| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Patrick Nalepka
David Kaplan
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
MHHX1008 - Misconceptions in the Modern World
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit will introduce you to the history and philosophy of science and assist in the development of your critical thinking skills, with a focus on applications in health and human sciences. You will be challenged to question openly the accuracy of mainstream information and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enabling misconceptions. You will develop basic AI literacy skills, evaluate health and human science claims, and become equipped to communicate health information accurately and effectively. This unit combines theoretical learning with practical activities that will engage you in real-world health and human science challenges. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
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.
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.
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day an 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:
|
Number of days (hours) late |
Total Possible Marks |
Deduction |
Raw mark |
Final mark |
|
1 day (1-24 hours) |
100 |
5 |
75 |
70 |
|
2 days (24-48 hours) |
100 |
10 |
75 |
65 |
|
3 days (48-72 hours) |
100 |
15 |
75 |
60 |
|
7 days (144-168 hours) |
100 |
35 |
75 |
40 |
|
>7 days (>168 hours) |
100 |
- |
75 |
0 |
For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due | Groupwork/Individual | Short Extension | AI assisted? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multimedia presentation | 30% | No | 11:55pm on 3 April 2026 | Individual | No | Observed |
| Campaign Project | 30% | No | 11:55pm on 8 May 2026 | Individual | No | Open AI |
| Critical analysis report | 40% | No | 11:55pm on 5 June 2026 | Individual | Yes | Open |
Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 27 hours
Due: 11:55pm on 3 April 2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Observed
You will create an infographic, podcast or short animation that corrects a specific health misconception and details the importance to society of correcting this misconception.
Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 27 hours
Due: 11:55pm on 8 May 2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open
You will develop a campaign that addresses a health misconception utilising AI technologies. As part of the project you will be required to outline your plan, strategy and reflection on the process.
Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 36 hours
Due: 11:55pm on 5 June 2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI assisted?: Open
You will complete a report that analyses and challenges the basis for a current health-related misconception, and highlights the role that AI could/did play in either perpetuating or addressing this misconception.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.
3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.
As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online learning activities, including readings, online modules, videos, online discussions, and simulations. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.
Recommended readings related to each week's lecture topic will be provided. Additional readings may be assigned for specific practical or tutorial sessions. A full list of readings will be available on the iLearn page.
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.
| Topic | Learning Activities | |
| Week 1 | A brief history of scientific and magical thinking | |
| Week 2 | The origins of the age of misinformation | |
| Week 3 | How to survive in the age of misinformation | |
| Week 4 | How science earns our trust | |
| Week 5 | How to determine the credibility of sources: Building your media and information literacy skills | |
| Week 6 | The pursuit of an artificial intelligence: History and key concepts | Assessment 1 Due |
| Week 7 | Thinking with generative AI | |
| Week 8 | What happens when we engage with synthetic people? | |
| Week 9 | The psychology of misconceptions: Belief formation and transmission | Assessment 2 Due |
| Week 10 | Health, wellness and conspiracy theories | |
| Week 11 | Beliefs, placebos and expectations | |
| Week 12 | The far-reaching consequences of misinformation and what we all need to do about it | |
| Week 13 | *End of Learning Conent* | Assessment 3 Due |
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.
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 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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
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.
Macquarie University recognises that artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, is rapidly reshaping education and the modern workplace. As AI becomes increasingly accessible, the University and your teaching staff are committed to preparing you to use these tools effectively, ethically, and with strong professional judgment. Rather than restricting technology, the emphasis is on helping you understand when and how AI can be used to enhance productivity, support learning, and reflect real-world professional practice. Across your degree, we will support you to develop the critical thinking, adaptability, and values-based decision-making skills required to navigate evolving AI tools responsibly, including acknowledging their use appropriately. You should always appropriately acknowledge when you have used AI tools within assessment tasks, including which AI tools you have used and how you have used them.
To provide clarity, Macquarie University uses a simple, two-tiered approach to AI in assessment:
Across both categories, the goal is to ensure you build foundational knowledge, exercise sound judgment, and engage with AI in ways that uphold ethical, cultural, and university values.
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.
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.
Unit information based on version 2026.03 of the Handbook