Optometry for Special Populations PG (10329.2)

Required texts

Mitchell Scheiman; Bruce Wick. Clinical Management of Binocular Vision: Heterophoric, Accommodative, and Eye Movement Disorders. 5^th Edition. ISBN 9781 4963 9973 1.

Nathan Efron. Contact Lens Practice. 4th Edition. ISBN 9780 70208 4270 available as an ebook.

Jonathan Jackson; James Wolffsohn. Low Vision Manual. 1st Ed.  available as an e-book ISBN 9780 7020 3499 2. Note that there is a known error in one published table of this textbook. Students must follow the correct information supplied in lectures.

The above books are available for loan at the library and are in the unit reading list.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

In the interest of providing timely feedback to the unit cohort, where late submissions are permitted, the mark allocated will be reduced by 10% of maximum available marks per day (or part thereof) up to and including three calendar days following the due date/approved extension/ reasonable adjustment. Late submissions may result in reduced feedback being provided.

Students will be allocated a mark of zero if submitting more than three calendar days late (without approved extension or reasonable adjustment), with no feedback provided. A student who does not undertake, submit or participate in a summative assessment, or who does not attend a timetabled exam without an approved deferral, will be allocated a mark of zero.

For the purposes of these penalties, all days of the week count, including weekends and public holidays, even when the University may be closed. The minimum possible mark for late submission is zero. For clarification, one (1) minute past the specified due date and time is considered a late submission.

It is students' responsibility to be familiar with the electronic submission process (e.g., the use of Canvas and Turnitin). Students are reminded to ensure they plan well enabling adequate time to submit assessments prior to the deadline, in order to avoid a mark adjustment. Penalties on late submissions will be strictly enforced. More details can be found in the Assessment Procedures.

Special assessment requirements

Coursework and Assessments for Aggregate Unit Mark

The final mark for this unit will be calculated by an accumulation of marks from each assessment item. To achieve a passing grade or higher in this unit, students must:

• Participate in all practical, workshop, laboratory and guest lecture sessions;
• Attempt and complete all assessment items including non-hurdle items;
• Complete and pass all hurdle assessments including ungraded hurdles;
• Achieve a mark of at least 50% in the final theory exam;
• Achieve a mark of at least 50% in the final general eye exam practical assessment hurdle; and
• Achieve a final aggregate (overall) mark of 50% or higher for the unit.

Oral verification of student knowledge: The Unit Convener reserves the right to question students orally on any of their submitted work.

Eligibility for second attempt at a hurdle assessment: Students who fail one more hurdle assessment(s) with a mark of 45% to 49% inclusive will be offered a second (and final) attempt at each hurdle, only if it is possible for the student to achieve an aggregate mark of 50% or above by passing the hurdles. If passing the hurdle(s) will not allow the student to pass the unit, then no second attempt will be offered.

How mark is affected: The mark that can be achieved on the second attempt of the hurdle assessment is a maximum 50%. This 50% mark will replace the mark of the first hurdle assessment attempt if the student passes the second attempt at the hurdle. If the student does not pass the second attempt at the hurdle, the lowest mark acheived will be applied to the aggregate score. Therefore it is possible for the student's hurdle assessment mark and aggregate mark to increase or decrease by taking the second attempt of the hurdle assessment.

Timing of repeats of a hurdle assessment: If the hurdle assessment is a final practical or theory examination, the second attempt of the hurdle will be held during the deferred examination period. If the hurdle assessment is a deferred final practical or theory examination, the second attempt of the deferred hurdle will be held in the week immediately after the deferred exam period.

Example mark calculations:

Student A had an aggregate mark of 60% for the unit but failed the original hurdle exam, scoring 49% for the hurdle. They received an NX grade and were offered a second attempt of the hurdle. On second attempt they acheived a passing score of  56% for the hurdle, so the maximum mark of 50% was applied for the second assessment attempt. The new 50% score was applied, the aggregate unit mark was adjusted upwards and they received a pass grade for the unit.

Student B had an aggregate mark of 60% for the unit and failed the original hurdle exam, scoring 44% for the hurdle. They received an NX grade and were not offered a second attempt at the hurdle because they did not meet the 45% to 49% mark criteria for a second attempt.

