Practical Problems in Vision

Subject 655-321 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Semester 2, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Lecture, tutorials, seminars and examination preparation tutorials.

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: A 1-hour introductory lecture; one 1-hour tutorials per week for five weeks; two 2- hour seminars per week for two weeks; and 3 hours of exam preparation tutorials; plus guided study and research equivalent to 3 hours per week.
Total Time Commitment: 120 hours total time commitment.
Prerequisites: 655-221, 655-222 and 655-328 (or 655-028 prior to 2006).
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the University’s programs. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their active and safe participation in a subject are encouraged to discuss this with the relevant subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

Coordinator

Dr Michael Julian Pianta
Subject Overview:

This subject uses problem-based learning to give students an opportunity to apply their basic knowledge of the visual system to solve clinical or other relevant vision scenarios. The main aims of this subject are to develop skills in reading, analysing, and debating scientific papers, and to develop the ability to effectively work as part of a team. The scenarios are designed to cover a range of the most common clinical ocular topics, with the aim of providing a base level of knowledge that can be built on in later years.

Students are divided into small groups, and each group is assigned a scenario by an academic facilitator, who also guides the group’s exploration of the scenario. Towards the end of the semester, each group presents a seminar on their scenario. The scenario topics cover many of the common disorders of vision, ranging from ocular conditions such as glaucoma and refractive error, to higher visual processing conditions such as dyslexia, and may include rarer clinical conditions or visual or optical problems. Even though each group works on one scenario, they also learn about the other scenarios from the presentations given in the second half of the semester.

Objectives: .
Assessment: Ongoing assessment of participation and performance throughout the semester (15%), a 40-minute scenario-based group seminar presentation in the second half of the semester (15%); a 2,500-word written group assignment due 3 days before the seminar presentation (10%), and a 2-hour written examination in the examination period (60%).

Prescribed Texts: Comprehensive reading material in the form of reference lists and reference material will be provided.
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Notes: Students enrolled in the BSc (pre-2008 BSc), BASc or a combined BSc course will receive science credit for the completion of this subject.
Related Course(s): Bachelor of Optometry
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Vision Science

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