This test will be an on-line test performed in-class with closed book conditions at the campus of your enrolment. It will examine all content from weeks 1 to 5 inclusive.

The test will examine the theory and application of content and haemodynamic concepts taught in lectures, tutorial delivery and practiced in the simulated laboratory setting. Questions may require you to perform mathematical calculations, interpret patient data, illustrate concepts, explanations and discussions. Questions similar in style to those found on the in-class test are provided in the haemodynamic workbook and in weekly revision material on the Moodle site. Question examples will also be discussed during the tutorial and laboratory sessions to help prepare for this assessment task.

This test will be 150 minutes duration and comprises 50% of the final grade. You will require a simple calculator (not a scientific calculator) for this test.

Students will undertake this test under examination conditions as detailed in the Assessment Procedures. The test must be performed at the timetabled date and time. As per the Assessment Procedures, this task is to be completed during a defined period. There is no opportunity to apply a late penalty. If you arrive late, you may enter the test room up to 30 minutes after the start of the test; however, you will still be required to submit your test at the standard test time. You will not be allowed entry more than 30 minutes after the test starts. In the absence of an approved extension, you cannot complete this assessment at a later time, and you will receive a mark of zero for the assessment if you have completed it by the scheduled date and time.

You will be assessed on your ability to :

• differentiate and discuss the aetiology, pathophysiology and echocardiographic assessment processes associated with a variety of cardiovascular diseases
• analyse case-based clinical information to formulate differential diagnoses
• interrogate measurements supplied
• apply appropriate haemodynamic calculations
• accuracy of calculations
• interpretation of resulting calculations
• demonstrate clinical reasoning
• use of appropriate terminology and descriptors as well as grammar and spelling.

The number of marks for questions are allocated based on accuracy, depth and breadth of the required response and will be indicated on the test paper.

This test will be an on-line test performed in-class with closed book conditions at the campus of your enrolment. It will examine all content from weeks 6-12 inclusive. 

The test will examine the theory and application of content and haemodynamic concepts taught in lectures, tutorial delivery and practiced in the simulated laboratory setting. Questions may require students to interpret patient data, illustrate concepts, explanations and discussions. Questions similar in style to those found on the in-class test are provided in weekly revision material on the Moodle site. Question examples will also be discussed during the tutorial and laboratory sessions to help prepare for this assessment task.

This test will be 180 minutes duration and comprises 50% of the final grade. You will require a simple calculator (not a scientific calculator) for this test.

Students will undertake this test under examination conditions as detailed in the Assessment Procedures. The test must be performed at the timetabled date and time. As per the Assessment Procedures, this task is to be completed during a defined period. There is no opportunity to apply a late penalty. If you arrive late, you may enter the test room up to 30 minutes after the start of the test; however, you will still be required to submit your test at the standard test time. You will not be allowed entry more than 30 minutes after the test starts. In the absence of an approved extension, you cannot complete this assessment at a later time, and you will receive a mark of zero for the assessment if you have completed it by the scheduled date and time.

You will be assessed on your ability to :

• differentiate and discuss the aetiology, pathophysiology and echocardiographic assessment processes associated with a variety of cardiovascular diseases
• analyse case-based clinical information and echocardiographic images to formulate differential diagnoses
• apply appropriate haemodynamic calculations
• accuracy and interpretation of calculations
• demonstrate clinical reasoning
• use of appropriate terminology and descriptors as well as grammar and spelling.

The number of marks for questions are allocated based on accuracy, depth and breadth of the required response and will be indicated within the on-line test.

This assessment includes performing a complete echocardiogram, image interpretation and measurement performance.

Professional and technical scanning requirements are discussed in the unit lab manual, lab sessions, lectures and tutorials. Components are as follows:

PART A - Scanning

Part A of this assessment task includes both a Professional and Technical echocardiographic component.

