Unit Plan

Unit Details
Unit name: Communicable Disease
Unit code: HST6337
Semester: 1, 2018
Campus and mode: ON campus & OFF campus
Pre-requisites: Nil

Lecturer Details
Name: Dr Lauren Bloomfield
Office location: JO31.471D
Telephone: 6304 4603
Email: l.bloomfield@ecu.edu.au
Consultation time: By appointment: Thursdays & Fridays

Welcome
Hello and welcome to HST6337 Communicable Disease. I hope you are as excited to learn about communicable
disease as I am to teach it. In this unit we will explore key principles in the identification, surveillance and
control of communicable disease. We will explore emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases both
locally and globally. To understand how to stop the spread of disease, we will examine the complex
interactions that take place between the environment, vectors, animals and humans, and how they impact
upon disease distribution. Furthermore, we will investigate the role of various organisations in the
identification and management of communicable diseases internationally. We will gain a broad insight into
communicable disease as a group. By the end of this unit, you should be ready to help a local health authority
plan and respond to a communicable disease threat.

About your lecturer

I have been working in communicable diseases for the last 7 years, initially focused on healthcare associated
infections and now working in immunisation and vaccine-preventable disease. My other areas of
interest/speciality are epidemiology and biostatistics, I teach epi for ECU and I’m currently studying biostats.
My current research works includes meningococcal carriage, influenza vaccines, and active vaccine safety
follow up using SMS. I have designed the content and assessments in this unit around skills that a prospective
employer in the field would like to see; collaboration is a crucial part of being an infectious disease
epidemiologist, along with the ability to rapidly find and synthesise information, and respond to a potential
threat. Preparedness will be a crucial part of your job, and we will work collaboratively to prepare for an
introduction of a communicable disease to a population.
Table of Contents

Unit Plan ................................................................................................................................................... 1

Unit Details .................................................................................................................................................. 1
Lecturer Details............................................................................................................................................ 1
Welcome ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
About your lecturer ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Learning outcomes ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Communication ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Contacting your lecturer.............................................................................................................................. 3
ECU email etiquette..................................................................................................................................... 3
Online communication expectations........................................................................................................... 4
Teaching and Learning .............................................................................................................................. 4
Key activities ................................................................................................................................................ 4
Active learning ............................................................................................................................................. 5
On-campus students.................................................................................................................................... 5
Online students ........................................................................................................................................... 5
Live tutorials ................................................................................................................................................ 5
English language proficiency ....................................................................................................................... 5
Unit and Teaching Evaluation (UTEI) ........................................................................................................... 6
Readings .................................................................................................................................................... 6
Key Dates .................................................................................................................................................. 7
Assessment Information ........................................................................................................................... 7
Assessment 1 – Online Wiki ........................................................................................................................ 7
Assessment 2 – Outbreak Response Plan .................................................................................................... 8
Assessment 3 – Written reflection .............................................................................................................. 8
Requesting an assessment extension .......................................................................................................... 9
Valid and invalid grounds for extensions .................................................................................................... 9
Academic Conduct ................................................................................................................................... 10
Academic integrity ..................................................................................................................................... 10
Referencing ................................................................................................................................................ 10
ECU student charter .................................................................................................................................. 10
Occupational safety and health ................................................................................................................. 10
ECU is a smoke free campus ...................................................................................................................... 11
Getting started ........................................................................................................................................ 11
Study schedule ........................................................................................................................................ 12

HST6337 2018.1 Communicable Disease 2

Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
 Evaluate strategies aimed at reducing the spread of communicable diseases.
 Examine the roles of the World Health Organization and other agencies such as the US Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) government, and the wider community in the management of risks associated
with the spread of communicable diseases.
 Analyse communicable disease research and associated risk assessments.
 Quantify and articulate risks associated with the distribution of diseases via various routes and
vectors. Analyse the wider international implications of communicable disease control.
 Critically analyse the relationships between climate change, environmental degradation and mobility
of the human population in the evolution of new and old communicable diseases.
 Examine local and global trends in communicable diseases and their distribution

These outcomes contribute towards achievement of the overall course learning outcomes.

The course learning outcomes associated with this unit are:

 Reflect critically on a complex body of public health knowledge, research principles and methods to
demonstrate mastery of public health practice and scholarship
 Apply cognitive, technical and interpretative skills to investigate, evaluate and synthesise complex
psychosocial and health issues in authentic situations.

