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Unit outline_

PHSI3888: Physiology Interdisciplinary Project

Semester 2, 2020 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Our ever-changing world requires knowledge that extends across multiple disciplines. The ability to identify and explore interdisciplinary links is a crucial skill for emerging professionals and researchers alike. This unit presents the opportunity to bring together the concepts and skills you have learnt in your discipline and apply them to a real-world problem. For example, you will work on projects that might examine how simple robotics or AR/VR or 3D printing methods can help rehabilitate patients, how machine learning can be used to define signalling pathways, use design thinking approaches to address patient care or the design user interfaces or work with public health or epidemiology to develop policy and communications around global health challenges. All these projects will challenge you to apply your existing knowledge to truly interdisciplinary areas. In this unit, you will continue to understand and explore disciplinary knowledge, while also meeting and collaborating with students from across the University through project-based learning; identifying and solving problems, collecting and analysing data and communicating your findings to a diverse audience. All of these skills are highly valued by employers. This unit will foster the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams, and this is essential for both professional and research pathways in the future.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 cp from (PHSI2X05 or PHSI2X06 or PHSI2X07 or MEDS2001 or PHSI2X08 or BMED2402 or BMED2403 or BMED2404 or BMED2406)
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
PHSI3007 or PHSI3008 or PHSI3907 or PHSI3908
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Laurence Macia, laurence.macia@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Meloni Muir, meloni.muir@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation group assignment Research project oral presentation
Final oral project presentation
10% - 5-10 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13
Presentation group assignment Multimedia presentation
Multimedia project presentation for lay audience
15% - 3-5 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13
Skills-based evaluation Written assignment
Written individual assignment
20% Week 05 maximum 1200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO13 LO12 LO11 LO9 LO4
Online task Exam
Examination of discipline-specific lecture content from weeks 1-8 inclusive
30% Week 10 50 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO13 LO12 LO11
Assignment
Reflective teamwork statement and peer- and self evaluation.
10% Week 11 500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO6 LO8 LO10
Assignment group assignment
Project scientific manuscript
15% Week 12 4000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Skills based assessment: Students will collect and extract nutritional information from their daily food intake using an application as well as calculate their daily energy requirements.  Results will be presented and interpreted from a health viewpoint in an individually written report.
  • Final exam: The exam will cover all lecture material from the physiology lectures.  Questions will be a single best answer format delivered on Canvas.
  • Submitted work: Students will write a reflective statement about their teamwork experience as well as provide formative and summative self- and peer-assessment online.
  • Group project oral presentation: This will be a brief oral presentation of the interdiscilinary project.  The project will be designed by students and focus on a real-life problem.
  • Group project multimedia presentation: The interdisciplinary team will create a multimedia presentation aimed at a lay audience summarizing the group project results.
  • Group written assessment: This will be a group written final written scientific report on their project.

 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

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

At HD level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the unit material. A ‘High Distinction’ reflects exceptional achievement and is awarded to students who demonstrate the ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding to produce original solutions for novel or highly complex problems and/or comprehensive critical discussions of theoretical concepts.

Distinction

75 - 84

At DI level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the units material. A ‘Distinction’ reflects excellent achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates an ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding of the subject to produce good solutions for challenging problems and/or a reasonably well-developed critical analysis of theoretical concepts.

Credit

65 - 74

At CR level, a student demonstrates a good command and knowledge of the unit material. A ‘Credit’ reflects solid achievement and is awarded to a student who has a broad general understanding of the units material and can solve routine problems and/ or identify and superficially discuss theoretical concepts.

Pass

50 - 64

At PS level, a student demonstrates proficiency in the material. A ‘Pass’ reflects satisfactory adequately referencing the original source of the work.

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:

The Assessment Procedures 2011 provide that any written work submitted after 11:59pm on the due date will be penalised by 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. If the assessment is submitted more than 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
Week 01 Introduction, Systems health & the environment Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO11 LO12 LO13
Week 02 Systems health & the environment, Evolutionary medicine Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO11 LO12 LO13
Week 03 Urban living; the challenges, What is a smart city, Traditional lifestyle & health Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO11 LO12 LO13
Nutritional environment assessment Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO9 LO11 LO12 LO13
Introduction to project & group work Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13
Week 04 Neutron & deuteration for food science, ANSTO's research structures & capabilities, Technology & physiology Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO11 LO12 LO13
Project & teamwork Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13
Week 05 Female fertility & environment, Male fertility & environment, Development & environment Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO11 LO12 LO13
Project & group work Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13
Week 06 Ecophysiology of the vasculature, Environment & bone physiology, Environment & skin physiology Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO11 LO12 LO13
Project & teamwork Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13
Week 07 Innume health & environment Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO11 LO12 LO13
Project & teamwork Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13
Week 08 Environment & central nervous system, Environment & mental health Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO11 LO12 LO13
Project & teamwork Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13
Week 09 Project & teamwork Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13
Week 10 Porject & teamwork Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13
Week 11 Project & teamwork Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13
Week 12 Project oral presentation Presentation (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13

Attendance and class requirements

Prac & seminar attendance compulsory

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.

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. Apply disciplinary knowledge to solve problems in an interdisciplinary context.
  • LO2. Find, define and delimit authentic problems in order to address them.
  • LO3. Create an investigation strategy, explore solutions, discuss approaches and predict outcomes.
  • LO4. Analyse data using modern information technology and digital skills.
  • LO5. Demonstrate integrity, confidence, personal resilience and the capacity to manage challenges, both individually and in teams.
  • LO6. Collaborate with diverse groups and across cultural and disciplinary boundaries to develop solution(s) to the project problems.
  • LO7. Communicate project outcomes effectively to a broad audience.
  • LO8. Accept, act on and deliver constructive criticism.
  • LO9. Interpret and write-up the results of scientific experiments as conducted in practical classes.
  • LO10. Collaboratively develop and adhere to appropriate rules for group conduct of collaborations and assignments.
  • LO11. Demonstrate an understanding of the limitations of experimental measurements.
  • LO12. Describe the impact of specific environmental factors on physiology.
  • LO13. Demonstrate effective time management to achieve learning outcomes.

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.

This is the first time this unit has been offered

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.