Course Title: Perform biological procedures
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2022
Course Code: BIOL5246C
Course Title: Perform biological procedures
Important Information:
Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.
To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.
Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.
Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus
Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.
School: 535T Social Care and Health
Campus: City Campus
Program: C4397 - Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques
Course Contact: Rauha Quazi
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4277
Course Contact Email: rauha.quazi@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Amber Mitton
Paul Burgio
paul.burgio@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 130
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to interpret work requirements, prepare samples, and perform routine biological procedures. These procedures may involve several steps and are used to classify organisms and biologically active compounds by analysing their biological and/or chemical characteristics. This unit includes interpretation of results and troubleshooting obvious departures from standard procedures.
This unit of competency applies to technical assistants working in the biomedical, environmental, biotechnology and education industry sectors.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
MSL974021 Perform biological procedures |
Element: |
1. Interpret and schedule work requirements |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Review work request to identify samples, required procedures and materials/equipment/instruments involved 1.2 Identify hazards and workplace control measures associated with the sample, preparation methods, reagents and/or equipment 1.3 Plan parallel work sequences to optimise throughput of multiple sets of samples |
Element: |
2. Receive and prepare biological samples |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Log samples using standard operating procedures (SOPs) 2.2 Record sample description, compare with specification and note and report discrepancies 2.3 Prepare samples in accordance with testing requirements |
Element: |
3. Perform techniques that assist in the classification of organisms |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Identify characteristics used to classify organisms 3.2 Use dichotomous keys to identify organisms |
Element: |
4. Perform biological procedures |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Set up and use equipment and reagents in accordance with the method 4.2 Perform techniques in accordance with the standard operating procedures |
Element: |
5. Maintain a safe work environment |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Use established safe work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure personal safety and that of other laboratory personnel 5.2 Minimise the generation of waste 5.3 Safely dispose of biohazardous wastes 5.4 Clean, care for and store equipment and reagents as required |
Element: |
6. Maintain laboratory records |
Performance Criteria: |
6.1 Record entries on report forms or into a laboratory information management system, accurately calculating, recording or transcribing data as required 6.2 Ensure traceability of sample from receipt to reporting of results |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
Teacher directed deliver of lessons
- Class discussion
- Case study analysis
- Laboratory experiments
- Record keeping of experiments
- Research activities
- Site visits
Teaching Schedule
Theory: All students are required to attend theory classes every week.
L22A: Monday 8.30-10.30 in 51.03.08
L22B: Monday 10.30-12.30 in 51.05.04
L22C: Wednesday 10.30-12.30 in 51.05.04
Theory classes will help you complete Assessment task 1 (AT1) – Knowledge assessment questions
Part 1 (Topics 1 - 4) is due each week for signoff, and then submit completed and signed off task to Canvas at Week 5
Part 2 (Topic 6) is due each week for signoff, and then submit completed and signed off task to Canvas at end of Week 8
Part 3 (Topics 7 & 8) is due each week for signoff, and then submit completed and signed off task to Canvas at end of Week 10b
Part 4 (Topics 9 & 10) is due each week for signoff, and then submit completed and signed off task to Canvas at end of Week 14
Part 5 (Topic 11) is due each week for signoff, and then submit completed and signed off task to Canvas at end of Week 15
Labs: Each lab will run twice: once for subgroup 1 and the following week for subgroup 2. Attendance to all lab classes is compulsory.
L22A-1 and L22A-2: on alternate Thursdays 11.30-2.30
L22B-1 and L22B-2: on alternate Thursdays 3.00-6.00
L22C-1 and L22C-2: on alternate Fridays 8.30-11.30
All Labs will be in 51.08.10
Please print out a hardcopy of the lab manual and logbook.
