Radiographic Imaging Equipment Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

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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Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

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The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

RADR-2309-001 Radiographic Imaging Equipment

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: RADR 2370

Course Description

Equipment and physics of x-ray production. Includes basic x-ray circuits. Also examines the relationship of conventional and digital equipment components to the imaging process.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Essentials of Radiologic Science, Fosbinder and Orth, 1st edition.

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\ Essentials of Radiologic Science - Workbook, Fosbinder and Mason, 1st edition.

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\ These textbooks are required and should be taken to each class session.

Supplies

\ The student will need a calculator that can perform fundamental mathematics operations, including square root. A personal cell phone CANNOT be used to math calculations during class time. The student calculator described above will be permitted for

Student Performance

End-of-Course Outcomes: Compare and contrast conventional and digital equipment; explain the physics of x-ray production; describe basic x-ray circuits; and relate conventional and digital equipment components to the imaging process.

RADR 2309 is included in the Radiography curriculum to provide the future Radiographer with the entry-level knowledge and skills necessary to understand the operation of the exposure equipment in order to use the equipment effectively and to be able to troubleshoot equipment problems.

 

• Define potential difference, current and resistance.
• Identify the general components and functions of the tube and filament circuits.
• Compare generators in terms of radiation produced and efficiency.
• Discuss permanent installation of radiographic equipment in terms of purpose, components, types and applications.
• Demonstrate operation of various types of permanently installed and mobile radiographic equipment.
• Discuss mobile units in terms of purpose, components, types and applications.
• Describe functions of components of automatic exposure control (AEC) devices.
• Describe the proper use of an AEC device.
• Explain image-intensified and digital fluoroscopy.
• Identify components of diagnostic x-ray tubes.
• Explain protocols used to extend x-ray tube life.
• Indicate the purpose, construction, and application of video camera tubes, CCD, and TV monitors.
• Differentiate between quality improvement/management, quality assurance, and quality control.
• List the benefits of a quality control program to the patient and to the department.
• Discuss the proper test equipment/procedure for evaluating the operation of an x-ray generator.
• Evaluate the results of basic QC tests.
• Discuss the basic principles of operation of various imaging modalities and radiation therapy.
• Describe fundamental atomic structure.
• Explain the processes of ionization and excitation.
• Describe the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Describe wavelength and frequency and how they are related to velocity.
• Explain the relationship of energy, wavelength and frequency.
• Explain the wave-particle duality phenomena.
• Identify the properties of x-rays.
• Describe the process of ionization and excitation.
• Describe charged and uncharged forms of particulate radiation.
• Differentiate between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.
• Describe radioactivity and radioactive decay in terms of alpha, beta and gamma emission.
• Compare the production of bremsstrahlung and characteristic radiation.
• Describe the conditions necessary to produce x-radiation.
• Describe the x-ray emission spectra.
• Identify the factors that affect the x-ray emission spectra.
• Discuss various photon interactions with matter by describing the interaction, relation to atomic number, photon energy, and part density, and their applications in diagnostic radiology.
• Discuss relationships of wavelength and frequency to beam characteristics.
• Discuss the clinical significance of the photoelectric and modified scattering interactions in diagnostic imaging.
• Describe the components of the CT imaging system.
• Explain the functions of collimators in CT
• List the CT computer data processing steps.
• Define algorithm and explain its impact on image scan factors and reconstruction.
• Define raw data and image data.
• Describe the following terms in relation to the CT data acquisition process:
  • Pixel
  • Matrix
  • Voxel
  • Linear attenuation coefficient
  • CT/Hounsfield number
  • Partial volume averaging
  • Window width (WW) and window level (WL)
  • Spatial resolution
  • Contrast resolution
  • Noise
  • Annotation
  • Region of interest (ROI)
• Name the common controls found on CT operator consoles and describe how and why each is used.
• Identify the types and appearance of artifacts most commonly affecting CT images.
• Name the radiation protection devices that can be used to reduce patient dose in CT and describe the correct application of each.
• Describe the general purpose of commonly performed CT studies.
• Discuss general radiation safety and protection practices associated with examinations in CT.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

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Expected Student Behavior

COURSE ETHICS

Each student will be required to prepare written assignments and take written examinations as a part of this course. Students should be keenly aware of the instructor’s policies relative to the ethics regarding plagiarism and any other unethical student conduct that may occur relative to a scored activity.

