Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2025

Course Code: BIOL5259C

Course Title: Relate anatomical and physiological features to laboratory samples

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5434 - Diploma of Laboratory Technology

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

Renu Shankar

renu.shankar@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 100

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

Nil. 

Course Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to recognise and interpret different types of biological test samples to direct the specimen to the appropriate laboratory for testing. It covers knowledge of anatomy to interpret histology samples and knowledge of physiology to interpret pathology samples.

This unit applies to technicians who work in pathology laboratories. The unit principally refers to human pathology, but many aspects are relevant to veterinary pathology. This unit of competency assumes that the laboratory technician would operate under the close supervision of scientific and/or medical staff. Although a supervisor may not always be present, the technician will follow workplace procedures that clearly describe the scope of permitted practice.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

MSL954006 Relate anatomical and physiological features to laboratory samples

Element:

1. Recognise body systems and organs

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Correctly identify sampled organs based on macroscopic appearance and main function 1.2 Use correct terminology to name organs and systems 1.3 Identify broad streams of disease that effect body systems and organs

Element:

2. Recognise tissues and cells

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Correctly identify tissue types based on microscopic structure 2.2 Correctly identify cell types based on microscopic structure 2.3 Use correct terminology to name tissue and cell types

Element:

3. Identify and direct test specimens

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Use knowledge of body systems, organs and tissues to confirm the identity of fresh, fixed and treated biological test samples 3.2 Confirm test sample type matches test request 3.3 Follow procedures to direct test specimen to appropriate laboratory for testing

Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

Learning activities include: theory classes, class exercises to review theory, videos, discussions, laboratory practicals and quizzes


Teaching Schedule

While all course content in this schedule will be covered, the weekly order may change depending on class needs. 

Week

#

  

Week Starting

  

Theory session

  

Lab session

  

Assessment /

Canvas Submissions

  

1

  

10th Feb 

  

Intro to course & assessments 

Biological specimens 

 

  

Laboratory Tests (theory)

 

 

  

 

  

2

  

17th Feb 

  

Intro to Path Lab departments 

 

  

Transport of specimens to lab (theory)

  

 

  

3

  

24th Feb 

  

Medical terminology - Part 1 

 

  

Medical terminology - Part 2 (theory)

  

 

  

4

  

3rd Mar 

  

Broad streams of disease 

  

Lab 1: Body Fluids 

 

  

AT2: Body Fluids

  

5

  

10th Mar 

  

No Theory 

(Labour Day holiday)

  

AT1: Knowledge Quiz 1 

  

AT1: Quiz 1  

 

  

6

  

17th Mar 

  

Tissues – Part 1  

  • Epithelial & Connective 

 

  

Body Systems (Theory)

 

  

 

  

7

  

24th 

Mar 

  

Tissues – Part 2

  • Muscular & Lymphatic
  

Lab 2: Epithelial/connective tissue 

 

  

 

  

8

  

31st

 Mar 

  

Revision for Quiz 2

  

Lab 3:  Muscular tissue 

 

  

 

  

9

  

7th Apr

  

Nervous system 

  • Brain, Nervous tissue & Neuron
  

AT1: Knowledge Quiz 2

 

  

AT1: Quiz 2

  

10

  

18th Apr

  

Skeletal system

  • Long bone & compact bone tissue, bone cells
  • Cartilage & chondrocytes
  

Lab 4: Nervous system

 

  

 

  

EASTER BREAK (18th – 27th April)

  

11

  

28th Apr 

  

Renal System

  • Kidney

 

 

  

Lab 5: Skeletal system

  

 

  

12

  

5th May

  

Cardiovascular system

  • Heart & Blood vessels
  • Blood cells
  

Lab 6: Renal System

 

 

  

AT2: Tissue cells

  

13

  

12th May

  

Basic Immunology

  

Lab 7: Cardiovascular system

 

  

AT2: Tissues

  

14

  

19th May

  

Revision for Quiz 3

  

Catch up lab* /Logbook corrections

  

AT2: Organs 

AT2: Blood cells

  

15

  

26th May

  

AT1: Knowledge Quiz 3

  

Assessment finalisation (Lab)

  

AT1: Quiz 3

  

16

  

2nd Jun

  

Assessment finalisation

  

Assessment finalisation

  

 

  


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

There is no prescribed text for the course. An useful resource is: Marieb, EN, & Keller, SM. (2018). Essentials of human anatomy & physiology  (Twelfth edition.; Global ed.). NY, Pearson.


References

None (Learning material provided on Canvas)


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment may include:

  • knowledge tests
  • practical skills test
  • practical logbooks
  • presentations
  • group work
  • research
  • lab reports
  • assignments

 


Assessment Tasks

Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency. To be assessed as Competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace.  
To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task. 

Assessment Task

    

Week assessed

    

Assessment Task 1: Knowledge Quizzes x 3

    

 Weeks 5, 9 & 15 

    

Assessment Task 2:  Logbook Records

    

 Weeks 4 – 13

    


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 assessment

  • CA Competency Achieved
  • NYC Not Yet Competent
  • DNS Did Not Submit for assessment

To successfully complete the course, you need to achieve a satisfactory result for every assessment.  For each assessment you will be given up to two (2) attempts, however, to be granted the second attempt at any assessment, your first attempt must be an appropriate attempt to try and gain a satisfactory outcome. For example, you must appropriately attempt each question or aspect of the assessment task.
If your first attempt fails to meet the above standard, you may not be eligible for a second attempt at that task.
A third (3rd) attempt can only be offered after discussions between teacher and the Program Coordinator and is not automatic

Attendance: 

It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully. 
 
Information about your studies: 

You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc. 
 https://www.rmit.edu.au/students 

Extensions of time for submission of assessable work:

If you are unable to submit an assessment on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days. The application must be completed via the “Assessment extension” tool in Canvas at least one working day before the assessment deadline

Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration.
Special consideration:
If due to illness or other unforeseen circumstance, you are unable to attend on the due date of an assessment (e.g. test, examination, oral, etc.), you may submit an application for special consideration within 5 working days of the due date. If special consideration is granted, you will be given the opportunity to complete/repeat the assessment task at a later date. For advice on this application please visit www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration or speak to your Program Coordinator.

Academic Integrity & Plagiarism:

RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy. 
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/academic-integrity  

Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and 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 to 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.

Use of AI has certain restrictions in this course. Please refer to assessment instructions for guidelines on the conditions for the use of AI tools in assessments.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview