PHARMCOL 399 : Capstone: Integrated Pharmacology
Medical and Health Sciences
2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This student-led course uses the framework of an ethics application to explore how principles of pharmacology and toxicology inform the safe, effective and responsible use of drugs. Students discover how to apply their skills in experimental design, data collection, analysis and presentation with critical appraisal of the literature, as the scientific basis for rational, evidence-based decision-making. Students learn how to articulate their skills and knowledge to potential employers.
Course Requirements
Course Contacts
Rachel Cameron (r.cameron@auckland.ac.nz) and Malcolm Tingle (m.tingle@auckland.ac.nz)
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
- Apply the concepts and theories in pharmacology across the sub-disciplines of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicology. (Capability 1)
- Evaluate the ethical issues surrounding pharmacological research and drug use, including the context of ethical oversight and drug use in New Zealand (Capability 6)
- Evaluate existing knowledge critically and use an evidence-based approach to define problems in the context of pharmacology principles and in New Zealand populations (Capability 1, 2 and 6)
- Apply methods used within the field of pharmacology to seek solutions to selected problems associated with drug development and use (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Demonstrate an ability to lead research work, by working individually and within a team, and display competence in the practical skills required to undertake pharmacological research (Capability 4 and 5)
- Demonstrate the application of competence in numeracy and data handling, data presentation and literacy to analyse experimental data and generate reports appropriate to the discipline of pharmacology (Capability 4)
- Communicate key pharmacological principles and data effectively and appropriately based on the target audience (Capability 4 and 5)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Literature review | 15% | Individual Coursework |
| Experimental design | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Visual display of data | 25% | Group Coursework |
| Integrated written assignment | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| MyCDES | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| 5 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| Literature review | ||||||||||
| Experimental design | ||||||||||
| Visual display of data | ||||||||||
| Integrated written assignment | ||||||||||
| MyCDES | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you will spend 2 h per week in student-led interactive face-to-face workshops, and up to 24 hours in practical laboratories during the mid-semester break. You will expect to spend 6-8 hours per week locating, reading and thinking actively about the content, completing progress tasks and working on assignments.
There will be a total of 48 hours of contact time and 102 hours of self-directed learning.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including workshops and labs to receive credit for components of the course.
Learning activities including workshops and labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
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.
The Pharmacology Capstone course is designed to utilise the disciplinary knowledge and skills acquired in prerequisite courses.
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.
2021 was the first full offering of this course. Student evaluations of the course have been very favourable with at least 90% of respondents satisfied with the learning experience in this course. Students appreciated the interactions with staff, and the sense of community fostered on campus. Also valued was the support of peers in group work activities, the course organisation, the assessment structure that emphasised the application of learning to real-life scenarios and the involvement of staff from Career Development and Employability Services (CDES). Students requested more support for assessments, which has been added to the weekly workshops successfully.
Other Information
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.