Communication

Contacting your lecturer

Email is the most efficient way to keep in touch with your lecturer. All emails should be sent from your ECU
student email account; otherwise anti-spam filters may prevent it from being delivered. Your Lecturer’s
contact details are available on the first page of this document. Please refer to ‘ECU email etiquette’ (below)
to guide your communication. Questions of a personal nature, such as notification of illness, sharing
personal learning requirements or issues, should be emailed to your lecturer, from your ECU student email
account. All other questions should be posted on Blackboard > Discussion Board.

ECU email etiquette

At ECU, we only communicate with you via your ECU student email account. If you wish to email your
Lecturer, you must use your ECU student email account. Please make sure you check this email account
regularly (at least once a week) or consider forwarding your student emails to an account you access
regularly. Your lecturer receives many emails each day and teaches more than one unit, so please ensure
your message contains the following:

1. A subject that contains the unit code, and identifies the nature of your query or request.
2. Any previous messages, if your email is part of an ongoing email exchange.
3. Address your lecturer professionally, by name and title.
4. Use concise and polite language.

HST6337 2018.1 Communicable Disease 3

 5. Insert a signature at the end of your email that contains:
a. Your name in full as it appears in SIMO;
b. Your student number; and
c. The campus you attend, or indicate if you are an off-campus student.
In normal circumstance your lecturer will reply within two working days.

Online communication expectations

Networking with other students; asking questions to clarify understanding; responding to questions asked by
other students; debating different perspectives; and sharing articles or other information you discover
throughout your studies, are all important parts of learning. To enable you to ‘discuss’ the unit content with
other students or to ask questions about the assessments, etc., an electronic Discussion Board is available on
the Blackboard site for this unit. It is your responsibility to check the discussion board at least once a week
via Blackboard > Discussion Board. If you are not sure how to find, or how to use the Discussion Board, ask
(or email) your lecturer for help.

When using the discussion boards, you must display the normal courtesies of professional communication.
Please refer to ‘ECU Discussion Board Etiquette’ (below) to guide your communication with other students.
The discussion boards are monitored and postings deemed unprofessional, inappropriate and/or unrelated
to the unit content will be removed.

Please ensure your online communications follow these guidelines:

 Be polite;
 Use correct spelling and grammar;
 Do not write using capital letters (this can be interpreted as SHOUTING);
 Avoid exotic fonts or colours;
 Be concise;
 Be respectful of different perspectives;
 Avoid responding when you are feeling angry;
 Do not disclose personal contact details; and
 Take the plunge and get involved in the discussions.

Teaching and Learning

Key activities
 Seminar (3 hours per week)
 Reading (2 hours per week)
 Online communications (1 hour per week)
 Assignment work (3-4 hours per week)

To assist you with planning your time, please consider the following:
1. This unit will require a study commitment from you of approximately 10 hours per week;

HST6337 2018.1 Communicable Disease 4

 2. Use the Study Schedule to guide your progress through the learning activities and assessment tasks
this semester;
3. Check your ECU student email regularly;
4. Stay in touch with your classmates regularly, via Blackboard > Discussion Board;
5. Plan ‘rigid’ study times in your weekly schedule and consider allocating separate times for reading,
learning activities, assignment research and discussion.

Active learning
Studying a university-level course requires you to take an active role in what you are learning. To get the
most out of your time at ECU, you should engage with and actively participate in your units and also to take
responsibility for your own learning.

On-campus students
If you are enrolled as an on-campus student you will need to attend a weekly seminar (3 hours), which will
be divided into a lecture (45 mins) and a tutorial (1.5 – 2 hours), with a ~15-minute break between the two.
It is important that you attend class every week, arrive punctually and participate constructively and
professionally. You will find it beneficial to complete the associated reading prior to attending class, to give
you some understanding of the topic and improve your confidence with sharing your ideas during class.
Learning materials and resources will be available on the Blackboard site for this unit, to assist you with your
studies.

Online students
If you are enrolled as an online (off-campus) student, you will find your learning materials on Blackboard and
you can progress through the modules at your own pace. It is important that you are proactive and self-
motivated with your learning as an online student, making sure you commit to your studies at regular times
every week to ensure success. You are encouraged to engage with other students via Blackboard >
Discussion forums, asking and answering one another’s questions, and sharing different perspectives and
engaging in your studies.