Student C had an aggregate mark of 60% for the unit but failed the original hurdle exam, scoring 45% for the hurdle. They received an NX grade and were offered a second attempt of the hurdle. On second attempt they scored 30% for the hurdle, their hurdle assessment mark and aggregate unit mark was adjusted down accordingly and they retained the NX grade.

Student D had an aggregate mark of 25% for the unit leading up to the hurdle. They failed the original hurdle exam, scoring 40% for the hurdle. They received an NX grade and were not offered a second attempt of the hurdle as passing the hurdle and receiving a 50% grade for it would not provide them enough aggregate marks to allow them to pass the unit. 

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary Assessment:

Refer to the Assessment Policy and Assessment Procedures.

This unit is NOT in the final semester of the course, and a supplementary assessment is NOT available.

Use of Text Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

For this 9 credit point unit the total notional workload over a semester or term is assumed to be 450 hours. Active engagement with the lectures, practicals, tutorials and engagement with materials on Canvas is expected in order to complete the unit at Masters level.

Inclusion and engagement

If you have a Reasonable Adjustment Plan (RAP) that you wish to apply to your studies, it is your responsibility to communicate with your Unit Convener in writing by email at least 7 days before your in-class assessment is due. Please attach your RAP with your request. Impairments that impact a student's ability to carry out ocular assessments are required to be disclosed to the Unit Convenor and clinical educators. Alternative examination techniques and strategies will be taught to students who require it, to ensure that they can appropriately examine patients and that patient safety is not compromised.

Participation requirements

This unit includes lectures, tutorials and practical laboratories that cover the learning outcomes via the following modules: a) Contact Lenses, b) Vision Therapy and Paediatrics c) Low Vision and Geriatrics d) General eye examination of volunteer public patients. Modules a), b) and c) will have a lecture or tutorial and lab component. Module d) will have dedicated volunteer patient labs to practice general eye examination skills acquired in the BVis Sci (these skills will not be retaught as they are assumed knowledge). Guest lectures for specialist topics will be held, and your in-person attendance is expected as a mark of respect.

Cooperation in laboratory classes, workshops and/or remediation sessions is required, and students are required to take turns being the patient and practitioner in approximately equal duration. This hands-on approach helps you gain an insight, empathy and understanding from both the optometrist and patient perspectives. Collaborative team work, conflict resolution and respect are essential during classes. Any action or omission that affects patient safety or which is deemed disrespectful to your patients, fellow students or the teaching staff can result in failure of a patient assessment task, regardless of the aggregate mark for the assessments detailed in this unit outline.

This Unit contains participatory elements which are vital to the Optometry Board of Australia entry-level competencies for optometrists (https://www.optometry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Professional_support/Guidelines/Final_Entry-level-Competency-Standard-for-Optometry-2022.pdf). Students are expected to work towards and gain these competencies during the Master of Optometry Course and achieve competencies outlined in the UC Fourth-Year Clinical Rubric.

Please note, that not all learning material covered in lectures, e.g. worked examples of problems or discussion in small groups, will be captured by the lecture recording software. Students are required to attend for the entire time scheduled for tutorials, practicals, laboratories and presentations. Students who are late by more than 15 minutes without an adequate documented reason will be regarded as absent; students who leave before the end, unless all assigned work has been completed to the satisfaction of the lecturer or tutor will be regarded as absent from the tutorial or laboratory.

It is expected that students unable to fulfil these participation requirements will inform the Unit Convener as soon as practical, by telephone or email. If attendance requirements cannot be regularly satisfied (e.g. timetable clash) it may be recommended that you schedule this unit for a future semester. Failure to adhere to these requirements may result in failure of the associated assessment piece.

For inability to attend a scheduled laboratory session, an ‘Absence from Laboratory' form (available on UCLearn Canvas) with supporting documentation must be submitted to the Unit Convener. Consideration will be given for illness; however evidence such as a medical certificate will be required. Students may be required to attend an additional laboratory session to complete the required tasks, however it will not always be possible to offer students additional laboratory sessions depending on laboratory and staff availability. The final decision will be at the discretion of the Unit Convener. Contact details for the Unit Convenor and the Faculty of Health Administration Office are given in Section 1.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Students who have already completed Advanced Primary Care Optometry will be required to complete preparation or their upcoming clinical placement next semester, for example vaccinations and working with vulnerable people checks, by week 8. More information can be found by contacting InPlace via MyUC.

