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Unit of study_

OLET1510: Health Challenges: Sleep

Semester 1, 2021 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Our sleep and circadian rhythms are integral to our health and wellbeing, but they are often at odds with our technology-filled, caffeine-fuelled, and 24-hour world. This unit introduces how sleep and circadian rhythms work and their impact on health and society. Examples include sleep deprivation, jetlag, shiftwork, and common sleep disorders. Students will gain insights into their own sleep and circadian rhythms to help optimise their wellbeing and performance. The unit will also showcase how different disciplines contribute to a fuller understanding of the world and help to provide new solutions to complex problems. Students will be asked to reflect on their own discipline and how it can contribute to solving problems like those encountered in sleep and circadian science. The content will be founded in science, medicine, and health but will include perspectives and examples from physics, engineering, sociology, and history. This entry-level unit of study has been developed by academics in the University's Charles Perkins Centre, an interdisciplinary education and research hub whose mission is to develop real-world solutions for chronic disease.

Unit details and rules

Unit code OLET1510
Academic unit Sleep Medicine
Credit points 2
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Yu Sun Bin, yusun.bin@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Participation
Contribution to pre-lecture activities and online discussion boards
5% - N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Tutorial quiz Module 1 Quiz
15 multiple choice questions
10% Week 01 Expected: 15 min Time limit: 30 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Tutorial quiz Module 2 Quiz
15 multiple choice questions
10% Week 02 Expected: 15 min Time limit: 30 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Tutorial quiz Module 3 Quiz
10 multiple choice questions
5% Week 03 Expected: 10 min Time limit: 30 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Tutorial quiz Module 4 Quiz
10 multiple choice questions
5% Week 04 Expected: 10 min TIme limit: 30 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Tutorial quiz Module 5 Quiz
10 multiple choice questions
5% Week 05 Expected: 10 min Time limit: 30 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Tutorial quiz Module 6 Quiz
10 multiple choice questions
5% Week 05 Expected: 10 min Time limit: 30 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Tutorial quiz Module 7 Quiz
10 multiple choice questions
5% Week 07 Expected: 10 min Time limit: 30 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Tutorial quiz Module 8 Quiz
10 multiple choice questions
5% Week 08 Expected: 10 min Time limit: 30 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Final assessment
Infographic
45% Week 10 1 page
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2

Assessment summary

All quizzes must be attempted to progress in the course and complete the unit.

Students will lose the opportunity to complete the final assessment and gain the associated marks after the deadline has passed.

Assessment criteria

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

At HD level, a student demonstrates a flair for the subject as well as a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the unit material. A ‘High Distinction’ reflects exceptional achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates the ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding to produce original solutions for novel or highly complex problems and/or comprehensive critical discussions of theoretical concepts.

Distinction

75 - 84

At DI level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well­developed understanding of the unit material. A ‘Distinction’ reflects excellent achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates an ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding of the subject to produce good solutions for challenging problems and/or a reasonably well­developed critical analysis of theoretical concepts.

Credit

65 - 74

At CR level, a student demonstrates a good command and knowledge of the unit material. A ‘Credit’ reflects solid achievement and is awarded to a student who has a broad general understanding of the unit material and can solve routine problems and/or identify and superficially discuss theoretical concepts.

Pass

50 - 64

At PS level, a student demonstrates proficiency in the unit material. A ‘Pass’ reflects satisfactory achievement and is awarded to a student who has threshold knowledge.

Fail

0 - 49

A ‘Fail’ is awarded to a student who has not demonstrated threshold knowledge.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late submissions for the online quizzes will receive no marks. No late submissions will be accepted for the final assessment. Please apply for special consideration as soon as possible if you think you cannot meet assessment deadlines.

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 Introduction to sleep Online class (3 hr) LO1
Week 02 Introduction to circadian rhythms Online class (3 hr) LO1
Week 03 Sleep deprivation Online class (3 hr) LO1
Week 04 Jetlag Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 05 Shift work Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 06 Measuring sleep and circadian rhythms Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 07 Sleep hygiene and insomnia Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 08 Other sleep and circadian disorders Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2

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 2 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 40-50 hours of student effort in total.

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. Describe how the human sleep and circadian systems work and how they affect health and performance.
  • LO2. Explain the relevance of sleep and circadian health for different demographics, situations, and disciplines; and how sleep and circadian health can be optimised for health and performance.

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.

To be completed after Unit of Study survey results are released.

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.