AP0520 - Neuroscience Case Studies

You will learn through investigating a series of neuroscience disorders/problems in a Problem Based Learning (PBL) format, working as part
of a group of 5 to 6 students. The series will be composed of 5 neuroscience scenarios with each scenario being addressed over two weeks.
In week 1, you will be presented with the scenario. You will participate in a student lead discussion to allow you and your group to review the
scenario and determine what factors and issues need to be addressed, one of which must be to critically review a recent primary scientific
paper related to the scenario. You will then be allocated a particular factor/issue that you will need to investigate in detail via independent
learning. In week 2, you will present to the others in your group your findings either as a 10±1 minute oral presentation if based on a general
theme extracted from the scenario or 15±1.5 minute oral presentation if doing a critical review of a scientific article related to the scenario.
Presentations will be done through the use of Powerpoint. After all presentations have been completed you and the others in your group will
then discuss everyone’s findings and come to a set of final conclusions relating to the scenario being studied.

For each scenario, you and the others in your group will be allocated a member of staff who will provide support during that scenario. The
member of staff will act as a facilitator, i.e. they will guide you and your group to ensure that the scenario is discussed in a professional
manner and that your group covers all relevant aspects related to a scenario. The latter will be in the form of simple prompt questions or
redirection away from unrelated areas, as well as challenging questions to make you think ‘outside the box’. During your presentation
preparation period, staff will provide you with support via your group Discussion forum board on the module eLP site. Staff will provide verbal
and written feedback to you at the end of each session/scenario as to how you are progressing in terms of being able to discuss and present
issues and areas to be improved/enhanced.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. A knowledge and understanding of the cause(s), anatomy and physiology of a disorder, the rationale for tests in assisting in the diagnosis of a disorder, as well as application and ethics associated to treatment of a disorder.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. Work as part of a team/small group, as well as individually, to appraise and extract information from documents relating to a current contemporary neuroscience scenario.
3. Determine, locate, assess, critically present, answer questions and discuss relevant information, including scientific papers, related to a scenario.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. Develop your interpersonal and presentation skills
5. Enhance your curiosity of neuroscience.

Your main assessment will be a single portfolio assignment of the last scenario in the series.
For Week 1 you will be assessed as follows (30% of final module mark):
i. Ability to appraise and extract relevant information from document(s) presented to you. (MLO 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5)
ii. Determination of missing relevant information and the posing of relevant questions needed to fully understand the scenario. (MLO 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5)
iii. Contribution to the group discussion of the scenario in order to determine points i and ii above. (MLO 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5)
For Week 2 you will be assessed as follows (50% of final module mark):
i. 10±1 minute or 15±1.5 minute presentation relating to the task allocated to you from Week 1. (MLO 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5)
ii. Ability to answer questions related to your presentation. (MLO 1, 3 & 4)
iii. Ability to ask questions of other students presentations. (MLO 2, 3, 4 & 5)
iv. Contribution to the final group discussion of the scenario in order to get a full overview of the scenario. (MLO 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5)
Written brief summary (20% of final module mark):
After Week 2 of Scenario 5, you will compose a brief written summary (500 ± 10% words) of the scenario bringing together all elements related to the scenario. In addition, you will include a 75±10% word reflective section on how you felt you have performed over the whole module. (MLO 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5)
On an ongoing basis during Scenarios 1 to 4, staff will provide you with feedback to assist you with your progress in terms of being able to discuss and present issues and areas to be improved/enhanced in preparation for your main assessment.

Anatomy and Physiology (Sem2 at L4)
Principles of Neuroscience (Sem1 at L5)

N/A

The Neuroscience Case Studies module provides you with an overview of the types of neuroscience scenarios that might be encountered within the NHS, and develops your ability to understand issues important to human health, such as ethics, aetiology and pathogenesis of diseases and application of treatment. The format of the module is based around problem based learning (PBL) workshops, the aims of which are:

1. To provide you with the opportunity to study contemporary neuroscience scenarios in greater detail than a normal lecture allows.
2. To develop in you the ability to work as part of a small group to discuss issues raised in relation to a scenario.
3. To develop in you the ability to determine, locate and critically present relevant information, including scientific papers, related to a scenario.
Previous students who have taken this module enjoyed the ability to delve deeper into a problem, as well as developing interpersonal and presentation skills.