PSIO12004 - Neurosciences Across the Lifespan

General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit will provide you with a focus on the theoretical component of neuroscience and will prepare you for the clinical application of this theory. You will study core areas of neuroscience, neuroanatomy and neurodevelopment. Topics covered will include the organisation and function of the nervous system, neuroplasticity, motor control and learning, and signs and symptoms in neurologic lesions. Normal and pathological development across the lifespan will be presented and will provide you with the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills central to the core concepts of paediatric, adult and older adult neurological physiotherapy. This unit will introduce you to the practical physiotherapy skills required to perform a neurological assessment, with a specific focus on the assessment of key neurological impairments and neurodevelopment across the lifespan.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 2
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

To enrol in this unit you must be enrolled in the CB85 Course and meet the following pre-requisites:

BMSC11007 Medical Anatomy and Physiology 1

BMSC11008 Medical Anatomy and Physiology 2

PSIO11004 Foundations of Physiotherapy Practice 1

PSIO11003 Foundations of Physiotherapy Practice 2

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 1 - 2023

Term 2 - 2023 Profile
Bundaberg
Rockhampton

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 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.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Online Quiz(zes) 25%
2. Written Assessment 40%
3. On-campus Activity 0%
4. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) 35%

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

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 2 - 2022 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 78.57% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 34.15% response rate.

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: Have your say, unit evaluation data, direct student feedback, self-reflection
Feedback
Pre-recorded online lectures were not highly rated by students, mainly due to poor sound quality and the inability to interact with the lecturer.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the paediatric lectures be delivered synchronously by the teaching team with opportunities for students to ask questions.
Action Taken
All lectures were delivered face-to-face and synchronous, except for two pre-recorded lectures, which were due to inability of guest lecturer to present during teaching term and also due to last minute changes in public holiday (Queen's mourning day).
Source: Have your say, unit evaluation data, direct student feedback, self-reflection
Feedback
Some students reported difficulty in planning and conducting a full paediatric intervention.
Recommendation
It is recommended that a comprehensive overview of planning and performing a paediatric intervention be presented to help students develop clinical reasoning and practical skills.
Action Taken
An updated, comprehensive approach to perform a paediatric intervention was presented on both campus to facilitate students' development of clinical reasoning and practical skills.
Source: Direct student feedback
Feedback
The observational placements at Special Schools were appreciated by students as they showed the practical application of the theory knowledge in paediatric physiotherapy.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the observational placements at Special Schools continue to be implemented.
Action Taken
Nil.
Source: Direct student feedback
Feedback
Students made positive comments about the learning resources, such as the guide for assessment and treatment planning and about having clear expectations for the practical assessment.
Recommendation
It is recommended to continue providing clear expectations for the practical assessments and continue the use of assessment and treatment planning guides.
Action Taken
Nil.
Source: SUTE
Feedback
Students requested access to more video resources for paediatric assessments.
Recommendation
It is recommended that students be clearly signposted to the many available paediatric assessment videos that are available on Moodle.
Action Taken
Nil.
Unit learning Outcomes

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

  1. Describe basic concepts of neurosciences, including organisation and function of the nervous system, neurodevelopment and signs and symptoms in neurologic lesions
  2. Identify and discuss atypical motor development, pathophysiology, clinical management and prognosis of common neurological conditions in paediatrics and geriatrics
  3. Understand and demonstrate the general principles which underlie therapeutic interventions and interdisciplinary practice in paediatrics
  4. Understand and demonstrate the role of the physiotherapist in the evidence-based management of paediatric and geriatric patients applying the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Framework (ICF) framework
  5. Develop, implement and evaluate comprehensive knowledge and skills in the assessment and treatment of paediatric and geriatric patients with atypical neurodevelopment and neurological impairments based on evidence-based practice
  6. Demonstrate acceptable professional and ethical behaviours consistent with a physiotherapy practitioner.

Learning outcomes and assessment tasks have been mapped against and aligned with the Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Online Quiz(zes) •
2 - Written Assessment • • • •
3 - On-campus Activity •
4 - Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) • • • • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
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 • • • • • •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Online Quiz(zes) • • • • •
2 - Written Assessment • • • • •
3 - On-campus Activity • • • • • • •
4 - Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) • • • • • •