HLTH SC 1001 - Essentials of Neuroscience

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2020

This course is designed to introduce students to essential concepts in the field of neuroscience. The course will begin with a basic introduction to the brain and history of neuroscience. Later modules will explore the cellular composition of the nervous system, the process of neuronal communication, basic gross neuroanatomy, the neural basis of sensation and perception and the relationship between the brain and human behaviour. Each module consists of a lecture series, revision session and weekly tutorial session. Tutorials include small group activities and worksheets designed to reinforce key course concepts. In addition, the course will feature 'research spotlight' sessions, which are designed to introduce students to neuroscience research currently being conducted at the University of Adelaide.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code HLTH SC 1001
    Course Essentials of Neuroscience
    Coordinating Unit Medical Studies
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week (3 hours lecture), 1 hour weekly tutorial
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Course Description This course is designed to introduce students to essential concepts in the field of neuroscience. The course will begin with a basic introduction to the brain and history of neuroscience. Later modules will explore the cellular composition of the nervous system, the process of neuronal communication, basic gross neuroanatomy, the neural basis of sensation and perception and the relationship between the brain and human behaviour. Each module consists of a lecture series, revision session and weekly tutorial session. Tutorials include small group activities and worksheets designed to reinforce key course concepts. In addition, the course will feature 'research spotlight' sessions, which are designed to introduce students to neuroscience research currently being conducted at the University of Adelaide.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Lyndsey Collins-Praino

    Co-Course coordinator
    Associate Professor Renee Turner
    renee.turner@adelaide.edu.au









    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Describe the cellular composition of the nervous system and the process of communication between these cells.
    2 Demonstrate a basic understanding of the functional anatomy of the nervous system. 
    3 Explain the neural basis of sensation and perception.
    4 Apply knowledge of the functional anatomy of the nervous system to the analysis of human behaviour.
    5 Discuss the process of development and change in the nervous system.
    6 Display insight into current research issues and the ability to critically evaluate articles drawn from the literature in the field of neuroscience.
    7 Demonstrate an ability to work together with classmates during large tutorials in order to apply course knowledge to the completion of a variety of activities.


    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1-7
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    4-7
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    7
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    6, 7
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    N/A
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1-7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Required Textbook: Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain, 4th Ed. Bear, Connors and Paradiso, Wolters Kluwer.





    Recommended Resources
    Supplementary Textbooks:

    1.     Neuroscience, 5th Ed. Purves, Sinauer & Associates.

    2.     The Human Brain Coloring Book, 1st Ed. Diamond and Scheibel, Collins Reference.

    3.     Lippincott’s Pocket Neuroanatomy. Gould, Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.

     

    Neuroanatomy Web Links:

    Allen Brain Atlas: http://www.brain-map.org/

    Neuroanatomy Atlas
    (Columbia): http://www.columbia.edu/itc/hs/medical/neuroanatomy/neuroanat/

    The Whole Brain Atlas
    (Harvard Med): http://www.med.harvard.edu/aanlib/home.html

    The Human Brain Atlas
    (Michigan State): https://www.msu.edu/~brains/brains/human/index.html

    Scalable Brain Atlas: http://scalablebrainatlas.incf.org/main/index.php?

    HyperBrain quizzes (U of
    Utah): http://library.med.utah.edu/kw/hyperbrain/quiz/

    Neuroanatomy Quiz (U of
    Minnesota): http://vanat.cvm.umn.edu/neuroQuiz/

    e-Learning Neuroanatomy
    (Universiteit Gent): http://www.neuroanatomy.ugent.be/

    Neuroanatomy Resources
    (Buffalo): http://www.smbs.buffalo.edu/acb/neuro/linkscss.html

     





    Online Learning
    This course will use MyUni as a major component. All lecture notes, tutorial activities and lecture recordings will be posted on
    MyUni. Announcements and weekly student update emails will be sent via the site. The quizzes at the end of each module will be administered online via MyUni. Finally, a MyUni discussion board to encourage communication with both instructors and other students will be established.



