Overview
This unit aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the science and instrumentation of clinical ultrasound to enable you to practically produce and optimise sonographic images to support clinical decision making. The unit emphasis will be on image optimisation, safety and quality assurance. This unit will form the foundation from which you will build image acquisition, recognition and assessment skills as part of the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
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 - 2021
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 Postgraduate 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 email.
The alteration of the physics written assessment due to covid-19 where images were provided to students to discuss helped my learning.
Consider providing assessment tasks that are not related to image acquisition by students in residential schools but rather allow students to comment on clinical images. This may include discussion of how images could be optimised or how artifacts are demonstrated or can be overcome.
Feedback from Student email.
The feedback provided on assessment tasks was helpful.
Continue to provide in-depth feedback on written assessments to enhance student understanding and the practical applications of physics principles.
Feedback from Student email.
It is expensive having to pay for travel and accommodation for one little alone two separate residential schools.
Consider either condensing the residential school into a single residential school, or running a virtual residential school, to take into consideration the costs of travel and accommodation for students.
- Apply the knowledge of physical principles of diagnostic ultrasound to the acquisition and optimisation of sonographic imaging
- Interpret the cause of imaging artifacts and use problem solving skills to reduce and overcome these artifacts on real time sonographic imaging using all modes of ultrasound
- Discuss the bioeffects and safety issues associated with diagnostic medical sonography and how these can be managed.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40% | |||
| 2 - Online Test - 60% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||
| 2 - Communication | |||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||
| 4 - Research | |||
| 5 - Self-management | |||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||
| 7 - Leadership | |||
| 8 - 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 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40% | ||||||||
| 2 - Online Test - 60% | ||||||||
Textbooks
Artifacts in Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound, Volume 1, Grayscale Artifacts 1st (2012)
Edition: 1st (2012)
Authors: Martin Necas
High Frequency Publishing
Sydney Sydney , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 978‐0987292179
Binding: eBook
The physics and technology of diagnostic ultrasound: A practitioner's guide.
Edition: 1st (2012)
Authors: Dr Robert Gill
High Frequency Publishing
Sydney Sydney , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9780987292100
Binding: eBook
Additional Textbook Information
If you prefer a paper copy, the CQUni Bookshop The Physics and Technology of Diagnostic Ultrasound available at a reduced price. See them here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Vancouver
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
m.fenech@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Pulse echo principle and sound parameters Part 1
(Physics principle basics explained, Pulse echo principle and sound paramenters)
Chapter
Lectures and notes provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Pulse echo principles and sound parameters part 2
(Pulsed ultrasound, PRP, PRF, PD, DF, SPL, bandwidth)
Chapter
Lectures and notes provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Reflection of sound and acoustic impedance
Chapter
Lectures and notes provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial this week (Time TBC)
Module/Topic
Ultrasound transducers
Chapter
Lectures and notes provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Ultrasound imaging resolution (spatial, contrast and temporal resolution)
Chapter
Lectures and notes provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial this week (Time TBC)
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Doppler ultrasound part 1
Chapter
Lectures and notes provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Doppler Ultrasound part 2 and haemodynamics
Chapter
Lectures and notes provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial this week (Time TBC)
Online quiz (week 6/7) Due: Week 7 Wednesday (28 Apr 2021) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Ultrasound imaging artifacts
Chapter
Lectures and notes provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Bioeffects associated with diagnostic medical ultrasound
Chapter
Lectures and notes provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial this week (Time TBC)
Module/Topic
Advancements in Ultrasound imaging
Chapter
Lectures and notes provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Practical use of ultrasound physics - image optimisation
Chapter
Lectures and notes provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial this week (Time TBC)
Module/Topic
Bringing the physics together
Chapter
Lectures and notes provided
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The unit coordinator for this unit for Term 1, 2021 is Leanne McKnoutly. The best way to contact Leanne is via email and her email address is: l.mcknoulty@cqu.edu.au. Live online tutorials will be held (via Zoom) on weeks 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 to assist with your learning in this unit and prepare you for success in completing your assessment tasks in this unit. There is no on-campus residential school associated with this unit.
1 Online Quiz(zes)
An online quiz will be conducted which consists of multi-choice questions. It will assess you on unit content related to weeks one to five. The quiz will comprise of 20 multi-choice questions (some calculation may be required, so you will require a calculator to complete this quiz). You will be required to select the most appropriate and correct answer from a selection of possible answers in relation to the question asked. You will have 40 minutes to complete the quiz (equates to two minutes to complete each question). The quiz will be open for one week, to allow you to complete it and will open on Wednesday 21st April, 2021 at 9 am (week 6) and will close on Wednesday 28th April, 2021 at 9am (week 7). You will require internet access to complete this online quiz.
1
Other
Week 7 Wednesday (28 Apr 2021) 9:00 am AEST
Note: The quiz must be completed by this time (quiz will be open from Wednesday 21st April at 9am and will close on Wednesday 28th April at 9am).
Week 9 Wednesday (12 May 2021)
via Moodle
Questions will be related to content of week 1 to week 5 of this unit. You will need to obtain 50% in this quiz to pass this unit. There are 20 questions, each worth one mark each.
- Apply the knowledge of physical principles of diagnostic ultrasound to the acquisition and optimisation of sonographic imaging
- Interpret the cause of imaging artifacts and use problem solving skills to reduce and overcome these artifacts on real time sonographic imaging using all modes of ultrasound
- Knowledge
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
2 Online Test
This online test which will open in week 12 will assess your understanding of all content covered in the unit (weeks 1 to 11). The questions will include a combination of short answer questions and some multi-choice questions. The test will be open for one week to allow you to complete it. The test will open on Wednesday 3rd June at 9am (week 12) and will close on Wednesday 9th June at 9am (the following week).
Review/Exam Week Wednesday (9 June 2021) 9:00 am AEST
Exam Week Friday (18 June 2021)
via Moodle
Short answer questions will require typed responses which will be assessed according to:
- use of appropriate sonographic physics terminology
- correct relevance of response to the question asked
- adequate detail provided in the answer to demonstrate a depth of understanding of sonographic physics concepts and their practical application.
- Apply the knowledge of physical principles of diagnostic ultrasound to the acquisition and optimisation of sonographic imaging
- Interpret the cause of imaging artifacts and use problem solving skills to reduce and overcome these artifacts on real time sonographic imaging using all modes of ultrasound
- Discuss the bioeffects and safety issues associated with diagnostic medical sonography and how these can be managed.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
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?
