VET SC 2500RW - Professional Skills in Veterinary Bioscience II

Roseworthy Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

The course aims to develop personal and professional capabilities required of the veterinary professional: This course also builds on animal husbandry and handling introduced in ANIML SC 1017RW. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY: Students will review animal husbandry protocols across common domestic species. ANIMAL HANDLING: Students will undertake animal handling practicals across the species commonly encountered in veterinary practice to increase and improve upon their skills. Professional Skills Experience: Students will develop an appreciation for the professional skills required as a veterinary scientist The Veterinary Profession: Students will be introduced to the documented competence expected of a veterinary graduate. Business Enterprise Skills: Students will develop simple budgeting skills as they relate to animal production or service business. Students will be expected to have completed a minimum of 1 week (40 hours) of their Animal Husbandry Extra Mural Studies (AHEMS) placement(s) and associated placement record by the end of the mid-semester break as they will be required to use information for in-course assessment.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code VET SC 2500RW
    Course Professional Skills in Veterinary Bioscience II
    Coordinating Unit School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s Roseworthy Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 7 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites (ANIML SC 1017RW and ANIML SC 1018RW)
    Restrictions Available to BSc (Veterinary Bioscience) students only
    Assessment AHEMS presentations; oral, written or poster; written assignments, end-of-Semester exam, animal handling competency assessments
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Wendy Hamood

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the competencies expected of a veterinary graduate, potential career pathways for veterinarians and law applicable to veterinarians. 
    2 Demonstrate basic business enterprise skills applicable to the veterinarian.
    3 Demonstrate a basic knowledge of animal husbandry and disease prevention practices for common animal species.
    4 Report, evaluate and reflect on animal husbandry work placement experiences, incorporating appropriately sourced literature.  
    5 Demonstrate adequate competency in animal handling and restraint plus basic clinical procedures in preparation for working in a clinical setting. 
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1, 2, 3

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    2, 3, 4

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    2

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1, 2, 3, 4, 5

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    4

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    2, 3, 4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Overalls, boots and scrub tops are essential. Stethoscope, thermometer and timing device (other than mobile phone)  are optional but required in VET SC 3514RW.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Most weeks have 3 hours lectures, workshops or seminars with some 1-2 hour tutorials and 1-4 hour practicals

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should  expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    Lectures / seminars / workshops / tutorials: Introduction to veterinary professional practice, law applicable to veterinarians, competencies expected at time of graduation and potential career pathways; Overview of animal husbandry practices in common species encountered in veterinary practice; Introduction to business skills - farm record keeping, financial statements and partial budgets; and create a farm partial budget. Introduction to reflective practice and searching for appropriate research literature. Reflect on, evaluate and reporting on AHEMS experiences.

    Practicals: Introduction to professional experience. Students will build on their animal handling skills, restraint and associated animal husbandry procedures for a range of commonly encountered domestic animal species. Students will be introduced to basic clinical procedures such as administering injections, social hand wash, scrubbing/gloving and suturing. 
    Specific Course Requirements
    Attendance at all workshops, seminars, tutorials and practicals is compulsory.  
    Completion of a minimum of 1 week (40 hours) of their Animal Husbandry Extra Mural Studies (AHEMS) placement(s) and associated placement record by the end of the mid-semester break

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Hurdle Weighting Learning Outcome Approximate Timing of Assessment
    Practical Attendance  Summative  Yes 0% 5 During semester
    Animal Handling Skills & Clinical Procedures  Formative Yes 0% 5 During semester 
    Preparatory quizzes for practical and teaching activities  Formative & Summative No 5% 1, 4, 5 Weeks 1-11
    Group Animal Enterprise Management Assignment Formative & Summative No 15% 2, 3 Weeks 2-4
    AHEMS Reflective Practice  Formative & Summative No 15% 4 Week 4-7
    AHEMS Report Formative & Summative No 15% 3, 4 Week 12 
    Written Exam Formative & Summative Yes 50% 1, 2, 3,4 End of Semester
    Assessment Related Requirements

    Students are expected to participate for the entire duration of classes, displaying appropriate professional conduct and presenting dressed in suitable attire and complying with safety and biosecurity requirements.
    Students who do not meet this requirement will FAIL the course.
    Students are able to apply for an allowed absence from a class by submitting the application form, with appropriate supporting documentation, to the Course Co-ordinator (or Program Coordinator if more than one course affected).
    Students with extenuating circumstances, medical or compassionate reasons for non-attendance will be given an opportunity to make up missed sessions or be provided an alternative learning experience where possible.
    If an absence is not approved or students are continuously absent, they may be precluded from completing make up practicals and additional assessment opportunities to demonstrate adequate competence in order to pass the course animal handling/clinical procedures course hurdle.
    Assessment Item with hurdle % needed or requirement to meet hurdle Is additional assessment available if student does not meet hurdle requirement?
    Yes or No
    Details of additional assessment, if available
    Attendance at all practicals, workshops, seminars and tutorials is compulsory. Satisfactory completion of all practicals, workshops and tutorials including attendance of ALL practical, workshop and tutorial sessions. Yes  Students with medical or compassionate reasons for non-attendance will be given an opportunity to make up missed sessions or provided an alternative learning experience where possible. Students who do not meet this requirement will FAIL the course.
    Animal handling, restraint and clinical procedures  Attend and participate in all practical classes
    AND
    Demonstrate adequate competence in all required activities
    Yes Additional assessment(AA) will be offered to students who have approved absence from a practical class and/or have failed to demonstrate competence in an activity during the class. Additional assessment will be arranged when facilities, examiners and animals are available during the AA period.
    Final Exam 50% Yes Additional assessment will be offered as an additional examination.
    Assessment Detail
    Animal Handling, restraint and procedures (0%):
    Students will participate in practicals and receive formative feedback as to their current skill level to identify areas requiring improvement and additional practise. All students must participate in, attempt and demonstrate at least basic competence in a selection of animal handling competences and clinical procedures during practical class. Students will be required to demonstrate evidence of learning engagement and participation in practicals though a range of different modes. This can include demonstrator sign-off for attendance, participation and completion of required tasks. Other examples of demonstrating evidence of learning also may include regular entries in a competency development diary (ungraded) and appropriately responding to formative feedback (ungraded). Students will have opportunities for additional practise between practicals using resources in the skills lab.
    Students who do not achieve adequate competency during practicals will be required to complete additional practise and/or demonstrate evidence of learning by appropriately responding to formative feedback.


    Practical and tutorial preparatory quizzes (5%): Students will complete up to three 10-minute multiple-choice quizzes relating to practical or workshop preparatory content. These quizzes will form 5% of the final mark.

    Group Animal Enterprise Management Assignment (15%): Students will work in small groups to create a formal recommendation for a simple change in management supported by a partial budget (for example, for introduction of a simple change in animal husbandry or equipment purchase for an animal health enterprise). This will take the form of a 1,500 word written assignment. Students will be assigned a group mark, which will be modified according to individual involvement as assessed using peer feedback.

    AHEMS Report (15%): (1500 words) Students will submit a report on an animal husbandry practices related to their placement experience and current research literature in addition to submitting the placement record on which this assignment is based.

    AHEMS Reflective Practice (15%): (1500 words) Students will write a short reflection on an issue encountered on an AHEMS placement. A small group debriefing session will be held as part of preparation for this assignment. Students will appropriately share placement experiences in small online discussion groups in preparation for this assignment.

    End-of-semester Written Exam (50%): A 2-hour exam will cover all course content of the course in multiple choice format.
    Submission
    Late Submission:
    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 or more days late without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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