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Unit of study_

INTM5102: Advanced Neurology

Semester 2, 2023 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The Advanced Neurology syllabus is at a level appropriate for practitioners undertaking specialist training in neurology or with an interest in the field. The content is focussed on diagnosis and investigation of important but less common neurological conditions and advanced management of common and important neurological diseases. The module learning materials are linked to a library of clinical cases representing common and important neurological conditions.

Unit details and rules

Unit code INTM5102
Academic unit Internal Medicine
Credit points 3
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Ella Stephens, ella.stephens@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final Exam
MCQ
40% Formal exam period 1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Online task Graded discussion boards
Discussion contributions
10% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Tutorial quiz Clinical cases
Online module
25% Multiple weeks 450 words per case
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Case report
Report
25% Week 08
Due date: 24 Sep 2023 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

Assessment summary

  • Graded discussion boards: The discussion boards are an opportunity to discuss not only the cases presented in this unit but also challenging cases that students have encountered in the course
    of their clinical work. These forums are an opportunity to build collegiate relationships with peers, and also to have input from senior neurologists. Students will be presented with questions relating to the practice cases in the module and be asked to discuss them with peers.
  • Clinical cases: Each module has 3 or more clinical cases, most of these will be discussed in the on-line discussion forums. One case will be graded based on students’ response to the trigger questions. The cases will be organized as quizzes, and will each have 3 components: initial presentation, investigation, and clinical progress. Students will submit a graded case at the end of the module.
  • Case report: This report should detail a patient with a presentation related to a type of neurological illness. The report should be based on a patient the student has cared for or encountered in their clinical work. The format of the case report can be as a narrative or, arranged in a manner usual for medical record documentation.
  • Final exam: There will be 1 paper with 60 multiple choice questions.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Module 1: vascular neurology, cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and cerebral cortex Online class (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 02 Module 1: vascular neurology, cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and cerebral cortex Online class (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 03 Module 1: vascular neurology, cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and cerebral cortex Online class (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 04 Module 1: vascular neurology, cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and cerebral cortex Online class (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 05 Module 1: vascular neurology, cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and cerebral cortex Online class (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 06 Module 2: movement disorders and inflammation of the nervous system Online class (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 07 Module 2: movement disorders and inflammation of the nervous system Online class (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 08 Module 2: movement disorders and inflammation of the nervous system Online class (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 09 Module 2: movement disorders and inflammation of the nervous system Online class (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 10 Module 3: spinal cord and nerves, headache, hearing and balance disorders Online class (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 11 Module 3: spinal cord and nerves, headache, hearing and balance disorders Online class (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 12 Module 3: spinal cord and nerves, headache, hearing and balance disorders Online class (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 13 Module 3: spinal cord and nerves, headache, hearing and balance disorders Online class (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

Attendance and class requirements

Required materials: The following equipment is required in order to take the final exam: a desktop computer or laptop (not tablet), a webcam and microphone, an internet connection speed of at least 2 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload speed and a browser with pop-up blocker disabled (Chrome is recommended).

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 3 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 60-75 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

The texts for this course are:

  • Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine 20th edition, McGraw-Hill 2018
  • Oxford Textbook of Medicine, 6th edition, Oxford Medicine Online 2020

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. recognise important patterns of presentation of neurological diseases
  • LO2. diagnose and initiate specialised investigations in patients presenting with these conditions
  • LO3. initiate definitive management of patients presenting with these conditions
  • LO4. plan a monitoring program for patients with these conditions
  • LO5. consider patient and micro-economic factors in the delivery of care
  • LO6. write concise case descriptions
  • LO7. conduct goal directed literature reviews
  • LO8. communicate with peers and supervisors about diagnostic and management problems.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

We value your feedback about any aspect of the unit of study and your experience as a student of Sydney Medical School. To help ensure our courses meet your needs and maintain a high standard, we welcome your feedback at any time, and we ask you to complete the Mid-Semester Evaluation Survey and the unit of study Evaluation Survey at the end of the semester. You can also rate any component of the unit using our star rating system found at the bottom of many pages as you progress through the unit. Your ratings and comments are anonymous and specifying what you liked and didn’t like about any of the learning materials, assessment items, discussion forums, feedback etc will help us to target our improvement efforts. Please note that your participation in this unit of study permits de-identified information about your learning experience and interaction with learning resources to be used for the purpose of improving the student learning experience. No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.