Week |
Date 2021 |
Theory |
Practical |
Assessment |
1 |
4 July |
Topic 1 – Classification, taxonomy and biological systems |
Lab 1: 1st 1.5 hours for subgroup 1 and 2nd 1.5 hours for subgroup 2 Safety induction: Intro to Dichotomous Keys |
|
2 |
11 July |
Topic 2 – Animal and plant cells |
Lab 2a for all Subgroups 1 Use/MakeDichotomous keys |
|
3 |
18 July |
Topic 3 - Animal and plant tissue types, Plant and animal cell modelling |
Lab 2b for all subgroups 2 UseDichotomous keys |
AT2 – Dichotomous key classification |
4 |
25 July |
Topic 4 – Organic molecules 1 (Characteristic of organic molecules & Proteins) |
Lab 3a for all subgroups 1 Biuret Introduction - Calculate results; Sample traceability & Records – Create a L&J control chart Rapid Biuret Protein assay #1 |
|
5 |
1 August |
Topic 5 – Biochem lab and controls, standards (also called calibrators), Legal, ethical and WHS in the Biochem lab |
Lab 3b for all subgroups 2 Biuret Introduction - Calculate results, Sample traceability & Records Rapid Biuret Protein assay #2 |
AT3 - Practical Observations; Lab skills, Logbook & LIMS* AT1 – Part 1 to be uploaded to Canvas |
6 |
8 August |
|
Lab 4a for all subgroups 1 Rapid Biuret Protein assay #3 L-J control charts/ Sign off Logbooks & LIMS (Labs 3&4) |
|
7 |
15 August |
Topic 6 – Organic molecules 2 (Carbohydrates and Fats) |
Lab 4b Assessment Rapid Biuret Protein assay #4 L-J control chart Sign off Logbooks & LIMS (Labs 3&4) |
AT3 - Practical Observations; Lab skills, Logbook & LIMS*
|
8 |
22 August |
Log book & LIMS (and AT1 questions) |
Lab 5a for all subgroups 1 Rapid Biuret Protein assay #5 Catch up: L-J control charts |
AT1 – Part 2 to be uploaded to Canvas |
Mid |
Semester |
Break From |
29 August to |
4 September |
9 |
5 Sept |
Topic 7 – Cell membrane and transport |
Lab 5b for all subgroups 2 Rapid Biuret Protein assay #6 |
AT3 - Practical Observations; Labskills, Logbook & LIMS*
|
10a |
12 Sept |
Topic 8 – Cell cycle, mitosis & meiosis |
Catch ups: Rapid Biuret Protein assay Catch up For all subgroups (for students who don’t have 2 good results yet) Dichotomous keys (s/c only) |
|
10b |
19 Sept |
Public holiday on Friday 23 Sept (AFL G.F.) |
No labs this week for all groups: Log book & LIMS grading and feedback |
AT1 – Part 3 to be uploaded to Canvas |
11 |
26 Sept |
Topic 9 - Organic molecules 3 (Chromosomes and nucleic acids) |
Lab 6a for all subgroups 1 DNA electrophoresis #1 Make gel & load DNA samples |
|
12 |
3 Oct |
Topic 10 – Organic molecules 4 (biologically significant ions) |
Lab 6b for all subgroups 2 DNA electrophoresis #2 Make gel & load DNA samples
|
AT3 - Practical Observations: Labskills & Logbook* |
13 |
10 Oct |
Topic 11 – Genetics Tutorial 4 |
Lab 7a for all subgroups 1 DNA electrophoresis #3 Make gel & load DNA samples
|
AT1 – Part 4 to be uploaded to Canvas |
|
|
|
|
|
14 |
17 Oct |
Log book grading and feedback (and AT1 questions) |
Lab 7b for all subgroups 2 DNA electrophoresis #4 Make gel & load DNA samples |
SUBMIT SIGNED OFF & COMPLETED LOGBOOK TO CANVAS (Electrophoresis) AT1 – Part 5 to be uploaded to Canvas |
15 |
24 Oct |
Last Chance: Finalise AT1 Questions Required students only |
Catch ups: --- Finalise Lab skills & Logbook --- Last Chance: Finalise Logbook & LIMS Required students only |
Complete Knowledge Evidence Questions SUBMIT SIGNED OFF & COMPLETED LOGBOOK TO CANVAS |
*Please note that the above schedule is subject to changes
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
Assessment may include quizzes, observation of laboratory skills, logbook & reports
Assessment Tasks
AT1-Part 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5: Knowledge evidence quiz
AT2-Dichotomous key classification
AT3-Labskills and logbook
To successfully complete the course, you need to achieve a satisfactory result for every assessment.
You will be given two attempts for each assessment to demonstrate the required skills.
A third attempt can only be offered after discussions between teacher and the Program Coordinator and is not automatic.
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These mapping documents are available through Program Administration if required.
Other Information
This course is graded in accordance with competency-based assessments
CA Competency Achieved
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment
To pass course students need achieve a satisfactory result for all assessments. Students may be given additional opportunities to demonstrate competence.
Late work that is submitted without an application for an extension (see below) will not be corrected.
APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME FOR SUBMISSION OF ASSESSABLE WORK- A student my apply for an extension up to 7 days from the original due date. They must lodge the application form (HTTP://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension) at least 24 hours before the due date. The application should be emailed to the program coordinator (kirsten.balding@rmit.edu.au). Students requiring longer extensions must apply for SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.
*For missed assessments such as tests- the student (& their doctor if sick) must fill out a special consideration form. this form must be lodged online with supporting evidence prior to, or within, 5 days of the scheduled time of the assessment http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration
Plagiarism is the presentation of work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and it is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data and oral presentation. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. It also occurs through enabling plagiarism, which is the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or copy your own work.Please make sure you consider this carefully in completing all your work and assessments in this course and if you are unsure about whether you might have plagiarised, seek help from your teacher.
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