Word length:  500 words including in text referencing (reference list is not included in word count).

Please cover the following:

1. What is a syndrome? Brief definition.
2. Select a syndrome for the focus of your one page synopsis
3. What are the causes of the syndrome? Provide the genotype if relevant.
4. What are the physical features or phenotype of the syndrome?
5. What are the functional implications or outcomes (including health) for the individual of the syndrome?
6. What are some likely outcomes for the person?  What do outcomes depend on?

Mark: 30% - graded 

Mark/Grade achieved for this assignment will be assessed in two ways:

•  Online individual presentation  = 15%
• Individual discussion/forum contributions  = 15%  

Plan for the presentation to be approximately 20 minutes if it was to be delivered in person

The intention is to provide experience in-group forum facilitation, gaining the interest of people in a group setting and imparting information in a clear way. It requires considered (rather than lengthy) research on the topic and flexible presentation skills.

The presentation format may include:

• Information presented orally. This has to be brief. Bulleted lists or a few Powerpoint slides (note usually 1 slide per minute)
• Questions for discussion or small group activities
• Segments of AV recordings if brief and linked to overall presentation
• Pamphlets, posters or other material to use, display or hand out (or all three) that link to content or are used for discussion 

 Note: A peer group ‘colloquia’ atmosphere will be encouraged.  Students can be informal in the sense that this is not a ‘performance’ but rather an open scholarly exchange of information and ideas that promotes discussion. Respect for your peers' presentations is important.

Your presentation should include the following:

1. A title and all author(s) with your name in bold
2. A brief background to the area of focus/study (its value or importance),
3. The specific aim of the presentation/paper,
4. The method used to source data,
5. The findings, and
6. A conclusion or an implication for practice.

Marking criteria will take into account:

• Background: The importance or nature of the problem/issue is clearly stated (and referenced)
• Aim: Is clear and flows from background
• Method:  The approach to and sources of information/data collection are described
• Findings: Clearly expressed with reference to aims
• Conclusion: Includes a summary finding and or an implication for practice with any limitations or areas for future inquiry acknowledged.

Criteria for individual contribution (15%): This includes contributing at least once in each of these five ways: Your feedback to presenters, comments/reflections, answering questions, posing questions, and sparking discussion.

• For example:

• Ask at least one question of the presenters,
• Comment on or query what other sources of information or evidence could be considered to contribute further to discussion and knowledge on this topic and,
• Make one comment to the presenters or during discussion on something new you have learned as a result of the presentation

Note: There is no need for all students to rush in and do this task across the first 3 presentations. The aim is to give your fellow students an opportunity to elaborate on their topic, to use some critical analysis in an interactive way with your peers and to give the presenters some feedback on the messages received.

Presentation Topics (to be decided in first week and topic chosen posted to ilearn) 

Topic 1   Causes and consequences of childhood overweight and obesity with particular attention to the implications for health. Due on 13/04/15

Topic 2   Social disadvantage and the potential impact on health in the early childhood years. Due on 13/04/15

Topic 3   Circumcision. Explore the cultural, historical, religious and medical reasons underlying this practice. Comment on the desirability or undesirability of the practice today. As an early childhood professionals, critically reflect on how would you respond to parental inquiries or concerns about either supporting or condemning circumcision of either boys or girls. Due on 13/04/15

Topic 4   Influenza. Investigate the causes and potential impact on the Australian population of various strains of influenza. Discuss possible proactive and reactive health measures that early childhood professionals could take to prevent an outbreak in early childhood contexts. Due on 20/04/15

Topic 5   Consider a childhood chronic illness, the impacts and consequences of the condition for the child’s health and the implications of these for children in early childhood centres. Due on 20/04/15

Topic 6   Vaccination and Autism. Critically examine the debate in recent years in the ‘popular’ media, and contrast to the debate in the scientific community concerning the evidence presented for supposed links between the MMR vaccination and the incidence of Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Your presentation should consider both benefits and risks of the MMR immunisation at an individual and collective level. The conclusion should consider the position an early childhood professional could take, when discussing immunisation with families. Due on 20/04/15

Assessment 3: Essay (30%)

Essay 30%           

Due date: 14th May           

Word length: 1500 words

Topic: Indigenous Health in Australia.

Question:

“The issue of maternal and child health is of great importance to parents in Aboriginal communities, many of whom understand that healthy babies can become healthy children who develop into healthy adults. There are many barriers to achieving this and the goal of healthy children remains elusive to some families” (Eades, 1998. p54)

Health workers have a number of concerns about the ‘gap’ between indigenous children’s health and other parts of the country. What are the key issues and concerns in aboriginal children’s health in remote and urban areas? Explain the relevance of the historical and/or socio-political context in causing the ‘gap’.

Choose one area from the list below to focus on. Briefly discuss the prevalence and implications for a child’s health and learning. What are some of the interventions and approaches and how effective are they?

How does this relate to working with these communities in an early childhood setting?

Nutrition

Obesity

Breastfeeding

Stressful events

Otitis Media

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy

Quiz Structure: 20 multiple-choice questions (10 marks), 10 Short Answer (20 marks)

Source: Multiple-choice questions will be from lectures and required readings. Short answer questions will be from lectures and required readings.

Content: Open Book (notes, lecture overheads and papers)

Date: 5 June, portal available 12-4pm

Duration: 90 Minutes

Venue: Online

Value: 30%

The quiz is completed online and will be available from 12noon until 4pm. Once you login you will have 90 minutes to complete it. After 90 minutes the portal will be closed. This means you should log on by 2:30 at the latest. Extra time will not be granted to students who are logging on late for the quiz. Extra time is a permitted for students with a disability and have had approval from the University to allow extra time. Approval from the University is obtained by completing an Advice of Disability form, which can be obtained from, http://www.reg.mq.edu.au/academic-index.html. The form must be submitted no later than 31 March, 2015.