Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in Schedule 1 of the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, which is available at: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

All final grades in the Bachelor of Medical Science are determined by a grading committee and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade plus a Standardised Numerical Grade (SNG). The SNG is not necessarily a summation of the individual assessment components. The final grade and SNG that are awarded reflect the corresponding grade descriptor in the Grading Policy.

To pass this unit, students must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, attempt all assessment tasks, meet any ungraded requirements including professionalism and achieve an SNG of 50 or better.

Extensions for Assessment Tasks

Applications for assessment task extensions must be submitted via www.ask.mq.edu.au . For further details please refer to the Special Consideration Policy available at https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration.

Late Submission of Work

Late submissions will receive a 5% per day penalty including weekends and public holidays. If you submit the assessment task 10 days or more beyond the due date, without an approved extension, you will be awarded a maximum of 50% of the overall assessment marks.

Online quizzes

Assessment Type ¹: Participatory task Indicative Time on Task ²: 2 hours Due: Continuous from Week 2 till Week 10 Weighting: 20%

In-class quizzes, assessing unit content, delivered to this point, using online MCQs, conducted under exam conditions

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Explain the structure and function of neurons and non-neuronal cells of the nervous system.
• Identify sub-cellular compartments in neurons and how they are involved in the regulation of neuronal function.
• Describe experimental techniques for studying of cell function in the nervous system.
• Explain pathomechanisms in the injured and diseased nervous system at a cellular level.

Mid-session exam

Assessment Type ¹: Examination Indicative Time on Task ²: 10 hours Due: Week 7 Weighting: 30%

Short answer questions and MCQs

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Explain the structure and function of neurons and non-neuronal cells of the nervous system.
• Identify sub-cellular compartments in neurons and how they are involved in the regulation of neuronal function.
• Describe experimental techniques for studying of cell function in the nervous system.
• Explain pathomechanisms in the injured and diseased nervous system at a cellular level.

Research Essay

Assessment Type ¹: Essay Indicative Time on Task ²: 20 hours Due: Week 11 Weighting: 20%

Critical Review and Synthesis of Research Topic

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Explain the structure and function of neurons and non-neuronal cells of the nervous system.
• Identify sub-cellular compartments in neurons and how they are involved in the regulation of neuronal function.
• Describe experimental techniques for studying of cell function in the nervous system.
• Explain pathomechanisms in the injured and diseased nervous system at a cellular level.

End-of-session Exam

Assessment Type ¹: Examination Indicative Time on Task ²: 10 hours Due: Exam Period Weighting: 30%

Formal exam, assessing all unit content [short answers and MCQs], held in the Uni exam period

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Explain the structure and function of neurons and non-neuronal cells of the nervous system.
• Identify sub-cellular compartments in neurons and how they are involved in the regulation of neuronal function.
• Describe experimental techniques for studying of cell function in the nervous system.
• Explain pathomechanisms in the injured and diseased nervous system at a cellular level.

¹ If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

• the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
• the Learning Skills Unit for academic skills support.

² Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

This unit involves essential on-campus learning activities which will be delivered in accordance with a COVID Safe plan. You are expected to attend on-campus for these activities unless the Public Health Orders and/or University advice changes, you have any symptoms of COVID or you have been identified as a contact of an individual with COVID. Please refer to iLearn for further information.

Lectures

Lectures are held weekly, starting in Week 1. Lectures run from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Mondays and 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Tuesdays. Lectures will be accessible via iLearn as pre-recordings or will be held live via Zoom during the allocated lecture times. 

Lecture slides will be uploaded just before the lecture time under the lecture link in the relevant week below. Lecture recordings (pre-recordings and recordings of Zoom presentations will be available through Echo360. 

Prior to each Monday lecture from Week 2 to Week 10 brief online quizzes will take place, which will form part of the Participatory Assessment Task in the Unit. For more information, see Weekly Online Quizzes below.

Practicals

Practicals will be delivered in a mixed-mode with Practicals on campus and online practicals. Please consult iLearn for further detail.

Tutorials

Tutorials will be held weekly in 2-hour blocks in a mixed-mode of face-to-face and online delivery. The tutorials entail the in-depth discussion of current research articles, related to the previous week's lecture topic. Please consult iLearn for further detail.

Required Unit Materials

All students are required to wear closed shoes and lab coat/gowns to attend on-campus practical classes.

Recommended Readings

Prescribed textbooks

Purves D. et al. (Eds.) (2018) NEUROSCIENCE, 6th edition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Kandel E. et al. (Eds) (2013) Principles of Neuroscience, 5th edition. McGraw-Hill Companies.

Reviews and original research articles as advised by teaching staff each week

Unit readings for this unit are available via the iLearn and university library website.

iLearn

You will need reliable access to the internet to access the unit's iLearn page. Through iLearn you will be able to access the lecture recordings (Echo360), additional readings, and feedback and marks for the assessment tasks. Please allow time to familiarise yourself with how to access iLearn. ​Further information about iLearn can be found at: https://help.ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Weekly online quizzes

This unit has weekly online quizzes (Weeks 2-10), designed to keep you on track during the fast-paced semester. MCQ online quizzes will be graded. No make-up quizzes will be permitted (with the exception of officially approved Disruption to Studies requests). However, your 2 lowest quizzes will be dropped at the end of the semester.

The quizzes are delivered through iLearn, so you need to have access to a reliable computer with a connection to the Internet. Technical difficulties will not be accepted as a reason for special consideration.

Student Professionalism and Attendance

In the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our programs. As part of developing professionalism, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, you are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including tutorials, and laboratory practical sessions. In most cases lectures are recorded; however, lecture recordings cannot be guaranteed and some discussion or content may not be available for viewing via the recording system.

All lectures and tutorials are scheduled in your individual timetable. The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/.

Failure to attend any learning and teaching activities, including lectures and tutorials, may impact your final results. It is your responsibility to contact their tutor or the unit convenor by email to inform tutors if you are going to be absent.