Required IT skills

The use of UCLearn Canvas, library searching skills, word and data processing (Microsoft Office Suite) and electronic presentation skills are necessary for this unit.

In-unit costs

Students are expected to purchase their own non-programmable scientific calculator and small tape measure. Students will be expected to have, and bring to labs, the optometry student equipment starter kit and may additionally purchase equipment as described above in the Materials and Equipment section. Students may wish to print electronically provided material for their own study.

Work placement, internships or practicums

Students are required to completed the pre-placement requirements (Immunisation/s, police checks, working with vulnerable people) in sister unit 10328 Advanced Primary Care Optometry to ensure they are eligible for placement in Semester 1 of 5th year. For repeating students, if the pre-placement requirements were completed more than 6 months ago, students are advised to contact InPlace inplace.canberra.edu.au early in semester 2 of the current year to ensure their documents are up to date for semester 1 of the following year.

Additional information

Pursuant to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, optometry practitioners (registered optometrists) and education providers have an obligation to report ‘notifiable conduct', to the Optometry Board of Australia in order to prevent the public being placed at risk of harm.

Education providers are also required, under s.143 of the National Law, to make mandatory notifications in relation to students, if the provider reasonably believes:

1. a student enrolled with the provider has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm; or

2. a student for whom the provider has arranged clinical training has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking the clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

Practitioners are required to make a mandatory notification in relation to a student if the practitioner reasonably believes that a student has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

All concerns raised within the Discipline of Optometry or by clinical preceptors will be reviewed by the Discipline Lead and the Course Convener before any reporting action is taken.

These professional obligations are taken seriously by staff and the University.  Students should be aware of their obligations under student registration.

For further information, please refer to: https://www.optometryboard.gov.au/policies-codes-guidelines/guidelines-for-mandatory-notifications.aspx

Contract cheating

Contract cheating (academic outsourcing / ghost-writing) is a form of academic misconduct in which students submit written or creative work which has been drafted or produced by someone else and claim authorship for it. It includes (but is not limited to) using a third party or artificial intellenge platform, offering their services for commercial or other benefits, to complete (either partially or fully) an assignment or other assessment items on behalf of the student. 

You are at risk of contract cheating if you ask someone or an AI platform to:

•             complete an assignment for you

•             substantially edit your assignment

•             do your university work for you, with or without compensation

•             check test or quiz answers

•             sit a test or quiz for you

•             provide someone with your UC login details

You may also be at risk of contract cheating if you provide information to people or organisations outside UC, such as:

•             assignment questions and briefs

•             lecture notes

•             marking rubrics and marking guides

UC considers contract cheating serious misconduct which may attract suspension or exclusion from the university.  Furthermore, we, as your education provider, have mandatory reporting responsibilities under National Law.  We are required to notify the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) if we believe that a registered health practitioner (including those with student registration) has behaved in a way that constitutes notifiable conduct including signature departure from accepted professional standards. Contract cheating may result in UC submitting a mandatory notification to AHPRA.

You can learn more about contract cheating in the Academic Integrity Module - which is a compulsory module that provides information about a range of issues including plagiarism and contract cheating. UC provides a range of services to support student learning - further information regarding Study Skills, Studiosity and Medical & Counselling services are available in your unit's Canvas site.

Virtual Classes

Virtual classes have additional requirements where you will further develop communication skills in the virtual environment. While in a virtual environment, students are required to present themselves and communicate with peers, staff and invited speakers in a professional way. Hence, the default for all virtual classes is for all student web cameras to be turned on during virtual classes. Instructors may require students to interact either verbally, through polls or the shared chat function. Students who do not participate in this way can be marked as absent for the class. Students who need guidance on expected behaviors and participation may consult with the Unit Convenor and/or Study Skills. Instructors may request that cameras are turned off under certain circumstances.

• Semester 1, 2025, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (223712)
• Semester 1, 2024, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (222015)