Oncology II Syllabus for 2015-2016
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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

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

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

RADT-2403-001 Oncology II

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: RADT 1401 or advanced standing

Course Description

The course includes the historical development of radiography; basic radiation protection; introduction to medical terminology, ethical and legal issues for health care professionals; and an orientation to the program and the health care system.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(4 sem hrs; 4 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Principles and Practices of Radation Therapy (most recent edition.) Leaver and Washington;

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\ Study Guide (compiled by Tackitt)

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\ Radiation Therapy Study Guide and Exam Review-Levy

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\ TABER'S MEDICAL DICTIONARY or other approved Medical dictionary

Supplies

\ Computer and standard accessories (as per college specifications, keyboard, mourse, etc.), web cam, Flash (free downloadable software),

Student Performance

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\ COURSE GOALS:

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\ To give the student entry-level knowledge of radiation oncology, radiation nursing and radiation treatment procedures for disease.

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\ 1.         anatomy                                             6.         staging

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\ 2.         epidemiology                                      7.         treatment principles                                   

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\ 3.         pathology                                           8.         prognosis

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\ 4.         clinical evaluation                             9.         nursing aspects

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\ 5.         diagnosis                                            10.       misc.

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\ COURSE OBJECTIVES:

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\ After studying the material presented in this course, the student will be able to do the following with a minimum 80% total accuracy as evaluated by the program faculty:

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\ 1.         Be able to discuss the principles of the normal cell, inflammation and repair mechanisms.

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\ 2.         Be able to discuss the development and definition of malignant and abnormal pathology.

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\ 3.         Be able to describe tumor development, grading and staging systems.

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\ 4.         Be able to describe the biological effects of radiation.

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\ 5.         Be able to identify sites where tumors arise and discuss related anatomy and function.

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\ 6.         Be able to identify etiologic and epidemiologic factors of all tumor sites.

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\ 7.         Be able to identify and discuss methods of cancer detection/diagnosis.

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\ 8.         Be able to identify and describe work-up and staging for all tumor sites.

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\ 9.         Be able to understand treatment of choice for particular tumors and indicate the rationale for treatment.

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\ 10.       Be able to document specific tumor site oncologic factors and specific patient factors via computer generated, written case study reports

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\ 11.        Be able to discuss histology of the tumor sites.

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\ 12.       Be able to distinguish treatment techniques for all tumor sites.

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\ 13.       Be able to discuss prognosis for specific tumor sites.

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\ 14.       Be able to discuss nursing aspects of various tumor sites and treatment side effects

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\ 15.       Writing in the form of regular short answer and essay format homework will be assigned for most sections in the two semester oncology curriculum.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

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

\ See Attendance policy.

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\ Also see Amarillo Colllege students rights and responsibility document

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\ In addition: turn off cell phones unless granted permission from instructor. If so, set in silent mode and if you get a call, please exit the room before answering and talking on the phone.

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\ Inappropriate behavior that is disruptive to the learning experience for the class will not be tolerated.

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\ COURSE ETHICS

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\ Radiation Therapy courses

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\ Each student will be required to prepare written assignments for credit, and take written examinations typically as a routine part of each course. As such, students should be fully aware of the instructor's policies relative to the ethics regarding copying the work of others and any unethical act that may occur during a quiz or examination or other assignment.

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\ PLAGIARISM is the theft of another person's work or thinking. Words, as well as ideas, or intellectual property and can be stolen from another person as easily as money or some other item. As such, plagiarism can be a violation of the law, and is certainly a violation of ethics. Even in those cases where the law may not be violated, plagiarism is unethical and does the wrong thing to do and can carry severe consequences for the perpetrator.

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\ In a college credit course, it is considered plagiarism to copy the work of another student, even with the permission of that student, since the copied work violates course ethics. Under the circumstances associated with a course assignment for credit, a student would also need the permission of the course instructor before it is considered ethical to copy the work of a peer. Obviously, that permission is not likely to be given, for it totally defeats the purpose of the assignment, which is to measure or demonstrate the knowledge and ability of the student -- not the ability of someone else. Stated another way, and these courses, a student WILL NOT COPY ANOTHER STUDENTS WORK on any assignment for credit!

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\ Likewise, unethical conduct during a quiz or examination is also the wrong thing to do. For a student pursuing a career in a health occupation, test dishonesty can be seen as a reliable predictor of unacceptable job performance following graduation. This instructor takes the position that the dishonest student is probably also unethical in other ways and is a threat to the safety of any patient who comes in contact with that student. Employers likely take a similar position. The healthcare industry cannot tolerate such conduct.

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\ 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:

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\ "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."

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\ It should be concluded from this statement that unethical course conduct is absolutely prohibited by Amarillo College policy. To be more specific, in radiation therapy courses, plagiarism, dishonesty, or any other unethical course conduct, is reason for a final course grade of "F" regardless of other grades earned in the course.

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\ This ethics policy is STRICTLY enforced, with ZERO tolerance, for ALL RADT courses! A student should not risk his or her final grade in his course, and any future enrollment privileges at Amarillo College, as the result of an unethical act related to a course assignment or examination. If in doubt about a particular assignment or testing practice, contact the course instructor FIRST!

Grading Criteria

 

Regular homework, quizzes and other Activities, as well as exams will be given during the semester in both the lecture part of the course and in the lab setting.  Grading will be on a total point basis.

Homework/quizzes=1-25 points, generally based on the number of questions/nature of the assignment

Exams=1 point per question (exams typically range from 100-130 questions. You will receive prior notice of any exams with 150 or more questions)

Final exam=500 points

There will be approximately six major exams each semester followed by a comprehensive final exam at the end of each semester. 

