Advanced Topics
MLAB-2238

Monday and Wednesday 8 - 9 AM.  Additional time as needed to complete exams and in class activities.

Office hours will posted on the schedule outside of the office in Drane Hall room 208.  Students will also be given a schedule of classes which includes the office hours of the instructor.

2 lec (2 Cr.) This course examines the integration of all areas of the clinical laboratory and correlates laboratory testing data with diagnostic applications and pathophysiology using critical thinking skills. A review of the MLT curriculum is conducted to prepare students for the certification exam. A passing grade is required on the exit exam to complete the course. This course is taken during the last semester of the program.

Upon completion of the core curriculum, students are expected to demonstrate competence in all of the core objectives listed in the college catalog. The overall content of this course is designed to enhance skills in each of the following core objectives.

• Critical Thinking Skills - to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
• Communication Skills - to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication
• Empirical and Quantitative Skills - to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions
• Social Responsibility - to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
• Personal Responsibility - ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision making
• Teamwork - to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal.

MLT outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

           1         Analyze clinical symptoms and lab results to determine pathophysiology or clinical condition. (measured as assignment or quiz)    

           2          Correctly perform laboratory math calculations (measured as test questions)

           3          Interpret quality control data (measured as test question)

           4          Graduates have reviewed MLT curriculum and are prepared to pass the certification exam.   (measured by exit exam)

If you are a student member for ASCP you may be able to get the book for $90.00.  Be sure to get the extended version.  You may also be able to get the optional app with it that allows you to view the questions on your phone or other device. 

This is the book you purchased as a freshmen and have used in all courses.  It will be heavily used in the Advanced Topics course. 

The code for this electronic certification exam review will be purchased through the Navarro College bookstore after arrangements have been made.

The course consists of 9 exams which cover the material in the curriculum.  These will be averaged for a grade that makes up 40% of grade.  An average grade of 75 or higher is required to receive a passing grade for the course.  A grade of 75 or higher is required on each exam.  Only two exams of the review course topic exams can be repeated if the grade is below a 75.

The course has an exit exam that consists of 20% of the grade.  Students must pass the exit exam with a grade of 75 or higher to pass the co

Twenty-six medtraining tutorials and exams are part of the course.  An average grade of 75 or higher is required to pass the course.  This material makes up 20% of the grade.

Other daily assignments consist of:

teaching a technique,   reading and providing short reports on 4 professional laboratory articles, writing a resume, and case studies.  An average grade of 75 or higher is required to receive a passing grade for the course.  These daily grades make up 10% of the course.

Many exams will be assigned from the medialab exam simulator review exams.  The exam average will make up 10% of the course grade.

A grade average of 75 or higher is required on both exams and other assignments to receive a passing grade for the course.

Grade criteria will conform to the established policy of Navarro College as stated in the College catalog: A=90-100%; B=80-89%; C=70-79%; D=60-69%; F=59% or below.

 Students are required to read the syllabus and the MLT Handbook and be familiar with the policies contained therein.

Grades  

 If a student receives a course grade below the passing grade (grade of C/less than 75) in two courses with a MLAB/PLAB prefix (dropping the course is considered not passing the course), the student will not be able to progress through the program.   The student must  reapply to the MLT program and be readmitted into the program before the student can continue the MLT program.  Stipulations may apply for readmission including repeating previous course work and/or other requirements.

Attendance & Preparation:  

                Students are expected to attend all class and lab sessions,   Students are expected to be seated and ready to begin class at the specified time.  If you must be late to class due to extraordinary circumstances, please quietly enter the room and take your seat.  However, if roll has already been conducted, you may remain on the roll of absentees for the day.

                Students are expected to be prepared for class.  This includes having completed and turned into the appropriate location assignments and all material that is due at the start of class. Material that is turned after that time is considered late.  Students are expected to study material covered  (or assigned) in class and be prepared to discuss or be tested on the material at the next class session.

                If a student is tardy more than three (3) classes or has more than 3 unexcused absences, the final averaged daily grade (which counts as a test grade) will be lowered by 1 point for each additional absence or tardy, unless special arrangements have been made.   Labs that are missed will likely receive a grade of zero.  

Late Work/Make-Up Exams:. Assignments are to be place in the appropriate tray in room 206 by the due date.  Assignments are due the next time class meets, unless other provisions have been made.  Late work will be docked 10 points.  Work not turned in by the 2nd class period will not be accepted and will receive a grade of zero, unless other provisions have been made. 

The CLSR/BOC exam can be rescheduled (taken the next day class meets) following and excused absence with permission of the instructor.     

Academic Integrity:   

Students are expected to do their own work at all times (lab work included). Cheating is a serious offense with serious consequences which may include any of the following:  a grade of zero, course failure, or removal from a program. 