PLAGIARISM is the theft of another person’s work or thinking. Words as well as ideas are intellectual property and can be stolen from another person as easily as money or property. As such, plagiarism can be a violation of criminal law. Even in those cases where the law may not be technically violated, plagiarism is unethical.  Frankly, it is simply the wrong thing to do.  In this course, it is considered plagiarism to copy the work of another student.  No student may COPY ANOTHER STUDENT’S WORK on any assignment for credit! Likewise, copying the published work of another person is illegal without the express permission of that person (e.g. internet and journal articles). Portions of a published work may be quoted provided the quote is properly cited. 

Unethical conduct during a quiz or examination is also simply the wrong thing to do. To say the least, for a student pursuing a health-related career, unethical conduct may be considered a reliable predictor of unacceptable job performance in the medical environment. If a student makes a choice to “cheat” on a test, will that student also make similar choices relative to accurate patient care? Probably so! This instructor takes the position that a dishonest student in the classroom may likely pose a threat to the safety of any patient who comes into contact with that student.  Healthcare employers take a similar position. The health care industry will not tolerate this type of unprofessionalism.         

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 as follows:

“A high standard of conduct is expected of all students.  It is assumed that obedience to the law, respect for properly constituted authority, personal honor, integrity and common sense will guide the actions of each member of the college community both in and out of the classroom.  Any student who fails to perform according to expected standards may be disciplined.”

One should conclude from this statement that unethical course conduct is absolutely unacceptable by Amarillo College policy. To be more specific, in this course, plagiarism, dishonesty, or any other unethical course conduct, is cause, at the minimum, for a final course grade of “F” regardless of other grades earned to-date in the course. At the maximum, it may be cause to request the college administration to dismiss the student from the radiography program and Amarillo College with no option to re-enroll at a later date.

This instructor practices zero-tolerance in any matter related to a violation of course ethics. A student should not risk earning a failing grade in this course, and possibly any future enrollment privileges at Amarillo College, as the result of unethical behavior.

It is assumed that each college student, as an adult, is expected to adhere to standard classroom protocol to avoid distracting others while a class is in progress. This can include talking with others at inappropriate times, sleeping, eating, etc. Such behavior is not acceptable.

 

A more recent technology-driven distraction is the use of a cell phone during a class session. The use of a cell phone during a class session is absolutely not acceptable. The student should take time to silence his or her cell phone BEFORE the class session begins to avoid a difference of opinion with the instructor should the phone "ring" during the class session. Likewise, texting during a class session is absolutely not acceptable.

 

 

 

Grading Criteria

The final course grade will be computed as follows:
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\ 1. All major examination point totals will be averaged and the average will count 50% of the final course grade.
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\ 2. A comprehensive final examination will count 30% of the final course grade.
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\ 3. All quizzes and any out-of-class assignment point totals will be averaged and the average will count 20% of the final course grade.
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\ The following grade scale applies throughout this course:
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\ A = 92 – 100

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B = 83 – 91

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C = 75 – 82

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F = less than 75.
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\ A grade of ‘D’ is not possible in this course.
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\ Decimal scores from all graded activities will be rounded as follows:
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\ 0.1 - 0.4 — rounded down to the next whole number.
\ 0.5 - 0.9 — rounded up to the next whole number.
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\ The final course average will be rounded in the same way.

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Under very special circumstances, it may be necessary for the instructor to issue a final course grade of “incomplete” to provide additional time for the student to satisfactorily complete the course. Such circumstances are rare and must be authorized by the instructor. A final grade of “incomplete” will NOT be used to give an “additional-chance” to pass the course.
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\ When a final grade of “incomplete” is appropriate, a written contract to remove the “I” will be prepared by the course instructor and signed by the instructor and student. Normally, the grade of “I” must be converted to a passing grade within 90 days of the conclusion of the course.
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\ Under a very rare circumstance, a time extension of an additional 90 days is possible. Each case will be handled on an individual basis and no one case shall set a precedent for another case. If the “I” is not removed in accordance with the contract, the final course grade will be recorded as an “F”.

