Unit Outline

This is a professional experience placement (PEP) unit undertaken off campus in diagnostic pathology laboratories accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), or equivalent. You are subject to the rules and regulations of your host laboratory, supervised by laboratory staff. Over a 4-week period, you will experience core and specialised areas within a modern diagnostic pathology laboratory. You will apply your university learning to real world laboratory practice and further develop practical laboratory skills and learning by observing and performing laboratory tasks. You will develop an holistic view of the role of the diagnostic pathology laboratory in the healthcare industry, with added focus on professional issues, codes of conduct and ethics, work health and safety and laboratory accreditation.

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	Demonstrate a ‘work ready’ level of technical aptitude, professional attitude, and communication skills
2	Apply university acquired practical and theoretical knowledge (university learning) to interpret procedural and diagnostic components of laboratory practice
3	Critically reflect on the effect of your work placement on your personal and professional learning with respect to ethical laboratory practice and patient care.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CXA632, CXA633, CXA642, CXA643, CXA652, CXA600, CXA601, CXA622
Co-requisite	CXA731 Medical Laboratory Practice AND CXA733 Medical Laboratory Placement 2

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Catch up sessions to check in on student experiences and provide timely information about upcoming assessment.
Bookable drop-in sessions for students who need to chat in between the catch-up sessions.

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:	Online discussion posts	Week 1	5 %	LO1, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Placement – Laboratory Staff Assessment	Week 4	40 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 3:	Portfolio – Review of weekly reflections	Week 5	15 %	LO1, LO3
Assessment Task 4:	Portfolio – Weekly Entries	Refer to Assessment Description	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Online discussion posts

Task Description:

Online discussion posts

Initial impressions: After your first day of placement, post a brief description of your placement location and your initial perceptions and expectations about your placement experience on the MyLO discussion board. Reply to at least one other posting, comparing your first impressions and expectations with your peers.
In the final week of your placement, post a description of how your presumptions have changed since your first day posting and whether your expectations were realised (with examples) and state your post placement plans. Reply to at least one other posting, comparing your placement experiences and postplacement plans with your peers.

Task Length:

200 words each

Due Date:

Week 1

Weight:

5 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analyse your expectations and aspirations for placement.	LO3
2	Analyse and evaluate your overall placement experience compared to your expectations.	LO1, LO3

Assessment Task 2: Placement – Laboratory Staff Assessment

Task Description:

Laboratory staff assessment.
Staff members responsible for student supervision will assess you and provide feedback at the end of your first rotation, on your technical aptitude, your theoretical knowledge, and your professional attitude, using the competency checklists and assessment sheets available via the MyLO Assessment and resources folder. You will reflect on the feedback, identifying areas for growth and actions for change.

Task Length:

One-page Criterion referenced assessment table and feedback template.

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate a ‘work ready’ level of technical aptitude, use of laboratory equipment and adherence to procedure and by displaying newly acquired workplace skills and learning	LO1, LO2
2	Demonstrate a ‘work ready’ level of professional attitude, e.g., punctuality, self-motivation & enthusiasm, recognising when additional expertise is needed, ethical behaviour (confidentiality, sensitivity, integrity).	LO1
3	Demonstrate a ‘work ready’ level of communication skills (interpersonal & non-verbal) when communicating with laboratory staff and associated work professionals.	LO1
4	Apply practical and theoretical knowledge to interpret procedural and diagnostic components encountered in the placement.	LO2

Assessment Task 3: Portfolio – Review of weekly reflections

Task Description:

In week 4 of your placement, you will review your critical reflections from weeks 1-3. You will identify similarities and differences between the submissions and reflect on what this reveals about your personal and professional growth in terms of your awareness of ethical laboratory practice and patient care.

Task Length:

500 words

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Compare, analyse and evaluate your weekly reflections, supported by evidence.	LO3
2	Evaluate the impact of your placement on your personal and professional growth in terms of ethical laboratory practice and patient care.	LO1, LO3

Assessment Task 4: Portfolio – Weekly Entries

Task Description:

Portfolio – weekly entries, Weeks 1-3.
The portfolio consists of evidence of how well you can compare and apply your university learning to your placement experiences. You will also provide an artefact that addresses one or more of the AIMS Competency-Based Standards for Medical Scientists, Units 1-3. You will also analyse and evaluate the significance of your artefact submissions on your personal and professional development through a weekly reflection, as a form of self-evaluation, in preparation for post-graduate life.

You will also analyse and evaluate the significance of your portfolio submissions on your personal and professional development through a weekly critical reflection, as a form of self-evaluation, in preparation for post-graduate life.

Formative feedback: The coordinator will give formative feedback on the entries for weeks 1 & 2 to assist you in meeting the assessment criteria.

Task Length:

1000 words each week (weeks 1 - 4)

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate communication skills (interpersonal & non-verbal) when communicating with laboratory staff and associated work professionals	LO1
2	Application of university learning to the workplace.	LO2
3	Evidence of new laboratory skills and learning.	LO1
4	Critically reflect on the effect of the learning experiences represented by your portfolio submission on your personal and professional growth.	LO3

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.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

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.