• Professional (pre-scan, during and post-scan) requirements
• Apply correct patient care techniques and effective communication to obtain relevant patient history, informed consent, and to direct 'patients' accordingly
• Apply professionalism in dealing with equipment, patient and scanning setting

• Technical (scanning) requirements for echocardiographic study:
• Demonstrate appropriate echocardiographic scanning technique, image optimisation, and acquisition in a reasonable time period to an 'advanced beginner level' of competency
• A scanning limit of 55 minutes will be applied to image acquisition

PART B - Interpretation and Measurements

Part B of this assessment tests students ability to interpret echocardiographic images and measurements and perform routine echocardiographic measurements using QStation software.

• Section 1: Interpretation
• Interpret echocardiographic images and measurements of chamber size, left ventricular wall thickness, systolic and diastolic function, and right ventricular systolic pressure
• Recall normal reference values
• Recognise limitations of provided images and measurements

• Section 2: Measurement Performance
• Perform a series of offline measurements using the QLAB workstations

A combined score of 70% must be achieved to pass Part B - Interpretation and Measurements.  A 50 minute time limit applies for both the interpretation and measurement performance combined.

Students are advised to refer to the 'Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) document for additional university guidelines regarding assessments.

• In the absence of an approved extension, this assessment cannot be completed at a later time.
• Students will receive a FAIL for this assessment if it is not completed by the scheduled date and time and there is no approved extension.
• Should a student FAIL there will be only ONE opportunity to re-sit the failed component of the assessment item.

To PASS this assessment ALL parts and sections of the Echocardiography Skills Assessment must be graded as a 'PASS'.

• All bolded items in the PART A - Professional component of the Scanning ARC tool must be successfully demonstrated, else a FAIL for this assessment component is automatically awarded, regardless of the overall minimum mark achieved.

All assessment parts are graded separately with a minimum grade for each section of 70%. In the event of failing any (or multiple) parts only the failed component/s (Professional, Technical or Part B) must be repeated to pass. For example:

• If a student fails Part A - Professional component, the students will be required to reattempt the full practical scanning assessment but would only be marked on the professional component.
• If a student fails Part B - Interpretation and Measurements, the student will be required to reattempt the full Part B assessment.

Students will be assessed using the:

• Scanning Assessment of Readiness for Clinical (ARC) Tool
• Interpretation and Measurement ARC tool

Students are advised to carefully review these documents which are available on the unit Moodle site.

Students will be provided with a single opportunity to attempt the echocardiography skills assessment and interpretation and measurement assessment under MOCK examination conditions.

The MOCK assessment will be delivered as part of the routine laboratory sessions. There is no opportunity for rescheduling of missed laboratory sessions.

• Individual feedback will be provided to students after completing the MOCK assessments
• Scanning feedback will be provided verbally but the tutor supervising each individual student MOCK practical scanning assessment
• Students will receive a completed MOCK Scanning ARC tool and Interpretation and measurement ARC tool following moderation.

Part A (scanning) of the echocardiography skills test will be video recorded for moderation purposes. The videos will not be released to students for review.

All students are required to make themselves available to act as a patient model for peer assessments. Students must additionally make themselves available for re-sit assessments if requested by the unit coordinator.

The purpose of this assessment is to ensure that students from the echocardiography course are well-equipped to embody the high standards of professionalism that are expected from CQUniversity students while on their upcoming clinical placements.

Professional behaviour is a critical part of any medical imaging profession, and encompasses the manner in which we treat our colleagues, patients and the professional setting and equipment provided to us.

This assessment will require students to treat each of the lab sessions as a scheduled "work shift" and to exhibit high quality professional attributes. This is to ensure students are adequately prepared to enter the work force with the skills required to provide safe patient care and professional behaviour.

• This assessment is based on a continuous and ongoing evaluation of student application and attendance during labs and behaviour exhibited during the time spend studying this unit, up until the completion of all formal assessments.
• This includes participation in forums and online tutorials, labs, social media etiquette, phone calls, attitude toward peers and staff, and all official correspondence with university staff, peers and the community.