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If a student is absent on the day of a major examination, quiz, or out-of-class assignment, the student may make-up the missed work as follows:
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\ 1. The missed work must be made up by 8:00 am on the next school day following the absence.
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\ 2. The missed work may earn a maximum of 85% of the original point value.
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\ Should the student be unable to complete the missed work within this deadline, he or she may petition the instructor for an extension of time. Such a request must be made directly to the instructor BEFORE the deadline period expires. Each request will be handled on an individual basis and the decision of the instructor will be final.
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\ Sometimes, a student may know in advance of an upcoming absence. If that absence is on a day when a scored activity is to be recorded, the student may petition the instructor, IN ADVANCE AND IN WRITING, for an excused absence. If approved, an excused absence will not carry with it the loss of any points on the scored activity due to the absence.
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\ NOTE: If missed work is not completed in accordance with this policy, the specific activity must be scored as ZERO credit and averaged as such into the final course grade. There can be NO exceptions!

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Attendance

\ Due to the highly technical nature of this course content, the student who plans to succeed in this course should also plan to attend all course sessions regularly. Depending on the contents of another student's class notes is risky at best. Habitual absenteeism often results in an inability to complete the course successfully.

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\ Likewise, prompt arrival for class is absolutely expected. A student who arrives late to class will not be allowed to take the daily quiz or participate in bonus point activities. An arrival after 8:00 am is considered a tardy arrival. The atomic classroom clock  will serve as the official timepiece. A tardy arrival is very disruptive to the class already in progress and shows disrespect to the instructor and other students who have arrived on time.

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\ UPON RETURNING TO CLASS FOLLOWING AN ABSENCE, IT IS ALWAYS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO COMPLETE ANY MISSED WORK ACCORDING TO THE MAKE-UP POLICY.
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Calendar

Additional Information

 

Grievance Policy

1. Make every effort to resolve the concern directly with the course instructor/clinical 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 Health Science Dean 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 dean, the student should seek satisfaction from the Vice-President of Instruction within one week of the student – Dean meeting.

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

6. 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.

STUDY TIPS FOR SUCCESS

If you want to earn a passing grade for this college course, it is highly recommended that you consistently should use some type of study system. Such a system, designed for college-level work, should include most or all of the following tips:

Plan to study lecture information no less than twelve clock hours each week (outside of class time);

Begin to prepare for each major examination as soon as new information is presented and review daily;

Never study more than twenty consecutive minutes without taking a short break;

Re-write lecture notes within twelve hours of the time the notes were first recorded;

Consult your textbooks as needed for additional information;

Consider making study note cards (“flash cards”) to learn “factual” information;

Don’t get comfortable while studying;

Avoid distractions while studying;

Study aloud (if your location permits); and, 

Review previous notes often throughout the semester.

Stay organized and stay on schedule. Preparation for a major exam should begin at least one week in advance of the test date. Select manageable note and textbook sections to study each day.

Study with a positive attitude and keep the lines of communication open between yourself and the course instructor.

 

 “What gets in the way of effective performance in the classroom? I believe that "anxiety" is the culprit. Many students put themselves down by believing that they are "stupid" and "ineffective," especially in comparison with their peers. These feelings of inadequacy can lead to the paralyzing anxiety that "blocks" successful performance in the classroom – especially on tests. In order to overcome anxiety, I recommend the following:

 Gain temporary control of your anxiety by practicing relaxation techniques during especially anxious times. Deep breathing combined with muscular tensing and relaxing can be helpful. Massage and meditation can help too.

 Work on feeling better about yourself. Try replacing negative thinking with positive thoughts. Praise yourself once in a while and forgive yourself for mistakes.

 

In general, try being your own best friend!"

By Dr. Salene Cowher  

GOOD PREPARATION IS THE BEST DEFENSE FOR TEST ANXIETY.