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MEDS20017 - Medical Sonography Clinical Unit 4

General Information

Unit Synopsis

This graduate clinical unit builds on the sonographic skills, knowledge and attitudes developed during Medical Sonography Clinical Unit 3. You will build on knowledge and attitudes developed during your studies to competently perform diagnostic scans in areas appropriate for an 'Entry Level Sonographer' (as described by the Australasian Sonography Association). You will evaluate findings to formulate a differential diagnosis and initiate further investigation when appropriate. You will solve complex diagnostic problems demonstrating understanding of a broad and coherent core body of sonographic knowledge.You will also behave professionally using interpersonal skills relevant to sonographic practice in accordance with CQUniversity postgraduate attributes and Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry requirements.

Details

Level Postgraduate
Unit Level 8
Credit Points 18
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.375
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite
MEDS20016 Medical Sonography Clinical Unit 3
Medical Sonography Clinical Unit 3 must have been successfully completed within the last twelve months. Should this time limit have elapsed the student must successfully complete one (or more) technical skill, professional behaviour and diagnostic knowledge-based assessment(s) after a period of technical skill/knowledge revision, as determined by the discipline lead or designate.

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).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 2 - 2021

Term 2 - 2021 Profile
Mixed Mode
Term 2 - 2022 Profile
Mixed Mode
Term 2 - 2023 Profile
Mixed Mode
Term 2 - 2024 Profile
Mixed Mode
Term 2 - 2025 Profile
Mixed Mode
Term 2 - 2026 Profile
Mixed Mode

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).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 18-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 37.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 450 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Practical Assessment 0%
2. Practical Assessment 0%
3. Practical Assessment 0%
4. Practical Assessment 0%
5. Portfolio 0%
6. Professional Practice Placement 0%

This is a pass/fail (non-graded) unit. To pass the unit, you must pass all of the individual assessment tasks shown in the table above.

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

No previous feedback available

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.

Source: Student Email Feedback
Feedback
Some students had issues with videos playing in some on the online quiz questions.
Recommendation
Review the quality of videos within the question bank and ensure they are good quality. Source new videos if quality is not of a high standard or remove videos from the online imaging quizzes to enhance the student experience.
Action Taken
The review of videos in the question bank was completed. Videos that met quality standards were retained, while those with poor resolution or unclear content were removed to maintain consistency and enhance learning. Where gaps were identified, new high-quality videos were sourced and integrated into the online imaging quizzes..
Source: Student Unit Teacher Evaluation
Feedback
Students enjoyed how interactive the tutorial content was and always felt welcome and safe to talk and ask questions.
Recommendation
Continue to provide a safe and inviting space within the tutorials and encourage students to interact.
Action Taken
This action was implemented. Tutorials consistently maintained a welcoming and inclusive environment where students felt comfortable participating. Strategies such as open-ended questions, positive reinforcement, and structured group activities increased engagement and interaction. Student feedback via tutorials and emails indicated they felt supported and more confident contributing to discussions.
Source: Unit Coordinator Self Reflection
Feedback
In this units offering the expectation for students to undertake and pass all three online image interpretation quizzes was changed to an overall pass across three quizzes. This appeared to lessen the stress placed on the students and reduced the anxiety linked to this aspect of the OSCE while still motivating students to consistently review the material.
Recommendation
Leave the pass mark for this component at an overall pass of 50% across all three quizzes to reduce stress and anxiety and enhance the student experience.
Action Taken
This approach was maintained, and feedback from students indicated that the consistent 50% overall pass mark has helped reduce stress and improve confidence in completing the quizzes. By keeping the requirement achievable while still ensuring competency, students reported feeling less anxious and more focused on learning rather than performance pressure.
Source: Student Unit Teacher Evaluation
Feedback
Students appreciated the unit’s clear structure and well-organised layout, making it easy to engage with tutorials and study even after long placement days.
Recommendation
Continue providing a well-structured unit with accessible tutorials to support flexible learning and reduce cognitive load for students balancing placement and study.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Student Unit Teacher Evaluation
Feedback
Students found Ann’s heart presentation highly beneficial, as reviewing heart cines in detail clarified what to look for during scanning. Practical walkthroughs of real-time cines for key pathologies were especially helpful beyond theoretical teaching.
Recommendation
Continue incorporating detailed cine reviews in tutorials and expand this approach to include other pathologies for enhanced practical understanding.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Student Unit Teacher Evaluation
Feedback
Students felt that there was minimal feedback provided for assessments.
Recommendation
Most feedback is delivered at the end of the placement by industry. To improve feedback timing and quality incorporate formative feedback earlier in the unit through structured feedback sessions during tutorials.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Student Unit Teacher Evaluation
Feedback
Students expressed that they did not feel that there were clear unit requirements.
Recommendation
Clarify unit requirements continuously. Reinforce expectations through visual guides and short video explainers. Also embed reminders within the Moodle unit and throughout tutorials.
Action Taken
In Progress
Unit learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Perform diagnostic scans to meet the Competency Standards for an Entry Level Sonographer
  2. Evaluate sonographic findings and formulate appropriate sonographic protocols to solve complex diagnostic problems demonstrating understanding of a broad and coherent core body of sonographic knowledge
  3. Behave professionally using appropriate interpersonal skills relevant to sonographic practice in accordance with CQUniversity postgraduate attributes and Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry requirements.

Australasian Sonography Association Competency Standards for the Entry Level Sonographer Units 1-5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Practical Assessment • • •
2 - Practical Assessment • • •
3 - Practical Assessment • • •
4 - Practical Assessment • • •
5 - Portfolio •
6 - Professional Practice Placement •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Knowledge • • •
2 - Communication • • •
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills • •
5 - Self-management •
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility • • •
7 - Leadership • •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8
1 - Practical Assessment • • • • • •
2 - Practical Assessment • • • • • •
3 - Practical Assessment • • • • • •
4 - Practical Assessment • • • • • •
5 - Portfolio • • •
6 - Professional Practice Placement • • •