OPTOM 757A/B : Special Study in Optometry
Medical and Health Sciences
2023 Semester Two (1235) / 2024 Semester One (1243) (30 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
The sequence of activities during the course includes:
• Discuss likely clinical topics with the course coordinator to identify a topic and an academic advisor.
• Submit a short overview/review of the topic for approval by the HoS.
• Begin the in-depth review of the approved topic, find the extent of information, refine the scope of the approved topic and submit a detailed outline and full plan of the content of the review by the end of the 1st semester of enrolment (include a list of the references that are key).
• Complete the detailed study of the topic and submit a report of publishable quality by the middle of the final teaching week of the 2nd semester of enrolment.
While the detailed study will be a literature review, the study may (only if deemed appropriate and with approval) incorporate other material such as case analyses or other work undertaken by the graduate student.
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
- Demonstrate the ability to search the literature to determine what information is available to underpin an area of clinical practice. (Capability 1 and 2)
- Analyse the literature that is available, appraise its quality, and write a succinct and critical literature review. (Capability 2, 3 and 5)
- 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)
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | 5% | Individual Coursework |
| Assignment 2 | 15% | Individual Coursework |
| Assignment 3 | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Report | 70% | Individual Coursework |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
| Assignment 1 | ||||||||||
| Assignment 2 | ||||||||||
| Assignment 3 | ||||||||||
| Report | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 30 point course.
Students are expected to spending 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in. As this is a 30 point course, the workload for OPTOM 757 is 480 hours [=1/4 of a full time load = 10hrs per week x 24 weeks x 2 (30pts not 15pts)].
This postgraduate course has no scheduled contact hours but students are required to meet with their academic advisor at least six times over the two semesters.
Meetings are arranged at mutually convenient times and by mutually agreed methods.
Over the two-semester duration of the course we expect the 480 hours to be 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. This allocation is done in conjunction with your academic advisor and the course coordinator. The regular meetings with your advisor are opportunities to plan your work.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience or Online
This course is offered in two delivery modes:
Campus Experience
There are no scheduled activities / components / tests or exams for the course.
Meetings with your advisor are arranged using in person or electronic methods agreed to between you and your advisor and at times that are mutually agreed.
Should any learning activities be arranged they will be available also as recordings.
Online
There are no scheduled activities / components / tests or exams for the course.
Meetings with your advisor are arranged using online methods agreed to between you and your advisor and at times that are mutually agreed.
Should any learning activities be arranged they will be available online.
Whichever delivery method is taken, this course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines across the two semester duration will apply.
Learning 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.
Searching for information”
https://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/study-skills/searching
See also https://flexiblelearning.auckland.ac.nz/philson/index.html?t=1397094063
The website: https://www.eboptometry.com/ has resources that describe Evidence-Based-Practice (EBP).
Of the five (5) steps in EBP (Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply, Audit) from evidence-based-practice, the first three are very applicable to the review process.
The “Acquire” step
see https://www.eboptometry.com/content/medical-optometry/step-2-acquire/practitioners-students-teachers/step-2-acquire
is all about searching.
Learning outcome 2:
The “Appraise” step of EBP is of critical importance in assembling material for a review. Information found in a search much be evaluated and its quality appraised.
The UoA library resource (above) has a specific link to the evaluation phase of a search.
https://flexiblelearning.auckland.ac.nz/business_information_skills/9.html#7_4
The Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine has published an approach to systematising the levels of evidence available in the health field.
This article is important reading.
https://www.cebm.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/CEBM-Levels-of-Evidence-2.1.pdf
Assessment of each learning outcome:
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.
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.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
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 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.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.
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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.