Live tutorials
Many online units offer ‘Live’ tutorial sessions, where you can ask questions in real-time. You will need a
headset with microphone, preferably with a USB connection, plus a reliable Internet connection, to
participate in these sessions. Live tutorials for off-campus students will be negotiated during the semester if
there is sufficient demand.

English language proficiency

English language skills are critical for success at university and in your future employment. Employers want
graduates who are competent and confident communicators, with strong English language proficiency. The
ECU minimum standard for written ELP, which all students should demonstrate by graduation, is at least
moderate proficiency in sentence structure as well as word use.

HST6337 2018.1 Communicable Disease 5

You will receive feedback on your ELP when you submit an ECU Assignment Cover Sheet with your
assessments. Page 2 of the cover sheet has an ELP marking guide, designed to give you an indication of your
skill development, and your assessments will assess and provide feedback on your communication skills.

You can obtain assistance with improving your English language skills by attending one of the Academic Skills
Centre > Writing Workshops, or by making an appointment to see an Academic Learning Consultant. Please
visit Blackboard > Communities > Academic Skills Centre for workshop registrations or to find the contact
details for the Academic Learning Consultant for your course.

Unit and Teaching Evaluation (UTEI)

At the end of the semester, you will be requested to complete the UTEI online survey. This survey will ask
questions about your level of satisfaction with the unit, your lecturer and tutor. Your feedback is needed to
help us ensure the quality of our courses.

We endeavour to use the feedback from UTEI surveys to refine the quality of the unit when it is next run. In
fact, the unit as it is running this semester, has been modified in the following ways:
 A number of short videos to support off campus students

Participation and your feedback are anonymous and confidential.

Readings
There is no prescribed textbook for this unit. There are a number of text books however that are important to
access for essential reading materials during this unit. These include:

Hawker, J., Begg, N., Blair, I., Reintjes, F., Weinberg, J., & Ekdahl, K. (2012). Communicable disease control
and health protection handbook (3rd ed.). Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.
Ebook available-read online though library.

Lashley, F., & Durham, J. D. (Eds.) (2007). Emerging infectious diseases (2nd ed.). NY: Springer.
Ebook available- read online via the library.

Webber, R. (2012). Communicable diseases a global perspective (4th ed.). Sydney: CABI. A hard copy of the
2012 version available in library. A 2004 version is available as an ebook.

Readings and resources are available within the Blackboard site for this unit, via the Reading List link.

In addition, the ECU library holds a large range of resources on this subject. You may wish to view the ECU
Library Guides by Subject (opens in new window) for additional library materials available to assist you with
your studies.

HST6337 2018.1 Communicable Disease 6

Key Dates
 Census and academic penalty withdrawal dates (opens in new window) are available via the ECU
Student Portal > Dates & Events > Withdrawal Dates.

 UTEI feedback opens during Week 12 of the study semester.

Assessment Due date and time Value Mandatory

to pass
Assessment 1 Exercise: Online Wiki Monday 2 April 2018, midnight AWST 30% No
Assessment 2 Assignment: Outbreak Monday 21 May 2018, midnight AWST 60% No
response plan
Assessment 3 Reflection: Written Monday 28 May 2018, midnight AWST 10% No
reflection
Times quoted are Australian Western standard times (AWST).

Assessment Information

Assessment 1 – Online Wiki

Weighting 30%
Format Minimum 10 references per person
Online wiki -> Blackboard
Each member of the group to contribute
Due Date and time Week 6, Monday 2 April 2018
How to Submit Electronically via Blackboard > Groups > Wiki
Learning Outcomes  Evaluate strategies aimed at reducing the spread of communicable diseases.
 Analyse communicable disease research and associated risk assessments.
 Examine local and global trends in communicable diseases and their
distribution
Topic Your assigned disease group topic
Instructions Assignment instructions will be posted Blackboard > Assessment 1
Marking Criteria Please refer to Blackboard > Assessment > Assessment 1
Feedback Feedback will be available via Blackboard > My Grades.

