Sonography of the Abdominopelvic Cavity Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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Course

DMSO-1405-001 Sonography of the Abdominopelvic Cavity

Prerequisites

Course Description

Normal and pathological abdominal and pelvic structures as related to scanning techniques, patient history and laboratory data, transducer selection and scanning protocols.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(4 sem hrs; 3 lec, 3 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Textbook of Diagnostic Sonography, 7th edition, Sandra Hagen-Ansert

Textbook of Diangostic Sonography, 7th edition, Workbook, Sandra Hagen-Ansert

Supplies

Pen/Pencil

Scantrons

Student Performance

DMSO 1405   Sonography of Abdominopelvic Cavity -  Introductory level

Course Description:  Normal and pathological abdominal and pelvic structures as related to scanning techniques, patient history and laboratory data, transducer selection, and scanning protocols.

End-of-Course Outcomes:  Identify the sonographic appearance of normal and abnormal abdominal and pelvic structures; demonstrate appropriate scanning techniques using standard protocol guidelines; evaluate patient history and laboratory data as it relates to ultrasound; and select appropriate transducer for area of interest.

Lab is associated with this course:  Hands-on scanning techniques, physics of sound, proper image production, patient modesty, exam protocols, critical thinking once scanning.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

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In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

CLASSROOM ETHICS
Dishonesty during a quiz or examination is simply the wrong thing to do. To say the least, for any student, but especially for a student pursuing a career in a health occupation, test dishonest is a reliable predictor of unacceptable job performance following graduation. If a student makes poor choices to "cheat" on test, will that student also make poor choices relative to quality patient care? Probably so. This instructor takes the position that a dishonest student is probable also unethical in other ways and may pose a threat to the safety of any patient who comes in contact with that student. Employers take a similar position. The health care industry will not tolerate such conduct.
At Amarillo College, there are grave academic penalties for any unethical conduct on the part of any student. The policy and penalty for such conduct is provided in the General Catalog. It can be concluded from this policy statement that unethical course conduct is absolutely prohibited by Amarillo College policy. To be more specific, in this course Plagiarism, dishonesty, or any other unethical course conduct, is cause for a final course grade of "F" regardless of other grades earned to-date in the course. If in doubt about a particular assignment or testing practice, discuss the matter in advance with the course instructor.

 

 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

If a student has a concern with the course instructor, the following "due process" protocol will apply.  The student will follow the protocol steps in the order shown.

      1.   Make every effort to resolve the concern directly with the course instructor. The instructor should be contacted by the student before the conclusion of the course.

      2. If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the course instructor, the student should seek satisfaction from the immediate supervisor of the instructor within one week of the student-instructor meeting.

      3. If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the immediate supervisor of the instructor, the student should seek satisfaction from the Allied Health Division chairperson within one week of the student-supervisor meeting.

      4. If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the Allied Health division chairperson, the student should seek satisfaction from Assistant Dean of Career Technical programs within one week of the student-division chairperson meeting.

      5. If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the assistant dean, the student should seek satisfaction from the Vice-President and Dean of Instruction within one week of the student-Assistant Dean meeting.

      6. If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the Vice-President and Dean of Instruction, the student should seek satisfaction from the college President within one week of the student-Vice-President meeting.

      7. If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the President, the student should seek satisfaction from the college Board of Regents at the next regular meeting of the Regents.  The decision of the Regents will be final.

Grading Criteria

GRADING DISTRIBUTION

The final course grade will be computed as follows:

Average of Unit Examinations = 45%

Average Quizzes and homework = 30%

Final Comprehensive Examination = 25%

The following grade scale applies throughout this course:

A = 92 – 100

B = 83 - 91

C = 75 - 82

F = less than 74.5

 I do not accept late work. If the assignment is not turned in by the due date, a grade of zero will be assigned.

EVALUATION OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE

The course will consist of four (4) unit examinations, quizzes, homework, in class assignments and a comprehensive final examination.

Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  It is the responsibility of the student to attend class so that learning objectives are met successfully.  Prompt arrival is expected. 

Attendance will be recorded.

MAKE-UP POLICY

If a student is absent on the day of a major exam,  the work will be graded as follows:

1. In order to be fair to students who take scheduled exams at the designated time, makeup exams will lose 15% of the original value.
2. Major exams must be made up within one school day.
3. NOTE:  Other arrangements may be made with instructor’s permission on a case-by-case basis.  It is the sole responsibility of the student to communicate the need for other options regarding make-up policies.

Calendar

Additional Information

Electronic devices which produce audible sounds must be silenced during all lecture presentations.  Also, text messaging during class and lab is absolutely prohibited

 

STUDY TIPS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS

This course is very technical and, as such, demands strong student study skills to complete the course satisfactorily. Sonography is NOT “rocket-science,” but it does require persistent and effective study to grasp and retain the information.The following study skill guidelines have been tested through many years, and when used consistently, have been proven to work. Of course, students have different learning styles. Therefore, all skills listed may not be appropriate for you. If you have already developed a study system that works, don’t change it!   If that is not the case, the you should give strong consideration to the adoption of one or more of these guidelines.

1.       Plan to study no less than two clock-hours each week for each hour of class time. If you are academically challenged you should spend even more time. Class time is used to collect notes — NOT to learn the greater part of the information.  Effective learning must continue to take place outside of the classroom.

2.       NEVER extend a study session beyond 30 minutes without taking a short break.  For most students, continuous studying without frequent short breaks generally serves little or no useful purpose. It is not usually possible for the average student to remain sufficiently focused beyond 30 minutes.

3.       During a study session, get active! Choose an area free of distractions and don’t get comfortable. Read your notes and the textbook out loud if the location permits. Using the additional sense of hearing further improves retention and learning.  Reading silently using only the sense of sight and limits learning ability. 

4.       Re-write your lecture notes within twelve hours. Notes taken during a lecture session must often be abbreviated to save time. This creates gaps in sentence and paragraph structure. Therefore, if a re-write does not occur relatively soon, gaps will be difficult to close later. Also, a re-write involves the sense of touch which improves retention and learning. When closing gaps, be sure to consult the textbook for additional information relative to the subject under study. A good dictionary can also be helpful.

 5.       Study with a classmate when possible.  For most students, group study reinforces learning.

6.       NEVER “cram” for tests. Cramming may work, but any success is only temporary since this study technique involves short-term memory. Use of long-term memory is absolutely necessary to successfully complete any course which requires a comprehensive final examination and a program of study where an overall program exit comprehensive examination and certification examination is also required. Instead of relying on a “crisis approach” to learning, stay organized and review often.

7.       Ask questions during class sessions and/or visit with the course instructor outside of class to clarify information that may be difficult for you to grasp. If necessary, seek advice from the instructor for making improvements. However, seeking advice during the final couple of weeks of the course is probably too late!

8.       Avoid, at all cost, a pessimistic attitude. Instead, THINK POSITIVELY! A person in very likely to mentally move in the direction he or she thinks about most often. When a subject seems overwhelming, don’t panic!  When the brain is in “panic mode,” it cannot simultaneously be in an effective learning mode. If panic develops, STOP!  Re-evaluate your study skills and make immediate changes that can remove or reduce the difficulty. Chances are, the panic is the result of not enough time set aside to learn the information.

9.       Improve your self-confidence! An excellent online tool to help build self-confidence can be seen at …

                                               http://www.mindtools.com/selfconf.html