1. The student is expected to meet all classes and labs as scheduled and to complete all assigned work at the prescribed time, unless other arrangements have been made.
2. It is the desire of the MLT program that students succeed in obtaining their academic goals.  A grade of 75 or higher is required for all MLT courses.  Failure to maintain the scholastic requirements will result in dismissal from the program.   Therefore when student performance is below the desired level, additional activities (assignments, review sessions, study groups, exams) may be assigned to individual students to help improve grades.   If the student does not satisfactorily complete the activities, the student may be dismissed from the program.

Affective Objectives: 

To succeed in the field of laboratory medicine other characteristics are also required (affective objectives/professional characteristics).  Demonstration of these objectives will be evaluated during lectures and student labs and will be part of the daily grade. Students not performing at acceptable levels in these areas and academic areas will be counseled concerning the deficiency.  A contract explaining what is required of the student to correct the deficiency may be assigned by the instructor. If the deficiency is not corrected, the student may be dismissed from the program

1   Demonstrate organization by completing required assignments in a timely manner (Measured by turning in of assignments and lab reports on time and by completing lab assignments in the time allotted). 

2  Interact cooperatively with others by sharing reagents and supplies and by completing group testing and projects. 

3  Be receptive to constructive criticism and apply it as positive information to improve in areas of weakness

4  Accept responsibility for errors or mistakes, recognizing limitations and solicit help when needed. 

5   Comply with standard protocol by following procedures without shortcuts. 

6      Demonstrate attention to detail by performing all tasks necessary to assure accurate results.

7      Demonstrate orderliness by leaving the work area clean and neat, and by replenishing supplies and reagents.

8      Demonstrate compliance to universal precautions and safety protocol by using appropriate personal protective equipment, cleaning spills and counters with bleach, discarding biohazard material in specified containers, handling hazardous materials appropriately.        

9   Interact as a team member by assisting other students when appropriate

10  Demonstrate punctuality by arriving on time and beginning work promptly. 

11  Demonstrate integrity by doing your own work (unless assigned as a group project) and by not  falsifying results. 

In addition to traditional lecture, Navarro College uses the Canvas Learning Management System to provide course materials and activities assigned by the instructor. Here is a video overview of Canvas:

To access Canvas:

(1) Go to: mync.navarrocollege.edu 
(2) Enter your User Name (MyNC ID) and Password
(3) Click on the Canvas icon and locate your course in your Canvas Dashboard.

Please note some courses will also use materials provided by the publisher and require the student to have an access code in order to complete assignments, activities, and exams. Please see the Materials section of this syllabus to determine if an access code will be necessary for this course.

Students are required to take final exams during the posted final exam week and should not make travel reservations or other plans which would require them to request a rescheduled final.  Requests to take final exams early, or at a time other than indicated on the final exam schedule, must be approved by the appropriate Executive Dean and are granted only in exceptional circumstances. Personal or family travel plans are not deemed as exceptional circumstances.

Students may choose to share personal information or experiences, as appropriate, in written assignments, class discussions, presentations, and conferences with instructors. While instructors and other college employees will strive to keep personal student information private, they are required to report information about sexual misconduct, childhood abuse, and criminal activity to the proper authorities. Students may speak to someone confidentially by contacting NorthSTAR Mobile Crisis at 1-800-260-8000 or the Navarro College Licensed Counselor at 903-875-7393.

College-level courses may include controversial, sensitive, and/or adult material. Students are expected to have the readiness for college-level rigor and content.

All Navarro College students are required to use their Navarro College email to correspond with instructors and other Navarro College personnel.

Students are expected to do their own work at all times. Cheating is a serious offense with serious consequences which may include any of the following:  a grade of zero, course failure, or removal from a program.

All students enrolled in classes at Navarro College shall follow the tenets of common decency and acceptable behavior conducive to a positive learning environment. Behavior deemed by the instructor to be disruptive may result in the student being dropped from the course.

The Course Syllabus and/or the Course Calendar may be changed as the term progresses at the discretion of the department and/or instructor.

Students are expected and required to have read the Student Handbook and to consult appropriate sections of the College Catalog for general academic information.

MyNC Single Sign-On:  https://mync.navarrocollege.edu/

The MyNC Single Sign-On page provides one-stop access to several student resources, such as the MyNC Portal, Canvas, Office365 (Student Email), and Self-Service.

For Login Instructions, please visit:

https://www.navarrocollege.edu/service-desk 

For Login Assistance, please contact:

OneStop Service Desk
Phone: (903) 875-7416
Email: [email protected]

Your privacy is extremely important.  Please DO NOT SHARE your account information with anyone.

Always include full name and date of birth, phone number, and valid email address when contacting the One-Stop Service Desk. Navarro College will not disclose sensitive account access information with anyone other than the student regardless of student’s age.

For Assistance with Canvas, please contact:

Matt Miller, Dean of Online Instruction
Phone: (903) 875-7422
Email: [email protected]

Although the instructor MAY withdraw a student from the class for insufficient participation the RESPONSIBILITY for dropping a class belongs to the student! Insufficient participation is defined as not logging in and completing assignments for the equivalent of two consecutive weeks.  If you are unable to complete the course, you should formally drop it.