Note: Final Exams are ALWAYS face-to-face at Amarillo College.All students, including distance students, must make arrangements on their own with respect to ensuring attendance in Amarillo for Final Exams for ALL classes.

Exact date/time/place for the final exam will be described on the course calendar no later than the beginning of the 5^th week of class (note: the semester is 16 weeks long). Final exam date/time is non-negotiable and Final Exams CANNOT be made up if missed!*

*Unless there is documentation of an extraordinary circumstance (e.g. extreme illness /hospitalization etc. Matters of scheduling convenience, in particular, will never be considered as an exception.

NOTE-THE STUDENT MUST PASS AT LEAST TWO  REGULAR EXAMS IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THE FINAL.  IF THE STUDENT DOES NOT PASS AT LEAST TWO TESTS, THE STUDENT WILL NOT TAKE THE FINAL AND WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE AN “F” FOR THE COURSE.

All points earned during the semester will be added together and divided into the total amount of points possible to determine a percentage grade.  This includes grades from labs and any outside assignments.

A=93-100%                B=86-92%                  C=80-85%                  F=79 and below

A "D" is not possible in this course

Example of grades:

A student has the following grades:

major exams (out of 100 points):              100,90,80,100,90,80

final exam:                90

didactic quizzes:       15/20, 14/15,9/10

lab quizzes:                10/10,9/10,18/20

grade would be calculated as follows:

100+90+80+100+90+80+(90x5)+15+14+9+10+9+18=

975(pts earned) / 1095 (total pts available)= .890=89.0% ="B"

(Note: to convert a decimal into a percent, multiply it by 100)

Final grade="B”   

Note-the online course will record and track your grades. The student is expected to check their grades regularly. If there is any discrepancy between the grade you receive and the grade you expect to see, please contact the instructor.

Students that have a failing grade early in the semester can contact the instructor for a consultation if they wish. Any student with a failing grade at any point after mid-semester can expect to be contacted by the instructor.

Remediation Requirements:

Any time a student does not pass a regular exam (worth 100 or more points), the student will be required to meet with the instructor for grade discussion. Students will have the opportunity to review all exams with the instructor. Repeat exams will be scheduled and taken through the West Campus Testing Center. Any exam not passed must be repeated prior to the next exam for that course. The repeat exam must receive a grade of at least 90% (85% if there is any substantial mathematics in the exam. Student must show all work on any mathematics or the question will be counted as incorrect). Failure to receive the required grade on the repeat exam will result in a 3% course grade reduction for each occurrence. Failure to take the repeat exam prior to the next regular exam (or Final Exam, in the case of the last regular exam of the semester) will result in a 10% course grade reduction. 

Attendance

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\ While some online courses are completely self-paced (asynchronous), this course has numerous and regular deadlines, including specific exam times as well as activities (including group activities) with specific due dates.

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\ Class “lectures” will typically be in the form of audio podcasts. Activities that follow-up on the lectures are placed in the “Lessons” tab of this online course. Podcast assignments (dates to complete listening to each assigned podcast) is found in the Course Calendar. The student MUST have the class Study Guide prior to listening to podcasts, as the Study Guide serves as a fill-in workbook for the podcasts.

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\ Exams will always be on Monday afternoons from 3:00-5:00. The Course Calendar will outline the specific dates for the exams. More information about what to expect for the final exams will be given in the podcast lectures and through other communications. Be sure to check your online class email on a daily basis, Monday-Friday, for updates and important information.

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\ On the Friday morning following an exam, from 11:00-(appr.)11:30 there will be a mandatory review of the exam. Details about the structure of the review and how you can access the review will be given to you in the first section. Attendance for the exam review is mandatory! Not signing in to the review as expected will result in a 3% exam grade reduction for the first offense, and a 10% reduction for any subsequent occurrence.

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\ Arrangements to make up any missed homework, quizzes or exams must be made within one school day of the original due time or the result will be a grade of ZERO.  Any missed scored activity may be made up for maximum 80% of the original point value (85% on exams) provided that arrangements for the make up are made within one school day of the original deadline.

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\ It is the sole responsibility of the student who has been absent to arrange with the instructor to make up any missed/late work. 

Calendar

Additional Information

\ Note: the student MUST listen to the podcast of the syllabus description, as some of this info will show up on your first exam!! For a refresher on how to access/download podcasts, please refer to the “Accessing Podcasts” document that follows this information in the “Lessons” folderThe following is a list of texts resources available for temporary “checkout” from the Program Director:

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• \ The Physics of Radiation Therapy—3^rd Ed.  Khan
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• \ Principles and Practices of Radiation Therapy—3^rd Ed.  Washington & Leaver
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• \ American Cancer Society Textbook of Clinical Education—various editions
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• \ Fundamentals of Sectional Anatomy—Lazo
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• \ Tabors Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary-- various editions
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• \ Technological Basis of Radiation Therapy—Levitt and Tapley 2^nd Ed.
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• \ Ethical and Legal Issues for Imaging Professionals—Towsley-Cook, Young, 2^nd Ed.
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• \ Medicolegal Issues for Radiographers—Parelli, 3^rd Ed.
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• \ Patient Care in Radiography—Elrich, Daly 7^th Ed.
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• \ Radiation Therapy Planning—Bentel, 2^nd Ed.
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• \ Supportive Care in Radiotherapy—Faithfull, Wells
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\ Also, Make use of the AC online library, at http://www.actx.edu/library/index.php

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\ You’ll need your college ID# and login (this same you use to register each semester)