HST6337 2018.1 Communicable Disease 7

Assessment 2 – Outbreak Response Plan
Weighting 60%
Format Approximately 15 pages + appendices
Word (or similar) digital document.
Your document should be formatted with 1.5 line spacing.
You should include the ECU Cover Sheet at the start of your submission.
Due Date and time Week 12, Monday 21 May 2018
How to Submit Electronically via Blackboard > Assessment 2 folder
Learning Outcomes  Evaluate strategies aimed at reducing the spread of communicable diseases.
 Examine the roles of the World Health Organization and other agencies such
as the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) government, and the wider
community in the management of risks associated with the spread of
communicable diseases.
 Analyse communicable disease research and associated risk assessments.
 Quantify and articulate risks associated with the distribution of diseases via
various routes and vectors. Analyse the wider international implications of
communicable disease control.
 Examine local and global trends in communicable diseases and their
distribution
Topic Your assigned disease group topic
Instructions Assignment instructions will be posted Blackboard > Assessment 2
Marking Criteria Please refer to Blackboard > Assessment > Assessment 2 Marking Guidelines/Rubric
Feedback Feedback will be available via Blackboard > My Grades.

Assessment 3 – Written reflection

Weighting 10%
Format 2 – 3 pages (template provided)
Word (or similar) digital document.
Your document should be formatted with 1.5 line spacing.
You should include the ECU Cover Sheet at the start of your submission.
Due Date and time Week 13, Monday 28 May 2018
How to Submit Electronically via Blackboard > Assessment 3 folder
Learning Outcomes  Evaluate strategies aimed at reducing the spread of communicable diseases.
Topic Written reflection
Instructions Assignment instructions will be posted Blackboard > Assessment 3
Marking Criteria Please refer to Blackboard > Assessment > Assessment 3 Marking Guidelines/Rubric
Feedback Feedback will be available via Blackboard > My Grades.

HST6337 2018.1 Communicable Disease 8

All assessments, excluding those completed under supervised conditions, may, at the Unit Coordinator’s
discretion, be extended to require an oral examination to clarify the written submission. The oral
examination will normally be held in person with the Unit Coordinator but may be conducted by telephone
or other means at the Unit Coordinator’s discretion. The oral examination will be conducted as soon as
possible after the assessment but may be deferred if the student is unable to attend and can provide
supporting evidence. The oral examination will be able to override the original assessment of the written
submission. Failure to attend for an oral examination, if requested, will result in a mark of zero for the
assessment.

Requesting an assessment extension

There may be instances that are unexpected and beyond your control that may adversely impact on your
capacity to submit an assessment item by the due date and time. For this reason, ECU has a process that
enables students to apply for an extension to the due date for an assessment item (other than an end-of-
semester exam) up to a maximum of one week past the original due date.

The application must be in writing on the Application for Extension form, available at
http://intranet.ecu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/20025/assign_ext.pdf (opens in new window) and
must set out the grounds on which deferral is sought. This request must be submitted to the lecturer/tutor
before the due date.

Late applications will not be considered and the lecturer/tutor’s decision on an application will be final. If
you require an additional extension that is longer than one week past the original due date, then you must
reapply to your lecturer, who will seek approval from the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning).

Valid and invalid grounds for extensions

Applications for an extension to a due date will normally be made on the following grounds and students
must include supporting documentation/evidence:
 Ill health or injury;
 Compassionate grounds;
 Representation in sporting activities at a national or international level;
 Representation in significant cultural activities;
 Employment related intrastate, interstate and overseas travel;
 Special consideration granted to student as detailed on an ECU Learning and Assessment Plan (LAP);
 Australian Defensive Service commitments; and/or
 Other special grounds considered appropriate by the Lecturer.

The following factors will NOT normally be considered grounds for an extension of an assessment:
 Routine demands of employment;
 Stress or anxiety normally associated with course work;
 Routine financial support needs;
 Lack of knowledge of the requirements of academic work;
 Difficulties with English language;
 Scheduled anticipated changes of address, moving home etc;

HST6337 2018.1 Communicable Disease 9

  Demands of sport (unless the student is registered in ECU's elite athlete program), clubs, social or
extra-curricular activity other than those specified above;
 Recreational travel (domestic or international);
 Planned events such as weddings, birthday parties etc; or
 Misreading the due date, sleeping in, forgetting etc.

