North Arkansas College
ALDH 1042 - Medical Terminology Online
Office Hours:
Office Hours: * Please allow 24 hour response for email during the
week and 48 hours for response over weekends and holidays.
To the best of my abilities, I will be checking the portal on a daily basis. If
you need something urgently –Please e-mail me! I know providing prompt
feedback is important as an online learner. I will do my best to respond as
soon as I can. I strongly suggest you don’t wait until the last minute on
assignments. Many of these will have an “end time” and once this has past,
you will not be able to complete the assignment. Please plan ahead
accordingly.
Instructor:
Jennifer James, RN; MSN; CNE
RN Instructor
North Arkansas College
870-391-3528
jjames@northark.edu
Location:
North Arkansas College – Online
Credit Hours:
Two
Resources Needed for the Course –
1.)Textbook Modern Language for Modern Health Care (3rd Ed.) Allan,
David & Lockyer, Karen (2014). McGraw Hill Publishing.
2.) Access to the internet.
Course Description: This course studies terminology used in all areas and levels of the health care
professions. Emphasis is on understanding with proficiency medical words, their derivatives, and the
formation of related terms.
Course Rationale: The ability to understand the written and spoken language of medicine is
necessary for any person seeking a career in healthcare. This course is intended to give the student
fundamental skills and knowledge of terminology needed to enter any health care discipline.
Audience: Students who are taking prerequisites for a health care profession who plan to work in
the health care field should take this course. There are no prerequisites for taking this course.
Course Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate understanding of word roots, prefixes, and suffixes by constructing and
defining medical terminology for application in critical thinking and problem solving in
health care careers.
2. Define the terms used in the major anatomical structures and functions of the human body.
3. Correctly spell and pronounce the terminology learned in the course.
4. Define the terms related to the diagnosis, pathology and treatment of disorders of the body
systems.
5. Demonstrate effective teamwork and interpersonal relationships while gaining mastery in
medical terminology.
6. Communicate medical terminology clearly to improve the culture of safety in patient care.
Instructional/Teaching Methods:
 PowerPoint Slide Lecture
 Online discussion
 Small group work
 Online exercises and modules
 Flash cards
Student Responsibilities:
The student is expected to:
 Read all assigned chapters.
 Participate in all activities as assigned following all deadlines.
 Be prepared for quizzes, online discussions, assignments and tests. This includes having read
the chapter material in the book, highlight key points and complete all assignments on the
due date.
 Make Flash Cards with medical prefixes, suffixes and root words. You will have to
memorize what these mean as they are essential to learn to build upon words used in each body
system. There are flash cards in the bookstore you can purchase but you can make your
own for free! To master this class you must understand the root, prefix and suffixes. As your
knowledge continues to grow in health care, you will be able to figure out the meaning of
words based upon your understanding of the basics of Medical Terminology. You can take
your flash cards anywhere you go, if you have just a few minutes, pull them out and review.
This is a key to learning the hundreds of roots, prefixes and suffixes.
 If your computer does not work or you do not have internet access, it is your responsibility
to find a computer and internet access. Note there are a variety of computers on the North
Arkansas College campus you can use. No late assignments will be accepted.
Attendance Policy:
 Students are expected to work on assignments each week. There will not be the ability to
“catch up” if you are not online on a routine basis.
 Students are expected to officially withdraw from courses they are no longer attending.
Course Evaluation:


Your participation in this course is crucial for you to be successful. You will be driving your
own learning. I am here to help you and to steer your learning. If you do not understand
something it is your responsibility to contact me in a timely manner.
The following will be used to determine your grade in this course:
o Online Quizzes – there are four quizzes – see the course calendar. Each quiz can
only be taken one time and has limited time allotment. You will be told at the
beginning of the quiz how many questions to expect and how long you have to take
the quiz. You will not have enough time to look all of your answers up in a book, so
you need to KNOW the material! All quizzes will open at 6 a.m. on
Wednesday and close the following Wednesday at midnight.


o Exams- 3 exams: All exams will open at 6 a.m. on Friday
and will close the next day on Saturday at midnight.
o ******Note that there is a difference between quizzes and
exams
Final Exam – This is a comprehensive exam and all students are required to take the final
exam.
** You can take the Quizzes and Exams only one time and there will be a time limit
and deadline.

