Students

COGS1010 – Delusions and Disorders of the Mind and Brain

2021 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convener 1
Genevieve McArthur
Contact via genevieve.mcarthur@mq.edu.au
Thursdays 11-12
Convener 2
Anne Castles
Adminstrator
Briony Mamo
Head Tutor
Wendy Higgins
Tutor
Sara Hjortborg
Tutor
Leonie Lampe
Tutor
Nicholas Cooney
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is designed to provide you with an understanding of the basic cognitive disorders and higher-level delusions that can arise either developmentally or as a result of brain injury. You will learn about the characteristic features of these disorders and delusions, and about how the patterns of symptoms displayed can be accounted for in terms of models of normal cognitive processing. Where relevant, you will be familiarised with theories about the underlying causes of the conditions, and with experimental investigations of the efficacy of particular treatments. Patterns of similarities and differences of conditions will be critically examined. Conditions covered include: dyslexia, specific language impairment (SLI), aphasia, agnosia, amnesia, autism, synaesthesia, auditory hallucination, delusion and schizophrenia.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Describe the characteristic features of a range of delusions and cognitive disorders.
  • ULO2: Explain key concepts and theories about the underlying causes of a range of delusions and cognitive disorders.
  • ULO3: Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of competing explanations and theories of a range of delusions and cognitive disorders.
  • ULO4: Critique popular or prejudicial claims about delusions, disorders, and the mind from an informed and evidence-based perspective.

General Assessment Information

 

Late submissions

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

COVID Safety

This unit involves essential on campus learning activities which will be delivered in accordance with a COVID Safe plan. You will be expected to attend relevant on campus activities unless the Public Health Order and/or University advice changes. Given the current COVID situation in NSW, all lectures for this unit will be delivered via Zoom (see iLearn for the link). It is likely that the first few tutorials will have to be transferred to online (via Zoom) also but that we will return to on-campus tutorials later in the Session. Please see the iLearn site for week-to-week information.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online quizzes 15% No All quizzes open until Week 12
Mid-semester exam 30% No Week 7
Final exam 45% No Exam period
Tutorial activity task 10% No 11

Online quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: All quizzes open until Week 12
Weighting: 15%

 

Weekly short online multiple-choice quizzes that cover basic unit content

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the characteristic features of a range of delusions and cognitive disorders.
  • Explain key concepts and theories about the underlying causes of a range of delusions and cognitive disorders.

Mid-semester exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 30%

 

1-hour online multiple-choice exam covering content from the first half of the unit

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the characteristic features of a range of delusions and cognitive disorders.
  • Explain key concepts and theories about the underlying causes of a range of delusions and cognitive disorders.

Final exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 36 hours
Due: Exam period
Weighting: 45%

 

2-hour exam, combination of multiple-choice and short essay questions

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the characteristic features of a range of delusions and cognitive disorders.
  • Explain key concepts and theories about the underlying causes of a range of delusions and cognitive disorders.
  • Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of competing explanations and theories of a range of delusions and cognitive disorders.
  • Critique popular or prejudicial claims about delusions, disorders, and the mind from an informed and evidence-based perspective.

Tutorial activity task

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: 11
Weighting: 10%

 

Short and structured writing task to be completed and submitted after one of the tutorials. The task is designed to practise academic writing and will be marked on a credit/no-credit basis.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain key concepts and theories about the underlying causes of a range of delusions and cognitive disorders.
  • Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of competing explanations and theories of a range of delusions and cognitive disorders.
  • Critique popular or prejudicial claims about delusions, disorders, and the mind from an informed and evidence-based perspective.

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 Writing Centre 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

Delivery and Resources

The lectures will be fully online via iLearn, with interactive activities, and each topic in the course will be delivered by experts in the field of cognitive science. Weekly tutorials will be offered on-campus commencing Week 2, while keeping an online version available for those students who choose to continue their studies online (please check eStudent to see which version you are enrolled in, or if you wish to enrol in a different tutorial). It is essential that students have adequate access to the internet as most of the course material and activities are accessed online in the form of:

  • Video interviews
  • Audio and video lectures
  • Unit readings (note that there is no prescribed textbook for this unit)
  • Online activities and quizzes
  • Online database research
  • Participation in online discussion forums

Access to a reasonably fast internet connection would be ideal, given the large amount of video content. Also, please note that in order to access Resources and Activities in your online unit, you will need a browser such as Firefox or Chrome. iLearn will operate on the following browsers, it is recommended that you upgrade your browser to the most recent version:

  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Internet Explorer 8 or later

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.


Unit information based on version 2021.05 of the Handbook