DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
TRENT UNIVERSITY
BIOL 4450Y: Placement in Health Sciences
2014-2015 F/WI
Peterborough
Instructor:
Leslie Kerr
Campus:
Peterborough
Email:
lkerr@trentu.ca
Office Location:
Life & Health Sciences Building D242
Secretary:
Sandra Sisson
Office Location:
Life & Health Sciences Building D102
Telephone:
(705) 748-1011 ext 7435
Office Hours:
Tuesday 1:30-3:00
Email:
ssisson@trentu.ca
Telephone:
(705) 748-1011 ext 7424
Course Description:
Students will spend approximately 6 hours a week for 24 weeks (or the equivalent) in a placement at a
Health or Life Sciences related facility. It is expected that students will experience the practice of a
particular Health/Life Sciences discipline. The placement may be research-oriented (for example based on
a defined project) or skills-oriented. The extent of student interaction with clients/patients is expected to
vary greatly, and may in fact be quite limited, depending on prior experience of the student, and the nature
of the placement. In the event of a research-based project that involves human subjects, students will be
required to submit and have approved an application for ethical review of the project to the Research Ethics
Committee prior to commencing the study. Students carrying out a research-based project with animals
must complete the Animal Care Course, and receive approval from the Trent University Animal Care
Committee.
Course Evaluation:
Type of Assignment:
Project/Placement Proposal and forms
Progress Report
Final Report
Oral Presentation of Report
Journal
Evaluation by Placement Representative
Weighting
5%
20%
25%
15%
25%
10%
Due Date
October 6th
December 1st
April 6th
TBA
April 6th
April 6th
Learning Outcomes:
Students successfully completing this experiential learning course will have:
1) gained a solid understanding of the key concepts, methodologies, and current advances in the
Health or Medical Sciences
2) refined their skills in critical thinking, communication, and analysis within the Health and
Medical Science fields
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3) gained an appreciation of the real-life requirements of the profession in which they were paired
with a member of the health-care community.
4) developed an understanding of and have used some of the techniques and tools that are used in
the health care setting related to their internship.
5) developed confidence in interactions with the research, medical, and health science communities
6) an understanding of the importance of professionalism in the interactions not only with members
of the health- medical-care community, but also with patients and their families (where
appropriate to the internship)
Notes on Course Evaluation:
1. Proposal and forms: The student will hand in completed: i) letter to placement employer, ii) student
declaration, iii) consent to release placement information, and iv) student information update for their
placement. Placement proposal will include a defined set of objectives or outcomes in conjunction
with the placement host. The proposal should include personal/professional as well as project-based
goals. The overall proposal should be about 2 pages long.
2. Progress Report: The student will write a short report (approx. 2000 words) on progress made to date.
The report should include information about the profession, practice or health unit in which the student
is working; a description of challenges (personal or professional) faced, and how they were resolved;
how the goals and objectives that were initially described have evolved. References to appropriate
literature must be included.
3. Final Report: Students will address the goals that were established at the beginning of the placement,
describing what steps were taken to realize them, and evaluating the actual outcomes achieved. The
report should include a section addressing what the student learned from the placement. As well, the
work done should be placed into the context of the concerns of the field/discipline in which the student
carried out the placement. It is expected that students will consult and refer to relevant literature.
4. Oral Presentation: An oral report of about 10 minutes (plus 5 minutes for questions) that summarizes
the objectives and achievements of the internship will be presented to the class and possibly other
interested parties.
5. Journal: Students are to keep a daily journal documenting their work experiences and reflect on how
those experiences might help them in choosing a career path or in future job applications. At the end
of the course, this journal will be submitted as part of your final grade.
6. Evaluation by placement representative: The placement representative will write a brief evaluation of
the performance of the student.
Late penalties: All assignments must be hand delivered to one of the co-coordinator’s office before 4:00
pm on the due date. Assignments handed in after this time will be considered late and deducted 10% per
day, excluding weekends. Assignments will not be accepted 7 days after the due date. Extensions to the
due date must be granted before the due date and will be granted only under documented exceptional
circumstances of illness or misfortune. Faxed or emailed assignments will not be accepted.
University Policies:
Academic Integrity:
Academic dishonesty, which includes plagiarism and cheating, is an extremely serious academic offence
and carries penalties varying from a 0 grade on an assignment to expulsion from the
University. Definitions, penalties, and procedures for dealing with plagiarism and cheating are set out in
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Trent University’s Academic Integrity Policy. You have a responsibility to educate yourself – unfamiliarity
with the policy is not an excuse. You are strongly encouraged to visit Trent’s Academic Integrity website
to learn more: www.trentu.ca/academicintegrity.
Access to Instruction:
It is Trent University's intent to create an inclusive learning environment. If a student has a
disability and/or health consideration and feels that he/she may need accommodations to succeed
in this course, the student should contact the Student Accessibility Services Office (SAS), (BH
Suite 132, 748 1281disabilityservices@trentu.ca). For Trent University in Oshawa Student
Accessibility Services Office contact 905-435-5102 ext. 5024. Complete text can be found under
Access to Instruction in the Academic Calendar.
Please see the Trent University academic calendar for university diary dates, academic information
and regulations, and university and departmental degree requirements.
Last date to withdraw from a full-year course without academic penalty is February 5, 2015.
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