Students who submit an assessment after the due date but within five working days will be penalized five
per cent of the maximum marks available for that assessment per business day it is late. Assessments items,
that are more than five working days late, will automatically be awarded a mark of zero.

Academic Conduct

Academic integrity
Edith Cowan University places importance upon academic integrity. Academic best practice requires you to
respect and acknowledge all material and ideas drawn from other sources, and to correctly reference the
material and ideas of others to maintain your academic honesty. Breaches of academic integrity are termed
academic misconduct is unacceptable in any form, including unauthorised collaboration; cheating in
examinations; theft of other student’s work; collusion; inadequate and incorrect referencing; and plagiarism.

Academic misconduct is dealt with in accordance with University Rules: Academic Misconduct Rules
(Students) (421 KB) (opens in new window).

Referencing
ECU has strict rules on plagiarism, which means all sources must be accompanied by correctly cited in-text
and end-text references. Even if you write using your own words, you must acknowledge the source of your
information using correctly presented, in-text citations.

ECU uses the American Psychological Association (APA) (6th edition) referencing style. For details about
referencing and the required format, refer to the ECU Library Guide for Referencing (opens in new window)
select the APA Style Central link to login to the APA referencing guide.

ECU student charter

As an ECU student you have rights as well as responsibilities. Please familiarise yourself with the ECU
Student Charter available on-line: http://intranet.ecu.edu.au/student/my-studies/rules-policy/student-
charter (opens in new window) to ensure you are aware of your responsibilities as a student at ECU.

Occupational safety and health

Please consider the health and safety of yourself and others with whom you study with and your home office
and environments where you study. Any group tasks need to be undertaken with the interests of all
involved, ensuring the culture of respect and safe working would be similar to what would be undertaken in
a workplace and community setting.

HST6337 2018.1 Communicable Disease 10

ECU is a smoke free campus
ECU is proud to have led the move to smoke-free university campuses in WA and Australia. ECU’s smoke-
free policy was established in 2012 to promote the health of staff, students and visitors. Smoking is not
permitted on any ECU campus and this applies 24 hours a day seven days a week. In accordance with the
ECU Smoke-Free University Guidelines (#4.4) "Employees observing other employees, contractors, visitors or
students smoking on University grounds should advise them that they are smoking in a prohibited area and
request them to move off ECU property".

Getting started
After reading this document, you will be ready to begin your studies in this unit. To begin, please familiarise
yourself with the Blackboard site for this unit. Best wishes for an enjoyable semester of learning.

Note: All links in this document have been checked and were correct at the start of semester. If you find any
broken links or errors within this document, please notify your Unit Coordinator.

HST6337 2018.1 Communicable Disease 11

 Study schedule

Semester Date Topic Activities & Assessments Due

Week starts
Monday
Self-introduction via
1 26/2/18 Welcome, introductions, study planning
Blackboard > Discussion Board
Module 1 Introduction to Communicable Disease
2 5/3/18
Topic 1 Introduction and history
Module 1 Introduction to Communicable Disease
3 12/3/18 Assign group topics
Topic 2 Epidemiology and surveillance
Module 1 Introduction to Communicable Disease
4 19/3/18
Topic 3 Transmission and control
Module 1 Introduction to Communicable Disease
5 26/3/18
Topic 4 Outbreak response and investigation
Module 2 Contemporary issues in disease control
Assessment 1 – Online wiki
6 2/4/18 Topic 1 Organisations concerned with communicable
due
disease control
Module 2 Contemporary issues in disease control
7 9/4/18
Topic 2 Communicable diseases of global significance
16/4/18 Mid Semester Break
Module 2 Contemporary issues in disease control
8 23/4/18
Topic 3 Globalisation and communicable disease

9 30/4/18

Module 3 Emerging influences on communicable

Finalise and share individual
10 7/5/18 disease
sections of plan
Topic 1 Communicable disease and the environment
Module 3 Emerging influences on communicable
Consolidate tracked changes
11 14/5/18 disease
into your section
Topic 2 Medical advances and challenges
Module 3 Emerging influences on communicable
Assessment 2 – Outbreak
12 21/5/18 disease
response plan
Topic 3 Emerging and re-emerging diseases

13 28/5/18 Assessment 3 - Reflection

4/6/18 Study Week

11/6/18 Exams
18/6/18 Exams

HST6337 2018.1 Communicable Disease 12