Assessment in this unit

Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128).

To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

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

Late Submissions

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. 

 For example:

Late submission of time sensitive tasks, such as timetabled tests/exams, scheduled performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs, will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.  

Special Consideration

If you are unable to complete an assessment task on or by the specified date due circumstances that are unexpected, unavoidable, significantly disruptive and beyond your control, you may apply for special consideration in accordance with the special consideration policy. Applications for special consideration must be supported by appropriate evidence and submitted via ask.mq.edu.au.

Assessment Tasks Description

1. Weekly Quizzes: Eleven (11) quizzes:  10 minute quizzes to be completed online in WEEKS 2-8, 10 - 13 that will test lecture material of the previous week. See the schedule above for details on content that is covered by looking at the previous week’s lecture content. The format will be multiple choice questions. Each quiz will open on Monday at 8am and close on Sunday at 11:59pm of that week. The first quiz will be posted on Monday of week 2. There will be absolutely no opportunity to submit a quiz after the closing time as answers are released at that point. If you have technical difficulties, email your answers to your convenor and they will be manually marked. If you email these after the closing time, they will not be marked. The quizzes will have a time limit of 10 minutes, and there will be only one submission per student. The resultant mark will be an AVERAGE of the 11 quiz marks (please note, NOT best x of 11).
2. OSCE: These will assess your competency in performing the neurological examination. Details will be given on iLearn and in the tutorials nearer to the date
3. Final examination: This will cover the content for the entire semester. It tests your knowledge of the theory, and the ability to connect that knowledge to real life situations (e.g., case studies, clinical presentations). It will consist of a 2 hour written exam with multiple choice questions, short answer questions and case studies. 

Delivery mode

This unit is characterised by a moderate degree of flexibility. It incorporates a variety of learning tools and media. It will comprise:

Please note that the venues are subject to change until just before the start of the semester. So, for further details on class time and locations for this unit follow the link below:

http://students.mq.edu.au/student_admin/timetables

Unit Web Page

You can log in to iLearn System via the link listed below:

https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/

All lecture materials will be posted on ilearn, and there is also a link to ECHO360 for recordings of the lectures.

Required and recommended resources

Required:

1. CHIR8511 – Clinical Neurology Tutorial Course Manual 2023 – This has been uploaded to iLearn. Please be sure to either download, print and bind the manual, or have an iPad or laptop to access the manual during the tutorial.

Recommended: 

• Blumenfeld H (2010) Neuroanatomy through Clinical Cases. 2^nd ed. Sinauer Associates Inc, Massachusetts. Distributed by Palgrave Macmillan, Victoria, Australia.
• Souza TA (2005) Differential diagnosis and management for the chiropractor 3^rd ed. Jones & Bartlett Pub, Massachusetts.

Required Diagnostic Equipment (Neurological Diagnosis Kit):

1. A diagnostic set with otoscope and ophthalmoscope
2. A tailor’s measuring tape
3. A 128Hz or 256Hz (vibration) and also a 512Hz (auditory) tuning fork
4. Neurotips
5. Long stem cotton tips/long cotton swabs
6. Disposable tongue depressors
7. Tomahawk reflex hammer
8. A number of tactile items e.g., key, coin etc
9. A mathematical compass:

A note about textbooks:

Textbooks for this unit can be purchased online from Booktopia  https://www.booktopia.com.au/coop .

The list of Macquarie University S1 2023 units and texts can be found on the Booktopia website.

Technology Used

Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.

As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session.

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.