Course Outline Report: MLS110

What is this course about?

Description

This course provides an introduction to haematology, an area of general pathology that is concerned with diseases that affect the blood, such as blood clotting disorders, anaemias, lymphomas, leukaemias and haemoglobinopathies. Blood transfusion and bone marrow transplantation will also be discussed during the course. Competencies in haematological techniques conducted in pathology laboratories including full blood count, microscopy and the review of blood films, white cell differential counts, staining methods for microscopy, blood grouping and coagulation tests will be assessed.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity	Hours	Beginning Week	Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Weekly interactive learning guides	1hr	Week 1	13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Weekly on campus tutorial	1hr	Week 1	12 times
Laboratory 1 – Weekly on campus laboratory	2hrs	Week 1	12 times

Course Topics

Introduction to Haematology
Blood Cell Development
Erythrocytes and Erythrocyte Disorders
Leucocytes and Leucocyte Disorders
Counting Blood Cells
Anaemias
Platelets and Blood Coagulation Pathways
Coagulation Tests
Introduction to Blood Transfusion

What level is this course?

100 Level (Introductory)

Engaging with discipline knowledge and skills at foundational level, broad application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts and with support. Limited or no prerequisites. Normally, associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to...		Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1	Identify the different components, production and functions of blood.	Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker
2	Understand the theory and interpret the results of routine haematology laboratory tests.	Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker
3	Identify and describe the features, classification and diagnostic tests for the major haematological malignancies and disorders outlined.	Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker
4	Show competency in routine practical techniques in haematology	Knowledgeable Engaged

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Enrolled in Program SC385, SC211, SC357 or SC355

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Formative and summative quizzes will be available throughout the course to provide feedback on your academic progress. You will be introduced to patient case studies and can attempt calculations, haematology terminology and morphology identification through the in-class activities that will also provide you with feedback and help prepare you for the assessment tasks in the course.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode	Task No.	Assessment Product	Individual or Group	Weighting %	What is the duration / length?	When should I submit?	Where should I submit it?
All	1	Quiz/zes	Individual	30%	20 mins per quiz	Throughout teaching period (refer to Format)	Online Submission
All	2	Case Study	Group	20%	1000 words +/- 10%	Week 9	Online Submission
All	3	Practical / Laboratory Skills	Individual	50%	4-hours	Refer to Format	In Class

All - Assessment Task 1:Review Quizzes
Goal:	Using haematology knowledge and critical thinking, satisfactorily identify the different components, production and functions of blood and how they are analysed in the laboratory
Product:	Quiz/zes
Format:	There will be 6 quizzes with multiple choice/short answer questions (5% each). A practice quiz will be available in Week 2. Quizzes will be completed via Canvas in odd numbered weeks commencing Week 3. You will only have 20 minutes to complete the quiz once commenced. If you have not attempted the quiz by the closing date and time, a zero mark will be recorded. Late submission penalties do not apply. We cannot retrieve unsubmitted quizzes and it is the student's responsibility to submit quiz responses by the due date and time.

Criteria:

No.		Learning Outcome assessed
1	Recall information from the MLS110 Haematology teaching materials	1 2 3
2	Solve problems based on theoretical material and information covered in the learning materials, laboratories and tutorials	1 2 3 4

All - Assessment Task 2:Case Studies
Goal:	Complete case studies describing the features, interpretation and diagnostic tests for erythrocyte disorders (anaemia).
Product:	Case Study
Format:	Students will work in pairs to complete two haematology case studies related to an erythrocyte disorder (anaemia). While working as a team each student will contribute to both case studies. Students will submit their case studies online through a blended learning approach for each case study in week 9. Assessment will be based on overall group performance of the completed case studies, rather than on an individual basis. Further directions about the assessment requirements will be available in the tutorials leading up to and during the assessment task, and information will be provided to students by the course coordinator on the MLS110 Haematology Canvas site.

