Studying online
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
This unit emphasises practical clinical laboratory skills needed for employment as an entry level clinical scientist. Practical classes are compulsory and form the main body of the unit. These are complemented by online learning packages centred on specific clinical laboratory skills and problem-solving tutorials. These include reading material on clinical laboratory procedures, videos and commentaries. Laboratory data interpretation exercises and revision quizzes are delivered online.
The unit is structured into three blocks followed by an intensive revision week: (1) intensive core skills course—daily laboratory sessions in biosafety, applied microscopy, microbial identification, antimicrobial sensitivity tests, molecular diagnostic methods; (2) identification of infectious agents—bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites; (3) clinical specimen categories—sterile sites, genitourinary, respiratory, soft tissue, gastrointestinal; and (4) intensive practical revision (1 week).
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
(see Timetable) Availability Location Mode Semester 1 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Outcomes
Students are able to (1) work safely in a PC2 containment clinical laboratory; (2) isolate and identify biological agents of infection from clinical specimens and to select appropriate isolates for subsequent antimicrobial susceptibility testing; (3) conduct antimicrobial susceptibility testing to EUCAST and NCIS standards; (4) extract microbial nucleic acids from clinical specimens, set up and operate real time PCR assays and correctly interpret their results; (5) apply a core range of microbial identification methods to medically significant bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites; (6) appropriately process common types of clinical specimens from sterile sites; urinary, genital, gastrointestinal, respiratory tracts; wounds and other sites of soft tissue infection; and (7) accurately record clinical laboratory results during the specimen journey and to generate interim and final laboratory reports.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) practical procedure competency log; (2) technical skills test; and (3) practical examination. Further information is available in the unit outline.
To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the technical skills test component.
This unit is assessed on an ungraded pass/ungraded failed basis. All assessment items must be successfully completed.Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Professor Tim Inglis and Dr Nicole Bzdyl
- Unit rules
- Contact hours
- lectures: 1–2 hours per week
practical classes (laboratory classes, tutorials and workshops): 4–6 hours per week
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.