Overview
This unit will expand on your prior study of x-ray equipment and imaging processes with particular focus on specialised imaging modalities. The primary focus of the unit is on the technical fundamentals (both theoretical and practical) of Computed Tomography to enable safe and effective scan technique. You will be introduced to the physical and operational principles of advanced medical imaging modalities including angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging, bone mineral densitometry and nuclear medicine imaging.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisites MEDI12001 Radiation Science; and MEDI12002 Science & Instrumentation 1, and MEDI12005 Science and Instrumentation 2, and MEDI12007 Radiation Dose, Safety & Quality Assurance
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2018
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student evaluation and informal discussion with students
The "flipped classroom" style of teaching with recorded lectures, quizzes and discussion was very popular with students and most felt that this form helped their understanding and study of the subject
Maintain the "flipped classroom" style of recorded lectures, quizzes and discussions. Review the quizzes and discussion topics to make this style more valuable.
Feedback from Student evaluation
Some students felt that being tested on all content in the second test was unwarranted
The content in this unit will be valuable in future clinical roles and as such it is important to understand it all. If only week 6-12 content were tested, it is possible that important concepts from earlier weeks would be perceived as less important.
Feedback from Student evaluation and informal discussion with students
Lab experiments were perceived to be valuable learning experiences which cemented concepts
Maintain lab activities and review to ensure that they serve to support learning of key concepts.
- Detail the processes of data acquisition, processing and image reconstruction in computed tomography.
- Operate computed tomography equipment safely and effectively, with consideration to patient dose, image quality and equipment conservation.
- Manipulate 3D data sets in computed tomography.
- Outline the issues of image transmission, storage and viewing in DICOM and PACS-integrated digital radiology environments.
- Discuss the design, operational features and clinical safety considerations of specialised applications such as angiography, bone mineral densitometry, ultrasonography and nuclear medicine imaging.
The learning outcomes are mapped to the following domains of the MRPB’s ‘Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice’:
· Domain 4.1, 4.3 & 4.4
· Domain 5.2, 5.3, 5.6 & 5.7
· Domain 5A 3 -6
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Practical and Written Assessment - 50% | |||||
| 2 - In-class Test(s) - 50% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Practical and Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||||||
| 2 - In-class Test(s) - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
Students taking this unit should have already purchased The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging for MEDI12001 and MEDI12002. Computed Tomography for Technologist by Romans is a required text for MEDI13002. Both of these texts will be used in this unit.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
k.finlay@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Not on campus
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Introduction to CT and Terminology
Chapter
Roman's chapter 1
Recommended readings available on the unit Moodle site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Components of a CT System
Chapter
Roman's chapter 2
Recommended readings available on the unit Moodle site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Break
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Image Quality and Patient Dose in CT
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
In-class test
Module/Topic
CT Quality Assurance
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
CT Artefacts
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Imaging equipment for specialised applications: DSA, DEXA, MRI
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Imaging equipment for specialised applications: Ultrasound and Nuclear Medicine
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Consolidation
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The coordinator for this unit is: Karen Finlay
I can be contacted on: 07 4940 7818 or k.finlay@cqu.edu.au
During the term I may be teaching other units or be off campus. For this reason it is advisable to contact me by email initially.
All lectures for this unit are recorded and must be viewed before attending any scheduled class or lab activities. On-line quizzes are formative and assess your understanding of the weekly content. Quizzes should be completed before attending any scheduled class or lab activities.
It is vital to maintain engagement with the unit content and to budget your time effectively. Completing the pre-reading, watching the lecture presentations, taking notes and completing the formative quizzes should take approximately 5 hours per week. Expect to spend approximately 3 hours per week on face to face class and lab activities. Time will be required to undertake unsupervised lab activities for completion of the portfolio. Revision and completion of the portfolio and in-class tests must be factored into your time management plan. On average, expect to spend approximately 12.5 hours per week studying this unit.
1 Practical and Written Assessment
This assessment task is based on the scheduled Computed Tomography laboratory activities and independent study. During the weekly lab activities you will use imaging phantoms and test tools to acquire a variety of CT images and to understand critical concepts. You must use this learning and CT images to compile a portfolio and submit it electronically on the unit Moodle site. To complete the portfolio, you must respond to a set of questions regarding key concepts in CT imaging. These task questions will be made available on the unit Moodle site.