This assessment will require students to complete the following documentation which forms part of the ECHO13006 Lab Manual. All forms are available under the Lab Documentation tab on the unit Moodle Page. Students are required to submit the following 4 individual documents:

1. A signed Lab Agreement Form to be uploaded in week 1
2. A signed Consent Form - Sonographic Examination for Teaching Purposes to be uploaded in week 1
3. A completed and signed Professional Behaviour Assessment Rubric form to be uploaded in week 12
4. A completed LAB Attendance Page to be scanned and uploaded in week 12.

Absenteeism

Skills labs for this unit are mandatory. Students must advise the unit coordinator before the start of compulsory labs if unable to attend - failure to notify staff (email or phone) before the start of a missed lab will result in a LiP (Lapse in Professionalism) except in extraordinary circumstances. Labs missed for a valid reason (eg. illness or injury) require supporting documentation. There is no opportunity to 'make up' missed lab sessions. Medical or health-related certificates must in the approved formats articulated in the CQUniversity Assessment Policy and Procedure (HE Coursework), section 5.

Any missed labs must be clearly marked on the Lab Attendance Page and Reflective Feedback Form, a tutors signature is not required.

This assessment is marked using the Professional Behaviour Assessment (PBA) rubric and incorporates lapses in professionalism (LiPs). To pass this unit students need to achieve 12/15 or higher for the PBA and can receive a maximum of three LiPs across all descriptors. If a fourth LiP is issued, the maximum mark achievable would be 11/15 and the assessment will be graded as a FAIL.

All interactions with staff and peers pertaining to this unit will be treated as a replica of the clinical work environment. Students are expected to demonstrate all of the professional behaviour that will be expected in a formal work environment.

LiPs can be issued in three different categories:

1. Professional behaviour towards colleagues and staff
2. Professional behaviour towards patients
3. Professional behaviour towards professional setting and equipment

An additional explanatory document is available on the Moodle site regarding 'Expected Professional Behaviour and LiP allocation'. Students are encouraged to review this information to be sure of behavioural expectations. Students should be familiar with the Code of Conduct in the Lab Manual as well as the ASA code of Conduct and the CQU Code of Conduct. All of these documents are posted on the unit Moodle site.

If unprofessional attitude or behaviour is reported by fellow classmates and not witnessed by a staff member, a written warning detailing the allegations will be issued to the student. The student's response will be documented. If further evidence of an on-going unprofessional behaviour arises then a LiP may be awarded. Any lack of professionalism display in the use of unmanned practice bookings will result in an automatic LiP (eg. changing the booking of another student without consent, or accessing labs in excess of allocated entitlements).

If any exhibited attitude or behaviour is deemed as unsafe or inappropriate for clinical practice, the professional behaviour assessment will be graded as a FAIL at the discretion of the Unit coordinator. Exemplary professional behaviour is highly valued by clinical supervisors. This information may be used to endorse students for placements if requested by clinical sites.

• To obtain a 'PASS' all documentation must be completed correctly and submitted by the due date and time.
• No more than three (3) lapses in Professionalism are permitted to pass the unit.
• All documents must be legible and uploaded in PDF format.

The ability to set goals, self-reflect and take adopt feedback are tools to aid the progress of knowledge and skill development. These abilities also address industry requirements, whereby professionals must perform continuing professional development (CPD) activities.

Students are to develop goal-setting, reflection and feedback skills through weekly activities.

Task requirements:

This assessment will require students to complete and submit:

1. Formative Feedback Forms (for each laboratory session; total = 7). Each form must include: self-reflection and goal-setting, tutor feedback and signature.
2. Mock Assessment Reflection Form. This form must include: reflection on areas of strength and areas for improvements in preparation for the Echocardiography Skills Assessment.

The "Formative Feedback Forms" and "Mock Assessment Reflection Form" are available on the Moodle site. 

• Students must upload all required documentation for this assessment by the due date.
• Documents must be labelled and in PDF format.