Unit rationale, description and aim
A thorough understanding of the principles of anatomy and physiology is essential to conduct biomedical research or work in any of the health-related profession. By building on the foundations laid down in BIOD125, this unit expands students’ understanding pertaining to how the human body functions by discussing the endocrine, integumentary, digestive, urinary, reproductive, and immune systems and their various changes across the lifespan. Students will be introduced to foundation-level embryology as well as the body's response to pathogens, stress, and injury. Elementary concepts of pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy will also be introduced. The aim of this unit, together with the prerequisite BIOD125, is to provide students with an understanding of the structure and function of all organ systems in the human body.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Discuss the structure and function of the endocrin...
Learning Outcome 01
Discuss the human body’s response to metabolic cha...
Learning Outcome 02
Describe the basic principles of pharmacology, inc...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
- Selected organ systems; their components, interactions and control, functions, roles in maintaining homeostasis, and changes across the lifespan:
- Endocrine system
- Integumentary system
- Digestive system
- Excretory system
- Reproductive system
- Lymphatic system and immunity
- The body’s response to stress and injury:
- Cellular adaptation, inflammation, oedema and healing
- The main steps of embryological development with emphasis on the development of the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and neurological systems
- Infection, infection control and prevention
- Foundation level introduction to pathophysiology and pharmacology
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment strategy encourages students to work in a consistent and stepwise manner throughout the semester with a wide variety of assessments tasks to suit different learning preferences.
Oral presentation
Students will learn the importance of a selected organ and its role in homeostasis. Students will develop and use oral presentation skills to show their understanding of this selected organ as well as how other body systems may compensate when this selected organ has reduced function.
Written assessment
This task includes a case study in which students address questions and problems to demonstrate their understanding and critical thinking skills associated with all of the BIOL126 learning material. The real-world examples used in the case study provide students with an opportunity to integrate and apply anatomical, physiological and pharmacological knowledge in an authentic manner.
Examination
This task assesses all of the learning material covered in the unit and provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate understanding, consolidation and application of their knowledge.
Formative assessments are provided throughout the semester in the form of knowledge checks, which are online, multiple-choice quizzes that present questions similar to those used in summative assessments. These formative tasks allow students to check their knowledge and understanding in a timely manner before summative assessments are due. Opportunities to practice short-answer questions are incorporated in group teaching activities where students can work on and discuss model answers.
To successfully complete this unit, students must obtain an aggregate mark of equal to or greater than 50% for the assessment tasks.
Strategies aligned with transition pedagogies will be utilised to facilitate successful completion of the unit assessment tasks. For each assessment, there will be the incorporation of developmentally staged tasks with a focus on a progressive approach to learning. This will be achieved through activities, including regular feedback, particularly early in the unit of study to support their learning; strategies to develop and understand discipline-specific concepts and terminology; in-class practice tasks with integrated feedback; and greater peer-to-peer collaboration.
Overview of assessments
Oral presentation Students will deve...
Oral presentation
Students will develop and use oral presentation skills to show their understanding of a selected organ.
20%
Written assessment Students are encouraged to u...
Written assessment
Students are encouraged to use their critical thinking skills to demonstrate integration and application of the learning material.
40%
Examination This task allows students to demonst...
Examination
This task allows students to demonstrate their understanding of the topics discussed in the unit.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit uses an active approach with interactive lecture chats and workshops, and guided online learning activities. Students are expected to engage in both the guided online learning activities and the interactive classes each week. The online learning activities allow in-depth exploration of concepts to build the foundational knowledge necessary to successfully meet the learning outcomes, and include knowledge checks to self-assess understanding of content prior to weekly classes. Lecture chat sessions and workshop reinforce key concepts introduced in the online learning activities and offer an opportunity to engage with the material in a supportive and friendly environment. In workshops, students consolidate their knowledge whilst working collaboratively in activities such as case studies, data collection and interpretation.. Active participation is encouraged to assist students in acquiring essential knowledge.
Further to this, to ensure students are ready to transition from the Diploma and articulate into the second year of undergraduate study, transition pedagogies will be incorporated into the unit as the key point of differentiation from the standard unit. This focuses on an active and engaging approach to learning and teaching practices, and a scaffolded approach to the delivery of curriculum to enhance student learning in a supportive environment. This will ensure that students develop foundation level discipline-based knowledge, skills and attributes, and simultaneously the academic competencies required of students to succeed in this unit.