Course Grade
Quizzes – there are 4 quizzes – each are worth 10% for a total of 40%
Online Forum – there will be 1 online discussion worth 10%
Exams- there are 3 exams – each is worth 10% for a total of 30%
Final exam – worth 20%
Grading Scale:
90 – 100% - A
80 – 89.4% - B
70 – 79.4% - C
60 – 69.4% - D
0 – 59.4% - F
Grades will be rounded up to the nearest whole number at the end of the course. So, an 89.5% will
become a 90%. An 89.4 will become an 89%
Students in Nursing and Allied Health Programs must obtain a course grade of “C” or better in
order to progress in these programs
Students whose average is below 70% after the second test are required to consult with the instructor to plan strategies
for successful completion of the course.
Make Up Exams:
Most exams will be open for several days (see course calendar). Therefore, there will be NO
MAKEUP exams or quizzes given. You must stay ahead and look at Portal at least every
other day for updates.
Resources Available:

The instructor can be reached via e-mail or phone for urgent matters. Email is the preferred
communication method.

The LAC Computer Center
The LAC has computer software available to students who want to supplement what they
are learning in their math, science, or English classes. The Learning Lab has twenty-four
laptop computers which students can schedule to use. The LAC Computer Center is located
on the South Campus in room M154. The hours of availability of these laptops will be
posted at the beginning of each semester.

South Campus Library
The South Campus has over thirty computer workstations are available for student needs.
The library has wireless internet access, allowing users to bring in their own wireless-capable
laptops and link to the internet through the college’s wireless service. The South Campus
Library also has quiet, well-lighted areas where students, faculty, and community patrons
may study.

North Campus Library - The North Campus Library is focused on the specific needs of the
technical curriculum. Resources include books, periodicals, and newspapers, as well as access
to the same online resources available on the main campus. Several public access computers
are available for word processing and online research. The North Campus Library’s quiet,
comfortable atmosphere makes it an ideal place for students, faculty, staff, and community
members to read and study.

Open computer lab: The library provides 25 computer workstations (20 on South Campus, 5
on North Campus) for use by students for research, class assignments, on-line coursework, email, etc. Every effort will be made to ensure that all software packages utilized for Northark
courses are available on these workstations. Lists of what software packages are installed on
which workstations will be posted in the library to help students find the appropriate resources.
Due to licensing and hardware constraints, not all workstations will have identical software
installations. Students are requested to use workstations with the minimal software suite that
meets their needs so that maximum student benefit can be obtained from the Open Computer
Lab. Students must have signed ID’s and a current Northark computer account.

Technology Support
The Information Technology Services staff provides assistance with desktop and lap-top
computers and PDA devices. IT Services maintains a website at
http://www.northark.edu/mcs/index.htm .
IT Services also assigns each registered student a computer account, username, and
password, and e-mail account.
Integrity:
North Arkansas College's commitment to academic achievement is supported by a strict but fair
policy to protect academic integrity. This policy regards academic fraud and dishonesty as
disciplinary offenses requiring disciplinary actions. Academic fraud and dishonesty are defined as
follows:







