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Unit of study_

SLEE5101: Introduction to Sleep Medicine

Semester 2, 2021 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study aims to develop an understanding of normal human sleep across the lifecycle and introduces common sleep disorders and sleep related breathing disorders. Normal sleep and respiratory physiology will be discussed, as well as the methods used for measurement and analysis of sleep recordings. Obstructive and central sleep apnoea and non-respiratory sleep disorders such as narcolespy, parasomnias, insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders are introduced. Current scoring guidelines for sleep stage scoring and respiratory event scoring will be explored and their practical application will be demonstrated using short examples of sleep studies. Learning will include regular short answer quizzes, as well as broader written assessments.

Unit details and rules

Unit code SLEE5101
Academic unit Sleep Medicine
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Kerri Melehan, kerri.melehan@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Live+ supervised) Type A final exam Final exam
2 hour online exam
40% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Assignment Module 2 assignment
Written assignment
10% Week 04 4-6 questions
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO9
Assignment Module 3 assignment
Written assignment
10% Week 07 4-6 questions
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Assignment Module 4 assignment
Written assignment
10% Week 12 4 - 6 questions
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO7
Assignment Essay
Written essay
30% Week 13 1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8 LO9
Type A final exam = Type A final exam ?

Assessment summary

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 Introduction to the course Individual study (3 hr) LO1
Week 02 Normal sleep structure Individual study (3 hr) LO3
Week 03 Sleep processes Individual study (3 hr) LO3 LO6
Week 04 Sleep and public health Individual study (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8 LO9
Week 05 Historical perspectives of sleep measurement Individual study (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Monitoring of sleep Individual study (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 07 Sleep staging Individual study (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO6
Week 08 Overview of respiratory physiology Individual study (3 hr) LO7
Week 09 Overview of respiratory physiology continued Individual study (3 hr) LO7
Week 10 Features of SDB Individual study (3 hr) LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 11 Respiratory event scoring Individual study (3 hr) LO2 LO4 LO7
Week 12 Parasomnias and narcolepsy Individual study (3 hr) LO3 LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 13 Introduction to insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders Individual study (2 hr) LO3 LO5 LO6 LO9

Attendance and class requirements

This course is delivered online, with no specific attendance requirements.

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 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library, available on Canvas

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. Understand the major University Policies and Procedures that relate to students and the University’s Academic Honesty Policy and its application to assessments and identify the resources available to students through the Library in order to find out how to access reference material and use reference management software
  • LO2. Critique the achievements of early sleep researchers and the historical developments in sleep medicine that have led to contemporary techniques and methodology and describe how physiological measurements are recorded, discussing the pros and cons of these measurement techniques
  • LO3. Outline the cardinal measurements and criteria used for sleep staging in adults and children with a view to an understanding of the normal sleep stage patterns of infants, children, teenagers, adults and the elderly
  • LO4. Outline the cardinal measurements and criteria used for identifying respiratory events in adults and children and describe the clinical consequences linked to syndromes associated with abnormal breathing events during sleep
  • LO5. Understand the epidemiology of sleep disorders in order to appreciate the magnitude of sleep disorders in the community and their impact on public health
  • LO6. Outline the basic neural anatomy and physiology necessary for sleep and circadian processes linking these to the active processes that occur during sleep, including memory consolidation, hormonal changes, waste product removal and cell repair
  • LO7. Understand the physiology of respiration and the basics of respiratory control in order to grasp processes behind gas exchange, the oxyhaemoglobin curve
  • LO8. Distinguish the polysomnographic and clinical features of parasomnias and narcolepsy in order to appreciate the difficulties involved in their diagnosis
  • LO9. Contrast the various types of insomnia and chronic sleep deprivation and the different circadian rhythm disorders including advanced sleep phase syndrome, delayed sleep phase syndrome and shift-work disorder that are linked to inadequate sleep

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.

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.