DISCUSSION BOARD ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

Fall 2022 (possible 100 points total)

Click on the discussion board forum.  Click on the “Create a Thread” button on the next window to post your work.  When ready, click on the “Submit” button.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

• Communication Guidelines: Before posting in a forum, always make sure your post has no grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors. You may do this by copying and pasting the text into a Microsoft Word document, check it for errors, and then paste it on the forum.

 

• NO DUPLICATE ASSIGNMENT TOPICS/CASE STUDIES (i.e., If a group member writes about Gastritis, all other group members must select a different topic about which to write their case study).

 

• DO NOT COPY INFORMATION VERBATIM from sources. This assignment must be original work written in your own words.  No quoting paragraphs.  No citations.

 

• No recycling previous assignments (i.e., resubmitting a case study from a previous semester either your own or someone else’s). Assignments will be checked for plagiarism. Work deemed as plagiarized will receive a grade of zero.

 

• DO NOT WRITE LIKE YOU TEXT (i.e., u for the word you, etc.). Do not use contractions (e.g., don’t, isn’t). Write in paragraph form (indent); no outlines.  Do not use bullets, subtitles, numbers, etc. within your posts.  Grammar rules apply, correct spelling, punctuation, etc.  Proofread your work.

 

• Respect other’s opinions. Do not criticize their work when replying to their case study post (Part 2 Replies).  Grading is the responsibility of your academic coach and instructor.

 

• You will work in a group setting but everyone is responsible for their own discussion board posts and their own case study. All work will be graded on an individual basis, not as a group.

 

• All work must be posted on the correct (GRADED) discussion board forum by the deadline stated in the instructions. Work posted on the Muddiest Point (NON-GRADED) forum will not be graded. 

 

• All work must be submitted only once as only your first post will be graded.  Proofreading and editing is the responsibility of each student and should be done before work is submitted.

PART 1:  GROUP INTRODUCTIONS POST:  Due by noon Tuesday, September 27, 2022.

(5 points).  Original post must consist of 200+ WORDS. 

Access the Part I Group Introductions forum.  Post a personal introduction for your academic coach and group members to read.  Include the following:

• Your name and list your interests related to your chosen career/field of study. What intrigued you about it?

You are welcome (i.e., not mandatory; grade points will not be earned nor deducted) to reply to include a picture of yourself in your post.  If you choose to do so, please make sure the picture is one that is tasteful and appropriate.  Examples of acceptable pictures are ones that depict you working and/or volunteering in a medical field or at your current job, you with whomever/whatever motivated you to enter the medical field.  You may also include your pet(s).

• Experience you already possess in your career/field of study (e.g, internships, volunteerism, etc.)
• write a brief synopsis about a recent news story or article about a medical topic which is of interest to you (e.g., vaping related deaths, benefits of weightlifting, etc.).  Why did you find the topic interesting?  What about it is important for your group members to consider in connection to the medical field and/or medical terminology?
• Reply to two group members’ posts.
• Also, review the list of topics below. Choose one about which to research and write a case study (preferred/first choice).  You are to teach your group members about this topic.  Select a second option (back up/second choice).  Indicate your choice of topics in your introduction (not in the Muddiest Point DB).  Be specific.  Once your topic choices are posted in your introduction and/or approved, you cannot change them. 

Example: “I would like to write my case study about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.  My second preference would be to write my case study about Emphysema.”

PLEASE NOTE:  Selection is on a first come, first served basis.  Therefore, choose your topics promptly as your group’s academic coach must approve your selection for you to be able to proceed with the next part of the DB assignment.  If your topic is not one from the list, it will not be approved. Check the Muddiest Point DB forum to learn if your academic coach approved your topic. 

TOPICS (Select your preferred topic as your first choice, and another topic as your second choice):

Addison’s disease; Anorexia nervosa; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); Aplastic Anemia; Asperger’s syndrome

Bipolar disorder; Bulimia nervosa

Celiac disease; Cerebral palsy; Coronary artery disease; Crohn’s disease; Cystic fibrosis

Dementia; Dilated cardiomyopathy; Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD); Dyslexia

Emphysema; Epilepsy; End-stage renal disease (ERD)

Fibromyalgia; Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

Gastrointestinal cancer; Gout; Grave’s disease; Guillain-Barré syndrome

Hashimoto’s disease; Hepatitis C; Hemophilia; Hodgkin’s Lymphoma; Huntington’s disease

Irritable bowel syndrome; insomnia

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Legal blindness; Leukemia; Lung cancer

Malignant hypertension; Ménière’s disease; Multiple Sclerosis; Moderate traumatic brain injury

Narcolepsy; Necrotizing Fasciitis

Obsessive-Compulsive disorder; Osteoarthritis; Osteoporosis

Paget’s disease; Persistent depressive disorder; Phenylketonuria; Prostate Cancer; Pulmonary fibrosis

Reynaud’s disease

Schizophrenia; Spinal Cord Injury at C-4; Spina bifida; Systemic lupus erythematosus

Ulcerative colitis

 

PART 2 DB Forum:  CASE STUDY (Original post): (70 points).  Each case study post must consist of 650+ WORDS.  Case Study due by noon, Tuesday, October 18, 2022. No late assignments will be accepted as the drop box will close as scheduled and will not be re-opened. 

