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Unit outline_

BMET2925: AI, Data, and Society in Health

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

Unprecedented growth in computing power, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning technologies, and global data platforms are changing the way in which we approach real-world healthcare challenges. This interdisciplinary unit will introduce students from different backgrounds to the fundamental concepts of data analytics and AI, and their practical applications in healthcare. Throughout the unit, students will learn about the key concepts in data analytics and AI techniques, and obtain hands-on experience in applying these techniques to a broad range of healthcare problems. At the same time, they will develop an understanding of the ethical considerations in health data analytics and AI, and how their use impacts society: from the patient, to the doctor, to the broader community. A key element of the learning process will be a team-based Datathon project where students will deploy their knowledge to address an open-ended healthcare problem, in particular developing a practical solution and analysing how it's use may change things in the healthcare domain. Upon completion of this unit, students will understand and be able to enlist data analytics and AI tools to design solutions to healthcare problems.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Biomedical Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
BMET9925
Assumed knowledge
? 

Familiarity with general mathematical and statistical concepts. Online learning modules will be provided to support obtaining this knowledge

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Hamish Fernando, hamish.fernando@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Hamish Fernando, hamish.fernando@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Online task Weekly Exercises
Set of quizzes and exercises to be completed each week.
20% Multiple weeks Variable
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO8 LO4 LO2
Assignment AI implementation in healthcare research report
How could AI benefit a specific healthcare organisation?
40% Week 09
Due date: 25 Apr 2023 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO6 LO3 LO9
Assignment group assignment Health Datathon Group Project
A group project developing a solution for an open-ended health data task.
40% Week 13
Due date: 25 May 2023 at 23:59
10-15 minute video + 1 page flyer
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO5 LO8 LO6 LO7 LO9
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Weekly Exercises: A set of weekly exercises delivered via Canvas. This will include short quizzes and submissions based on work undertaken during the tutorials and laboratories, as well as weekly checkpoint descriptions of the major assignments.
  • Research Report: A report based on research into the implementation of AI into a specific healthcare organisation.
  • Health Datathon Group Project: An open-ended project where students will work in teams to create a solution for a health challenge. Students will demonstrate their work during a presentation, and create a small flyer/brochure describing the benefits of their solution.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

A late penalty of 5% per day late (or part thereof) will be applied. After 10 days, a mark of zero will be given unless special consideration has been received.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Online E-learning: Introduction to Health Data and AI Independent study (2 hr) LO1 LO4
Health Data Stakeholders Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO9
Data Loading, Access, and Plotting Computer laboratory (2 hr) LO7 LO9
AI implementation in healthcare research report Independent study (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO9
Week 02 Online E-Learning: Health Data Context Independent study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Understanding Health Stakeholder Needs Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO9
Combining and Extracting Health Data Computer laboratory (2 hr) LO7 LO9
AI implementation in healthcare research report Independent study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO9
Week 03 Online E-Learning: Health Data Quality Independent study (2 hr) LO2 LO4
The Impact of Health Data Quality Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO4 LO6 LO9
Health Data Cleaning Computer laboratory (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO9
AI implementation in healthcare research report Independent study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO9
Week 04 Online E-Learning: Exploratory Data Analysis Independent study (2 hr) LO2 LO6
Review of Descriptive Statistics Tutorial (2 hr) LO6 LO8 LO9
Exploratory Data Analysis Computer laboratory (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
AI implementation in healthcare research report Independent study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO9
Week 05 Online E-Learning: Predictive Analysis Independent study (2 hr) LO5 LO6 LO8
Predictive Analysis Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO9
Implementing Predictive Models Computer laboratory (2 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7 LO9
AI implementation in healthcare research report Independent study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO9
Week 06 Online E-Learning: Health Image Data Independent study (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO8
Image Features and Radiomics Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO9
Image Classification in Medicine Computer laboratory (2 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7 LO9
AI implementation in healthcare research report Independent study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO9
Week 07 Online E-Learning: Evaluating AI and Data Solutions Independent study (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO8
Research report progress discussion Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Cross Validation Computer laboratory (2 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
AI implementation in healthcare research report Independent study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO9
Week 08 Online E-Learning: Toolboxes and Methods for Different Health Data Independent study (2 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Toolboxes and Methods for Different Health Data Computer laboratory (2 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
AI implementation in healthcare research report Independent study (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO9
Week 09 Online E-Learning: Toolboxes and Methods for Different Health Data Independent study (2 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Health Datathon Group Project Independent study (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Health Datathon Group Project Project (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Week 10 Online E-Learning: Implementation and Impact in Health Independent study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO6
Health Datathon Group Project Independent study (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Health Datathon Group Project Project (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Week 11 Online E-Learning: AI Systems in Data and Health - Today Independent study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Health Datathon Group Project Independent study (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Health Datathon Group Project Project (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Week 12 Online E-Learning: AI Systems in Data and Health - Future Independent study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Health Datathon Group Project Independent study (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Health Datathon Group Project Project (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Week 13 Online E-Learning: Unit Review Independent study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO6 LO8
Health Datathon Group Project Presentation (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

Attendance and class requirements

Students are expected to attend all classes, as per the Faculty Resolutions: https://www.sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspx?recnum=PDOC2022/543&RendNum=0

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

References and readings will be provided on Canvas.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Discuss the importance of data and AI for modern society in health, including how these may be implemented in specific healthcare contexts, using appropriate literature to explain their reasoning.
  • LO2. Articulate the challenges in working with real-world health datasets and select an appropriate data analytics or AI solution for a given health problem, with sufficient justification for the choice.
  • LO3. Develop administrative and communication skills such as contacting, planning and conducting interviews/surveys with a variety of healthcare stakeholders in order to understand how AI models could benefit their contexts.
  • LO4. Characterise the impact of AI and data analytics solutions on different health stakeholder groups, in terms of technical, legal, ethical, economic, and social benefits and limitations.
  • LO5. Apply machine learning techniques such as support vector machines and neural networks to solve problems on health datasets.
  • LO6. Understand and apply fundamental data analytics processes such as problem definition, data collection, data cleaning, exploratory data analysis, modelling, and visualisation.
  • LO7. Use code libraries and toolboxes for simple data analysis and machine learning tasks in health.
  • LO8. Communicate the results of a data analytics pipeline in an oral and written form to an audience that may comprise non-experts.
  • LO9. Understand how recent publicly available AI models such as ChatGPT could be used to improve the learning experience in an ethical fashion, while realising its limitations.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Given the nature of the unit and the emergence of AI models such as ChatGPT, more focus has been put on the assignments (ie more creativity, problem solving and "human" interactions), while removing mid-semester and final exams. The major piece of feedback last year was regarding more support with the open-ended nature of the datathon, which I shall organise with the tutors.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.