  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The course is divided into six modules:
    (1) Introduction to neuroscience
    (2) Cellular Neuroscience
    (3) Communication in the Nervous System
    (4) Gross Neuroanatomy
    (5) Brain and Behaviour

    The course will feature special seminars on current neuroscience research going on at the University of Adelaide related to the content of that module. We believe that this approach will strengthen students’ understanding of the content by
    challenging them to apply this knowledge to research material. This will be further enhanced through the incorporation of weekly large group tutorials. Within these large group tutorials, students will work within smaller groups of 5-6 students to complete a variety of activities and worksheets designed to reinforce and expand upon course material. Each module will close with an online quiz, designed both to test students’ understanding of the content and to reveal to them what information may need further revision. This assessment
    after each module will encourage students to keep up with the material throughout the course, rather than saving their revision for the mid-semester and final exams.



    Workload

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

    Contact & Non-contact Hours (semester)
    Type Number of sessions Duration of each
    session (hr)
    Total hours
    Lectures 33 1 33
    Tutorials 10 1 10
    Online quizzes 6 1.5 9
    Neuroscience research paper assignments 3 2 6
    Mid-semester Exam 1 2 2
    End of Semester Exam 1 2 2
    Weekly reading, revision and other study 59 1 59
    120
    Learning Activities Summary

    1.    Module 1: Introduction to Neuroscience: lecture series; formative online quiz at the end.

    2.    Module 2: Cellular Neuroscience: lecture series and large group tutorial (Tutorial Group Exercise 1); summative online quiz at the end of the module.

    3.    Module 3: Neuronal Communication: lecture series and large group tutorial (Tutorial Group Exercise 2);  summative online quiz at the end of the module.

    4.    Module 4: Gross Neuroanatomy: lecture series and large group tutorial (Tutorial Group Exercise 3); summative online quiz at the end of the module.

    5.    Module 5: Sensation and Perception: lecture series and large group tutorial (Tutorial Group Exercise 4); summative online quiz at the end of the module.

    6.    Module 6: Brain and Behaviour: lecture series and large group tutorial (Tutorial Group Exercise 5); “ summative online quiz at the end of the module.

    7.    End of semester exam: The end of semester exam will consist of questions designed to test student understanding of the course material. This is a hurdle requirement, with the benchmark set at 40%.
     








  • 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 Assessment type Weighting Hurdle
    (Yes/No)
    Learning course objective(s)
    being addressed
    Introductory quiz Formative N/A No N/A
    Quizzes Summative 15% No 1-5
    Tutorial group participation and exercises Summative 20% No 1-7
    Neuroscience research paper assignments Summative 15% No 1.5
    Mid-semester exam Summative 20% No 1-5
    End of semester exam Summative 30% No 1-5
    Assessment Detail
    Tutorial Exercises
    Prior to attending each tutorial, students will complete a series of pre-tutorial questions that will form the basis of the discussion for that week and serve as an introduction to that week’s tutorial exercise. Students will receive a mark based on the completion of these questions, as well as their participation in the tutorial session itself. Each of the 10 tutorials will be worth 2% of their total course mark, for a total of 20% of their final mark.

    Quizzes
    Following completion of each module, students will take a multiple-choice quiz designed to test understanding of the content of that module. Quizzes will be delivered online via MyUni. Student will receive a mark for each of the 5 quizzes, with each worth 3% of their total course mark, for a total of 15% of their final mark.

     “Critical Analysis of the Literature” assignments Students will be presented with a key paper from the neuroscience literature related to content from the corresponding module. Students will be asked to read the paper and to answer a series of questions designed to test their ability to understand and evaluate the literature. There will be three papers available throughout the semester, with each worth 5% of their total course mark, for a total of 15% of their final mark.

    Mid-semester exam
    The mid-semester exam will be worth 20% of the final course mark and will cover content from Weeks 1-6 of the semester. It will be composed of a series of MCQ and short answer questions. It will be delivered online via MyUni.

    End-of-semester exam
    The end of semester exam will be worth 30% of the final course mark and will cover content from Weeks 7-12 of the semester. It will be composed of a series of MCQ and short answer questions. It will be delivered either online via MyUni or at Wayville, depending on regulations. 








    Submission
    Quizzes:

    Quizzes will be completed in Canvas on line and must be completed within the set time limits.

    More information on procedures and deadlines can be found here:

    http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/mod_arrange.html

    http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/3303/

















    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
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.