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Unit outline_

MRSC5039: Medical Radiation Science 3 Radiography

Semester 2 Early, 2020 [Normal day] - Cumberland, Sydney

This unit of study is the final of three medical radiation science units. It consolidates and extends the students knowledge of foundational radiation physics into more specialised topics related to the practice of diagnostic radiography PET, Radiation Therapy, MRI and multi-modality imaging.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Clinical Imaging
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
MRSC5038
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Will Rae, will.rae@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Mohamad Ali, hanafi.ali@sydney.edu.au
Roger Bourne, roger.bourne@sydney.edu.au
Will Rae, will.rae@sydney.edu.au
Dale Bailey, dale.bailey@sydney.edu.au
Ernest Ekpo, ernest.ekpo@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Workshop Assessment
Extended Essay type questions
35% Formal exam period
Due date: 02 Dec 2020 at 12:00

Closing date: 02 Dec 2020
Essay Assignment - 2 days to complete
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Practical Dosimetry Worksheet
Online Submission of Practical Worksheet
35% Formal exam period
Due date: 02 Dec 2020 at 23:59

Closing date: 02 Dec 2020
Individual (About 3 hrs work in total).
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5 LO6 LO9
In-semester test (Open book) Type C in-semester exam Mid semester Online Quiz
MCQ
30% Week 08
Due date: 25 Sep 2020 at 14:00

Closing date: 25 Sep 2020
50 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Type C in-semester exam = Type C in-semester exam ?

Assessment summary

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.

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
Formal exam period Nuclear medicine – single-photon emission computerized tomography and positron emission tomography I Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO9
Nuclear medicine – single-photon emission computerized tomography and positron emission tomography II Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO9
Introduction to radiotherapy Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Dental radiography Lecture (1 hr) LO3
1. Contemporary multimodality imaging; 2. Course debrief Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO8 LO9
Dose in nuclear medicine Practical (1 hr) LO5 LO9
Dose in radiology Practical (1 hr) LO5 LO9
MRI Pulse sequence practical Practical (1 hr) LO6

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Attendance at all online lectures and close attention to the practical is recommended.

Discussions in and during class are often useful and are not well recorded by the automated recording systems in the lecture theatres, so attendance is a fuller learning experience, and I strongly advise you to attend the online lectures. Completion of the practical without attending the face to face session will be difficult. If we are not able to hold the face to face workshop then this will become online, but the same holds (it will be difficult to complete without attending the online sesssion live).

The unit takes an active learning approach; there will be activities in class, pre-reading before class and discussion during it. The practical sessions will be in the Week 17 workshop and are designed to integrate with and complement lectures, so the learning experience comes from the combination of these activities.

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

These will be placed on the web pages of Canvas as and when they are required.

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. critically evaluate the use of different tomographic imaging techniques and treatment modalities to achieve optimal diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes, drawing on your understanding of their technical features and challenges
  • LO2. lead discussion on the advantages and technical challenges of multi-modality imaging (positron emission tomography-computed tomography, single photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging) and their clinical applications in diagnosis and radiation therapy
  • LO3. understand other niche uses of ionising radiation in medical examinations such as dental imaging and orthopantomograms, bone mineral densitometry measurements, and use in radiotherapy treatment planning
  • LO4. draw on knowledge of current techniques and practice to make informed comments on the use of radiation treatment planning and dose verification, including the role of tomographic imaging techniques in external beam therapy, radionuclide therapy and brachytherapy
  • LO5. appreciate the use of ionising radiation in medical examinations, its comparison with other exposure to radiation and the relative risks associated with this radiation
  • LO6. develop a more in-depth knowledge of the variety of magnetic resonance imaging pulse sequences used in routine clinical practice
  • LO7. draw on understanding of modern information systems to reflect on how optimal capture, storage and transmission of information can be used to improve diagnostic and treatment outcomes for patients
  • LO8. discuss recent advances in computed tomography technology
  • LO9. draw on knowledge gained in this unit and experience from clinical placements to reflect on the impact of digital imaging on quality improvements and radiation dose implications of the latest imaging techniques.

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

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes Competency standards
LO1
Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - MRPBA
1A.3. Perform computed tomography (CT) imaging.
LO2
Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - MRPBA
1A.3. Perform computed tomography (CT) imaging.

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

Thank you for completing the survey and giving meaningful feedback. Thank you for the many positive comments that were made about myself and others of the lecturers. These are much appreciated. The main themes that were noted in your comments were primarily related to the diverse and transient lecturers and styles of learning employed, and that you did not get enough feedback during the semester. I understand that it is difficult to cope well with the many varied topics covered. There were some negative comments about some of the lecturers and the consistency of the standard of teaching and the material and presentation methods implemented. Following several discussions with various of my colleagues we have developed a three prong plan to assist in moving this Unit of Study in a more manageable direction. We will be joining the Faculty of Medicine and Health next year and this is a good time to significantly change the delivery of our Units of Study. Firstly: We will be rearranging our lectures so that all the unrelated, unfamiliar imaging modalities, will be covered in one full day workshop so that they can be linked and explained. Secondly: We will be reallocating some of the lectures so that the core topics of MRI, CT, Protection, etc. are delivered by fewer lecturers in a more consistent style. Finally: We will be modifying the assessment and feedback as we now have access to a new online BYOD based examination software that will enable multiple assessments more closely timed to the lectures. Thank you again for your constructive suggestions. I wish you well in your future.

Work, health and safety

Please see online instructions regarding the COVID-19 precautions in place at the University at the time of each lecture.

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.