO1, LO2
3	Deliver presentation to a professional audience	LO2
4	Respond to audience questions.	LO2

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.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

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.