• Additional information regarding attendance requirements is available in the Navarro College Catalog. https://navarrocollege.smartcatalogiq.com/2020-2021/Catalog
• You may drop this class by completing an online form. It is the student's responsibility to visit with his or her instructor concerning course status before submitting the required paperwork to the Office of Admissions and Records to drop this class. Additional information about dropping a class may be found in the Navarro College Catalog. https://navarrocollege.smartcatalogiq.com/2020-2021/Catalog/Academic-Policies-and-Information/Academic-Policies/Dropping-and-or-Adding-Courses
• Failure to withdraw by the deadline may result in your name remaining on the class roll, resulting in a grade of ‘F’ at the end of the semester. 
• A student who foresees educational issues related to pregnancy, postpartum recovery, or other physical or mental health matters is strongly encouraged to notify the College as soon as possible.  By doing so, the student and College personnel can collaborate and develop an appropriate plan for the continuation of the student's education.  Pre-planning when possible also may help with particular challenges a student faces while pregnant, when recovering from childbirth, or in response to a physical or mental health concern (e.g., missed classes, make-up work).  The choice to inform the College of any health concern is voluntary. A student is not required to share this information with the College. A student may choose to consult a College counselor or the Office of Disability Services before deciding whether or not to disclose any health-related information.
• If you are receiving financial aid grants or loans, you must ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE in all classes FROM THE FIRST CLASS DAY.  Do not drop or stop attending any class without consulting the Financial Aid Office. Changes in your enrollment level and/or failing grades may require you to repay financial aid funds.  
• All students receiving Veterans Administration (VA) benefits must notify the Veteran’s Certifying Official of any enrollment changes as soon as they are made. The Veterans Affairs benefit recipient needs to be aware that the VA may require repayment of all benefits received since the beginning of a semester for any course in which a “W” grade is received
• According to current Texas law, dropping a course may have serious academic consequences. Under most circumstances, a maximum of 6 courses may be dropped throughout the entire undergraduate degree program. Before you decide to withdraw from this or any other course, make sure you understand the consequences. For more information see the Office of the Registrar.

Academic Decorum: https://navarrocollege.smartcatalogiq.com/2020-2021/Catalog/Academic-Policies-and-Information/Academic-Policies/Classroom-Decorum

Includes:  Civility, Being a Successful Student, Classroom Decorum, Change of Grade, Grade Challenge Procedure, Academic Dishonesty, and User Responsibilities for IT Resources/Penalties for Violation of Technology Policy, Tobacco Use Policy

Academic Integrity: https://navarrocollege.smartcatalogiq.com/2020-2021/Catalog/Academic-Policies-and-Information/Academic-Policies/Academic-Dishonesty

College Catalog: https://navarrocollege.smartcatalogiq.com/2020-2021/Catalog

Campus Safety: https://www.navarrocollege.edu/campus-safety/index.html

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): https://www.navarrocollege.edu/handbook/student-records/student-records-family-rights-and-privacy-act.html

Student Rights and Responsibilities: https://www.navarrocollege.edu/handbook/students-rights-and-responsiblilities.html

Student Handbook:   http://navarrocollege.edu/handbook/

Bulldog Life: Learning. Living. Launching: https://navarrocollege.edu/handbook/bulldog-life/ 

Navarro College's Bulldog Life is a student success service to all students. Opportunities include Canvas courses, meaningful activities, Culture of Caring and travel opportunities. Bulldog Life is a self-guided experience. We know that every student is in a different stage in life. 

Counseling Services: https://www.navarrocollege.edu/counseling/index.html 

The Counseling Center is staffed by licensed counselors who provide brief counseling, assessment, referral, and crisis intervention services to currently-enrolled Navarro College students. The Navarro College Counseling Center is free, confidential, and available to all enrolled NC students.

Testing Center Hours and Contact Information: https://www.navarrocollege.edu/testing-center/testing-hours-contact.html

Online Proctored Testing Information: https://www.navarrocollege.edu/online-campus/online-testing.html

Library Services: https://www.navarrocollege.edu/library/index.html

Tutorial Services: https://www.navarrocollege.edu/learning-commons/index.html

NOTE: In addition to Navarro College tutoring services, students also have access to free 24/7 tutoring by visiting UpSwing (http://navarrocollege.upswing.io) and logging in to their UpSwing account.  If you're a new user, click NEW USER to create an account.

Disability Services: http://www.navarrocollege.edu/support-services/disability-services. 

It is the responsibility of the student to contact Navarro College Disability Services Office to request accommodations.

The instructor is committed to helping each student reach his/her academic potential and to providing every student equal opportunity to participate in and engage with the course.  In keeping with this commitment, effort has been made to develop accessible learning materials that provide equal access.  Please contact the instructor immediately if access to course materials is restricted due to a disability so the issue(s) can be resolved in a timely manner.

Student Support and Administrative Services: https://www.navarrocollege.edu/support-services/