OPTOM 757A/B : Special Study in Optometry

Medical and Health Sciences

2020 Semester One (1203) / Semester Two (1205) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The study of selected fields of optometry at an advanced level with detailed study of the particular field. The topic will be prescribed by the Head of School.

Course Requirements

To complete this course students must enrol in OPTOM 757 A and B

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate the ability to to search the literature to determine what information is available to underpin an area of clinical practice. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  2. Be able to analyse the literature that is available, appraise its quality, and write a succinct and critical literature review. (Capability 2, 3 and 5)
  3. Identify gaps in the literature supporting areas of clinical practice, and demonstrate the ability to propose questions that need to be answered. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  4. Develop experience in writing for technical and clinical journals, and demonstrate in the final report that writing skills are at a high level of competence. (Capability 4, 5 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 5% Individual Coursework
Assignments 15% Individual Coursework
Assignments 10% Individual Coursework
Reports 70% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Assignments
Assignments
Assignments
Reports
Assignment 1: Title and overview of the proposed topic - due Wednesday of week 5 of the first semester of enrolment at the latest.

Assignment 2: Plan of the literature review for the approved topic - due Wednesday of week 12 of the first semester of enrolment or earlier.

Assignment 3 : Refworks library containing literature found to be relevant for the topic - due Wednesday of week 12 of the second semester of enrolment.

Report: Final written report of publishable quality for the approved topic  - due Wednesday of week 12 of the second semester of enrolment.

Learning Resources

Library resources:
The library webpage   http://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/refworks/index.htm   has guides and tutorials for using RefWorks including a list of FAQs.

Using RefWorks:
There are RefWorks video tutorials at https://www.youtube.com/user/ProQuestRefWorks

Format for the final written report:
based on the “Author Guidelines” for reviews for the journal Clinical and Experimental Optometry (CXO). These are available at:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/%28ISSN%291444-0938/homepage/ForAuthors.html  

Course Contacts

Course Coordinator:   Assoc Prof Rob JACOBS
E     r.jacobs@auckland.ac.nz

Enquiries:  Group Services Administrator, School of Optometry & Vision Science
Phone     +64 9 923 6483,  or UoA extension 86483

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course.  Students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in. 

For this course, you can expect no lectures, and no regular tutorials, but regular meetings with your academic advisors (either in person or by electronic means) to facilitate your progress with the special study.  Over the 2 semester duration of the course we expect 480 hours devoted to: reading and thinking about the content, work on the assignments and the preparation of the final report.  

The division of time between the tasks is flexible and is determined by you according to your background, your needs, and the topic you choose in conjunction with the course controller and your academic advisor.  The regular meetings with your advisor are opportunities to plan your work.  Graduate capability 5 (Independence and Integrity) is enhanced with this process.  

Other Information

This course is primarily designed for registered health care practitioners (e.g. optometrists) who wish to work towards a Post Graduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci), a Master of Science degree or a Master of Health Science degree. 

 Students without appropriate prior learning in optometry or ophthalmology will be required to contact the HoS to obtain permission to enrol.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 26/02/2020 09:55 a.m.