- As a guideline, your portfolio should be approximately 3000 words, excluding references. However, no marks will be deducted for being over or under the word limit. Stick to the question asked and avoid irrelevant content in your responses. A response that is complete, correct, clearly stated and contains only relevant content will get full marks.
- When explaining each key concept, define the core technical terms and support your discussions with relevant CT images acquired during the CT lab activities. In addition to the use of the CT images that you have produced, you can also use diagrams to illustrate the concept.
- Ensure that the diagrams and images are properly labelled and linked to the content. All externally sourced images and/or diagrams are to be acknowledged using the Harvard system. Avoid images and diagrams with very large file sizes as they will cause submission issues when you are uploading your portfolio on the course Moodle site.
- If the task questions ask for the clinical significance of a key concept to the control of image appearances, patient dose and equipment conservation, make sure you include that in your discussions. You must support your discussions with literature from the field - take note that any information that you draw from another source (whether you paraphrase or quote verbatim) must be cited using the Harvard system.
- Your submission must be a word-processed document. Acceptable file types are WORD document (either .doc or .docx format) or a PDF file that is a conversion of a word processed document (NOT an image file such as a scanned document). All submissions must be processed through TURNITIN.
- Ensure that your document includes a header with your name and student number and a footer with the unit code and term/year.
- Note that although you will work with classmates to acquire CT images used in your portfolio, the written component is an individual task and must be your own work.
Review/Exam Week Monday (4 June 2018) 5:00 pm AEST
Within 2 weeks of the due date or submission date if extension granted
The portfolio will be assessed on the following criteria:
- introduction and conclusion
- familiarity with content including clarity and correctness of concept explanations
- quality, appropriate labeling and relevance of images and diagrams selected to illustrate the concept
- correct use, spelling and definition of technical terms
- extent and correctness of clinical considerations of the concept
- appropriate use and citing of references (Harvard Style)
- analysis of relevant theory and literature from the field
A detailed marking rubric will be posted on the unit Moodle site.
- Detail the processes of data acquisition, processing and image reconstruction in computed tomography.
- Operate computed tomography equipment safely and effectively, with consideration to patient dose, image quality and equipment conservation.
- Manipulate 3D data sets in computed tomography.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
2 In-class Test(s)
There are two in-class tests worth a total of 50%. These tests will have a range of question formats including very short-answer and short answer questions. Some answers will require diagrams to be labelled or to be drawn and labelled. Calculations will be required.
- In-class Test 1 is worth 15% of the total grade for this unit
This test will be held during scheduled class week in 7 and assess content related to Weeks 2 to 5. The maximum time allowed for in-class test 1 is 90 minutes (1 1/2 hours).
- In-class Test 2 is worth 35% of the total grade for this unit
This test will be held during scheduled class in week 12 and assess content related to Weeks 2 to 11.The maximum time allowed for in-class test 2 is 120 minutes (2 hours).
As per the Assessment Procedures all In-class tests must be written at the scheduled time. There is no ability to apply a late penalty. In the absence of an approved assessment extension, if you do not write a test at the scheduled time, your mark on that test will be zero.
Note that both in-class tests are closed book and no physical or other notes may be brought into the tests.
Week 7 & week 12
Results for both tests will be released within two weeks of each scheduled test.
There will be a mixture of recall, problem solving and application of concepts to imaging situations type questions. The short answer questions will test your demonstration of theory concepts using explanations which may include drawing diagrams to illustrate the points made. Marks for each question will be indicated on the in-class test. More details will be posted on the Moodle site for the unit.
- Detail the processes of data acquisition, processing and image reconstruction in computed tomography.
- Operate computed tomography equipment safely and effectively, with consideration to patient dose, image quality and equipment conservation.
- Outline the issues of image transmission, storage and viewing in DICOM and PACS-integrated digital radiology environments.
- Discuss the design, operational features and clinical safety considerations of specialised applications such as angiography, bone mineral densitometry, ultrasonography and nuclear medicine imaging.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
