Course Title: Advanced Laboratory Medicine 1

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Advanced Laboratory Medicine 1

Credit Points: 24.00


Course Coordinator: Professor Denise Jackson

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7392

Course Coordinator Email: denise.jackson@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 201.9.13

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Enforced Pre-Requisite Courses

Successful completion of:

AND

OR

OR

OR

OR

Note: it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course.

For information go to RMIT Course Requisites webpage.


Course Description

This capstone course has an industry profession focus specific to the discipline of Laboratory Medicine. This course is taken as part of a major discipline stream in the final year of the program and is designed to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills to competently undertake investigations into a range of discipline specific diseases. A series of problem-solving exercises will be used to examine the clinical presentation and laboratory investigation of a range of discipline specific diseases. 

In addition, a laboratory based, online or blended (online & laboratory) project will assist you to develop skills and/or knowledge in biological research and scientific communication, including design and performance of experiments, analysis and presentation of experimental data, oral and written scientific reports that use these skills and knowledge. 

Please note that if you take this course for a Bachelor Honours program, your overall mark in this course will be one of the course marks that will be used to calculate the weighted average mark (WAM) that will determine your award level.  

The WAM web page link: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/my-course/assessment-results/results-grades/wam 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BH129 Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine (Honours): 

  • PLO 1:  Apply coherent and advanced laboratory medicine theories, concepts and evidence in various real-world settings using a scientific approach. 
  • PLO 2: Apply systematic thinking and a range of advanced analytical and technical skills using a blend of digital and traditional methods, tools and technologies to solve complex scientific and medical problems. 
  • PLO 3: Apply research principles and methodology to design and implement a laboratory medicine research project to address complex real-world scientific challenges and make original contribution to disciplinary knowledge. 
  • PLO 4: Demonstrate the ability to generate and critically evaluate solutions to all aspects of interdisciplinary professional practice while complying with ethical, legal and regulatory standards that underpins the field of laboratory medicine. 
  • PLO5: Communicate and collaborate with diverse audiences utilising contemporary and traditional formats employing inclusivity, integrity, judgement, adaptability and culturally safe practices related to laboratory medicine.  
  • PLO 6: Demonstrate responsibility, accountability and autonomy for own learning and professional practice as part of a multidisciplinary team. 
  • PLO 7: Apply and demonstrate the cultural intelligence and safety to practice, with consideration of the experience and perspectives of First Nations peoples and the global community in all aspects of work. 

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BP147P21 Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Laboratory Medicine): 

  • PLO1: Knowledge capability - Demonstrate understanding in appropriate and relevant, theoretical concepts of scientific knowledge with the ability to use and apply the knowledge in a wide range of problem solving, challenging and interpretative situations within the professional laboratory medicine discipline.
  • PLO2: Technical capability - Ability to apply a range of diagnostic technologies and methodologies relevant to the fields of Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, Blood Transfusion, Histopathology, Cytopathology or Microbiology.  These methodologies will identify pathological changes which deviate from the normal physiological range, use logical and systematic thinking to solve problems with diagnostic techniques and procedures, and apply high level analytical skills to the chosen area of clinical laboratory specialization.
  • PLO3: Professional work practices - Contribute to academic and professional work settings through responsible, self managed, independent work, interpersonal skills which support constructive interactions with individuals and teams, and understand the ethical and legal framework that underpins the field of diagnostic pathology.
  • PLO4: Communication skills - Ability to communicate effectively with individuals and groups within the diagnostic laboratory environment, and by using a range of media in professional and academic settings.
  • PLO5: Reflective capacity - Ability to relate experiences  to theory, and established work practices to diagnose problems or identify opportunities in a diagnostic laboratory. To develop and test problem-solving strategies within the diagnostic environment. To identify personal skill deficiencies which require further professional development.
  • PLO6:  Research capability - Determine and critique the credibility of selected sources, information and of data generated/provided, and reflect on the chosen research processes. Organise information and data to reveal patterns and themes. Analyse information/data critically and synthesise knowledge to produce coherent understanding of this data


On successful completion of this course you should be able to: 

  1. Critically evaluate the clinical presentation and complex nature of events that contribute to abnormal disease states in your discipline. (K1.S1,S3)
  2. Critically review medical literature pertaining to laboratory techniques relevant to your discipline with accuracy, precision, sensitivity and cross-reactivity. (K2,S1,S3)  
  3. Consolidate and synthesise knowledge to propose a project that investigates a topic of relevance to your discipline. (K1,K2,A2)
  4. Apply scientific rigor to data collection, laboratory safety, experimental design, data analysis and interpretation of results. (A1)
  5. Analyse and interpret scientific literature and experimental data to inform the preparation of a minor thesis (literature review, materials and methods, results, discussion and bibliography), systematic review/meta-analysis or other appropriate scientific paper/manual. (K2,S1,S3,S4,A4)
  6. Present and justify the findings of a laboratory based, online or blended project in an oral seminar. (S5)
  7. Exhibit responsibility, accountability and autonomy for own learning and professional practice. (A3) 


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

This course contains hurdle requirements. All hurdle requirements for this course are indicated clearly in the assessment regime that follows, against the relevant assessment task(s) and all have been approved by the College Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching).

This course has hurdle requirements related to final invigilated theory test the details of which are outlined in Part B. 

Assessment Tasks 

Assessment Task 1: Literature Review/Introduction to Systematic Review  
Weighting 15%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1 - 3 

Assessment Task 2: Mid Semester test 
Weighting 15% 
This assessment supports CLOs 1, 2 & 5 

Assessment Task 3: Oral presentation 
Weighting 20% 
This assessment supports CLO 6 

Assessment Task 4: Final project report/Systematic review 
Weighting 30% 
This assessment supports CLOs 2, 3, 4 & 5  

Assessment Task 5: Final invigilated theory test (HURDLE) 
Weighting 20% 
This assessment task supports CLOs 2, 3 & 4 

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.