Criteria:


Calculate and interpret parameters of automated results
Provide comments on the peripheral blood films
Complete differential white cell counts
Provide summaries of the patients including a differential diagnosis
Explain with reason the patient presentation, the significance of the results and tests and any further recommendations for the patient.​​

All - Assessment Task 3:Practical Haematology Exam
Goal:	To develop satisfactory laboratory skills and competencies in Haematology that would meet the requirements of the QLD pathology industry for the training of medical science technicians. Students must complete the training for this assessment in the preceding labs before attending the exam - this includes a minimum of 80% attendance of the laboratory practical. This is a health and safety requirement.
Product:	Practical / Laboratory Skills
Format:	The practical exam will be 4-hours total in duration (over 2 x 2hr sessions) and will take place during the regular practical class time in weeks 7 and 12. The practical exam will consist of a series of practical tests designed to assess your competency in haematology techniques. You will bring in records of the preceding lab training sessions to gain entrance into this exam. Your tutor will sign your lab book for each lab and check that associated lab work has been completed. This is your evidence that you have been appropriately trained and can demonstrate appropriate health and safety measures to undertake this exam at industry standard.

Criteria:


Knowledge and practice of the safety requirements in the haematology laboratory
Interpreting the results from basic haematological techniques covered during the practical classes
Performance of a differential count on a blood film
Knowledge of specific staining procedures in haematology
Identification of blood film morphology using light microscopy and still images

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

Schedule

Period and Topic	Activities
1 Introduction to Haematology	Blood cell types: structure and function Safety in the Haematology laboratory pecimen collection Care and use of the microscope
2 Blood Cell Development and Examination	Haematopoiesis Preparing and examining a blood film Bone marrow preparation and examination
3 Erythrocytes	Normal red blood cell production & destruction Membrane physiology and structure Haemoglobin and iron metabolism Routine tests for RBC
4 Leucocytes	Leucocyte development, structure, function Differential count Other tests for white blood cells Normal bone marrow morphology
5 Blood Cell Counting	Automated full blood analysers Discrepancies in instrument counts Correlation of the peripheral blood film and full blood count
6 Introduction to erythrocyte disorders	General principles Classification Diagnostic tests
7 Anaemia	Common anaemia disorders Approach to diagnosis
8 Platelets & Blood Coagulation Pathways	Platelet production, structure & function Normal haemostasis & coagulation Vascular, platelet and coagulation phases
9 Coagulation Tests	Routine tests for haemostasis Disorders of haemostasis Fibrinolysis Fibrin split and degradation products Thrombosis and Antithrombotic Therapy
10 Blood Transfusion and Banking	Blood grouping & basic immunology concepts Haemolytic disease of the newborn
11 Introduction to Leucocyte Disorders	General principles Non-malignant leucocyte disorders Diagnostic tests
12 Malignant Leucocyte Disorders	General principles Leukaemias and lymphomas Diagnostic tests
13 Advanced Haematology Concepts	Introduction to molecular diagnostics Cytogenetics, cytochemistry, flowcytometry

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.

Required?	Author	Year	Title	Edition	Publisher
Recommended	A. Victor Hoffbrand,David P. Steensma	2019	Hoffbrand's Essential Haematology	8th	John Wiley & Sons

Specific requirements

MLS110 is structured to provide you with knowledge and practical skills necessary to meet industry established proficiency standards. It is therefore an expectation of both the University and our industry partners that you will participate in all of the directed study activities (learning materials, laboratories, tutorials) and demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in the practical assessment in order to evidence your preparedness for the placement. To gain such proficiency you must attend and participate in at least 80% of the laboratory practicals throughout the semester before you are permitted to complete Assessment Task 3 (practical exam) and you must attain a minimum 50% result for Task 3. You are required to complete the WHS laboratory induction and successfully complete the quiz before the first practical session, wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) during the practical component, including covered, non-slip shoes, laboratory coat/gown and safety glasses, long hair should be tied back.

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all laboratory classes and a moderate level of health and safety risk exists. Moderate risks are those associated with laboratory work such as working with chemicals and hazardous substances. You will be required to undertake laboratory induction training and it is also your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate (the rates are cumulative): 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day 
- 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. 
To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
Review of Assessment and Final Grades
Supplementary Assessment
Central Examinations
Deferred Examinations
Student Conduct
Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

In person:
- UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
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