Unit rationale, description and aim
Having acquired sound understanding of the structure and function of the healthy human body, students are now ready to critically analyse changes that underlie, accompany, and result from various disease processes. This unit begins by introducing the molecular, cellular, and histological changes underlying the human body’s responses to pathologic stimuli, including inflammation, healing, haemodynamic and immunological derangements, and neoplasia. Students will then focus on understanding how specific organ systems respond to disease processes, with emphasis on National Health Priority areas such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, osteoporosis, and dementia. Relevant screening techniques and diagnostic protocols important for the prevention and diagnosis of these conditions will also be discussed. Successful completion of this unit permits students to progress to the later units that address pharmacological management of disease and equips them with the ability to find, critically analyse, and appraise current research aimed at finding novel ways to prevent, treat, or manage the discussed pathologies. The aim of this unit is to introduce biomedical scientists, nutrition scientists, and health care professionals to the most prevalent diseases affecting Australians.
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.
Explain how cells and tissues respond to pathologi...
Learning Outcome 01
Discuss the aetiology, pathogenesis, pathology, an...
Learning Outcome 02
Analyse and interpret diagnostic data of selected ...
Learning Outcome 03
Apply fundamental pathophysiological concepts to d...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
Principles of pathology and pathophysiology
- Cell adaptation, injury, and death
- Inflammation and healing
- Haemodynamic derangements
- Immunological derangements
Musculoskeletal conditions
- Osteoporosis, rheumatoid- and osteoarthritis
Respiratory conditions
- Asthma, COPD
Cardiovascular conditions
- Atherosclerosis, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and stroke and their consequences
- Cardiac failure
Endocrine disorders
- Diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome
Renal disorders
- Glomerulonephritis
Principles of carcinogenesis; selected benign, pseudomalignant, and malignant tumours
Nervous system conditions
- Dementia and spinal injury
GI tract disorders
- Gastric and duodenal ulcers and cirrhosis of the liver
Reproductive conditions
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometriosis
Immune and haemopoietic disorders
- Selected autoimmune diseases and anaemias
Assessment strategy and rationale
A range of assessment activities is used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to encourage students to demonstrate achievement of each learning outcome. There are ongoing formative assessments to provide feedback about students’ progress and learning, and three summative assessments described below.
Assignment 1 is a quiz that has two parts (part A and part B). This quiz assesses students’ understanding of the learning material and encourages the use of critical thinking skills.
Assignment 2 is an oral presentation. This assessment task requires students to reflect on the learning material, utilize their advanced critical thinking skills, and showcase their oral communication skills as well as their ability to search, access, and critically evaluate scientific information.
Assignment 3 is the final worksheet task, where students are required to submit their answers to open-ended questions derived from case study/studies. Completion of this assessment task requires students to demonstrate advanced critical thinking and written communication skills, and reflect on the learning material of the entire unit.
Overview of assessments
Quiz (Parts A and B) The online summative quizzes...
Quiz (Parts A and B)
The online summative quizzes assess students’ understanding of the learning material
30%
Oral Presentation The oral presentation requires ...
Oral Presentation
The oral presentation requires students to reflect on the learning material, utilize their advanced critical thinking skills, and showcase their oral communication skills as well as their ability to search, access, and critically evaluate scientific information.
25%
Worksheet assessment The worksheet (case study) a...
Worksheet assessment
The worksheet (case study) assessment task requires students to demonstrate advanced critical thinking and written communication skills
45%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit uses active learning to encourage students to understand the cause, progress, and consequences of the most important pathologies.
In weekly lectures, students’ questions, active participation, and feedback are encouraged. Lectures aim at helping students acquire the fundamentals of the pathology and pathophysiology and enable them to understand specific disease conditions that affect the human body.
In weekly workshops, students work collaboratively by engaging in activities such as problem-solving, discussion, and reading to promote analysis, synthesis, and critical evaluation of the learning material. Case studies will be used to provide an authentic approach so learners can read medical histories, propose diagnoses, analyse data, form an opinion, and draw conclusions regarding a person’s condition. These workshops serve to both assimilate and apply the knowledge relevant to the given week’s topic learning objectives.