Cheating: Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or
study aids in any academic exercise.
Facilitating academic dishonesty: Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help
another commit an act of academic dishonesty.
Test tampering: Intentionally gaining access to restricted test booklets, banks, questions, or
answers before a test is given; or tampering with questions or answers after a test is taken.
Plagiarism: Intentionally or knowingly representing the words and ideas of another as one's
own in any academic exercise.
Cases of cheating and plagiarism are considered to be serious offenses and are subject to one
or more of the following alternatives:
 No credit for the assignment or opportunity for make-up.
 Loss of credit and dropped from the course.
 Permanent suspension from Northark.
Students may resolve disciplinary action by following this chain of command in the order
given: the instructor, the Dean or Program Director, the Vice President of Learning, and last
the Institutional Standards and Appeals Committee.
You are given a certain number of minutes to complete your quizzes and tests. Once the
time limit has been reached, the computer screen closes the quiz or test.
ADA statement: North Arkansas College complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students with disabilities who need special
accommodations should make their requests in the following way: (1) talk to the instructor after
class or during office hours about their disability or special need related to classroom work; and/or
(2) contact Special Services in Room M188 and ask to speak to Kim Brecklein.
ALDH 1042
Syllabus Acceptance Receipt
I acknowledge by signing below that I have received the course syllabus for Education/Medical
Terminology ALDH 1042. I have reviewed the syllabus and understand the objectives for this
course. I understand how my performance, class participation, and final grade will be determined. I
know how to contact my instructor for clarification of course content or procedures.
Printed Name:__________________________________________________________________
Signature: _____________________________________________________________________
Date:_________________________________________________________________________
Your typed signature is acceptable. Upload this document as a file exchange under Assignments and
then Syllabus Acknowledgement.
ALDH 1042 Medical Terminology Class Schedule
Quizzes are open Wednesdays at 6 a.m. to the following Wednesday at midnight
Tests are open on Fridays at 6 a.m. to Saturday at midnight
Week
Dates
Topic
1
January 14
Chap 1: Roots and Combining
Forms
Chap 2: Suffixes and prefixes
2
January 21
Chap 3: Word Analysis &
Communication
Chap 4: The Body as a Whole
3
January 28
Chap 5: Gastroenterology
Submit Syllabus Acceptance Receipt by January
21st via file exchange on Northark Portal under
assignments
Read Chapters 1– 2
Complete the Chapter Review for each chapter to
prepare for the quiz
Introduce yourself on the discussion board forum
Make flashcards - use to study
Read Chapters 3-4
Complete the chapter Review to prepare for the
quiz
Make flashcards - use to study
Read Chapter 5
Review to prepare for the quiz
Make flashcards - use to study
Quiz #1 – online- Chapters 1-5- open January
28th through February 4 at midnight
4
February 4
Test 1 – covers chapters 1-5
5
February 11
Chap 9: Neurology
Class Discussion Forum
6
February 18
Chap 10: Cardiovascular
System
7
February 25
Chap 11: Hematology
8
March 4
Midterm Exam Chapters 1-11
9
March 11
Chap 12: Immunology
Chap 13: Pulmonology
Complete the chapter Review to prepare for the
quiz
Make flashcards - use to study
Opens Friday, February 6th at 6 a.m. and closes at
midnight on Saturday, February 7th.
Read Chapter 9
Complete the chapter Review for each chapter to
prepare for the quiz
Make flashcards - use to study
See assignment details for dates for forum
Read Chapter 10
Complete the chapter Review for each chapter to
prepare for the quiz
Make flashcards - use to study
Read Chapter 11
Quiz #2 – online – Chapters 9-11 – open
Wednesday, February 25 and closes at midnight
on Wednesday, March 4.
Opens Friday, March 6 at 6 a.m. closes Saturday,
March 7th at midnight
Read chapter 12
Complete the chapter review to prepare for the
quiz
10
March 18
Chap 14: Orthopedics and
Rehab
Make flashcards - use to study
Read chapter 13
Complete the chapter review to prepare for the
quiz
Make flashcards - use to study
Read chapter 14
Complete the chapter review
Make flashcards - use to study
Quiz #3 – online- Chapters 12-14 –open
Wednesday, March 18 and closes at midnight on
Wednesday, March 25.
11
March 23-27
Spring Break
12
April 1
Test 2 – covers chapters 12-14
Opens Friday, April 3 at 6 a.m. and closes
Saturday, April 4th at midnight
13
April 8
Chap 15: Dermatology
14
April 15
Chap 16: Ophthalmology &
Otology
15
April 22
Read chapter 15
Complete the chapter review to prepare for the
quiz
Make flashcards - use to study
Read chapter 16
Complete the chapter review to prepare for the
quiz
Make flashcards - use to study
Read chapter 17
Complete the chapter review to prepare for the
quiz
Make flashcards - use to study
Quiz #4 – online- Chapters 15-17 – –open
Wednesday, April 22 and closes at midnight on
Wednesday, April 29.
Opens Friday, May 1 at 6 a.m. and closes
Saturday, May 2 at midnight
Chap 17: Endocrinology
16
April 29
Final Exam