Important!  Submit your case study in the Assignment Drop Box which will be posted in Unit 2.  Follow the instructions listed on the drop box.  Case studies will be graded based only on what is submitted through the assignment drop box which is linked to the BbL grade book.  Post your work early enough that if you encounter technical problems, you will have time to call the COLTT for assistance. 

Step 1:  Research your approved medical topic.  Type your case study as a Microsoft Word document.  If the assignment document is typed in another format and/or cannot be opened for review it will not be graded. Follow the format listed below and include the subsequent information in each case study:

• Provide a creative, informative title to your case study. Include that same title in the subject line of your DB post.

 

• Begin your post by addressing this question: Specifically, what about that topic (one major identifying point about it; not the book chapter) interested you?  A personal experience, etc.?  Explain in detail.

 

• Include information about each of the following as part of your case study. No copying information verbatim from sources.

 

• Include eight or more different medical terms in your case study, and underline and bold them.

NOTE:  medical terms must consist of those which pertain to the function and structure of the body, pathology, diagnosis, and/or treatment of the disease/disorder about which you selected to write (e.g, diaphysis, pyelonephritis, fenestration).  Basic terms as sign, symptom, disease, treatment, diagnosis, your title/topic choice, or word parts (e.g., dys-) will not count as medical terms.

 

1. Pathology – research the pathology of the disease/disorder about which you chose to write. Provide the name of the disease/disorder and explain it in detail. What is it? Pathogens?  What causes it? Epidemiology?  Who does it affect?  (e.g., breast cancer.  Does it primarily affect women, or are a large number of men also affected?)

 

1. Signs and Symptoms: List and define the signs and symptoms (these are different; they do not mean the same thing) of the disease/disorder. How does each affect the body?

 

1. Medical Specialists: Identify and describe two types of medical specialists (other than a primary care physician) to which the patient should/must be referred (cardiologist, neurologist, etc.)?  Define/discuss each in detail (e.g, explain difference between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon or a vascular surgeon).  Explain why the patient should be referred to them.  What type of treatment would each provide?

 

1. Diagnostic Tests and Treatment: Identify and define two major diagnostic tests used to properly diagnose the disease/disorder (e.g., angiogram, MRI).  (Refer to chapter 15 which provides a wealth of information.)  Explain why each test would help properly diagnose the patient.

 

Identify and define two medically approved treatments that address the disease/disorder (e.g., medication, rehabilitation/therapy, etc.)

 

1. Prognosis and Psychosocial Issues: Identify and explain in detail the probable prognosis (outcome). What are some related psychosocial issues? List three (3). Thoroughly explain who and what each affect and how. 

 

Definition from Dictionary.com:  Psychosocial (adjective)   1. of or relating to processes or factors that are both social and psychological in origin.

 

Examples:  Recovery from alcoholism.  Related psychosocial issues would be legal ramifications if the patient has been arrested for DUI.  Financially, this affects the family due to all the costs and perhaps loss of work if there was a lengthy incarceration.  The patient would most likely need to attend support group meetings.  Again, this affects the family as it would affect their schedules.  The family, as a whole, must consider therapy.

Physical disability – examples of related psychosocial issues are associated costs (medical, special clothing, assistive technology as wheelchairs, etc.); society’s belief in “body beautiful” and often not recognizing that someone with a physical impairment or disfigurement is beautiful.  Role changes due to the illness/injury (e.g., head of household and earner of majority of income can no longer work.  How would that affect the family?).

1. Identify and define two forms of assistive technology (AT) that a patient diagnosed with the disease/disorder about which you are writing can use. AT refers to prosthetics, etc. Explain these in detail; elaborate.  State the pros and cons of each (e.g., cost, user friendly, etc.).

 

Do not simply list generic AT such as a walker or wheelchair.  Research and list AT specific to the medical condition about which you are writing, and which is specific to the patient.  There is a form of AT for each medical condition listed in the instructions for Part 1 of this assignment.

 

• Research sources:
  • Write a detailed description about the limitations (what you found as not being very useful), and strengths (what you found to be very useful) about each of the reference sources which you used for your case study. Regarding the website, describe its content and usability.

 

Consider the following:  Why did you rely on those references?  Would you recommend them to someone who was diagnosed with the disease/disorder about which you wrote your case study to help educate them on their diagnosis?  If so, why would you recommend it?  Justify your use of the references you chose; including the periodicals (e.g., consider the validity of the author’s study; was the information specific and easy to comprehend; author’s expertise regarding the topic about which you are writing; etc.)

 

Example:  If my case study dealt with someone who was dealing with an addiction, I would list a website as Hazelden, or Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations (SAMHSA) as one of my references because either is a primary source of information on addictions.

Therefore, I would end my case study by referring to the website I used and describe the features about it which I found to be very informative and useful (e.g., information was innovative and current; provided information on alternative therapies, etc.), and describe features about it which were less helpful (e.g., website was not user friendly).

• At the end of your case study, type the word REFERENCES. List in APA format, the two (2) different resources, one periodical and one website, which you used in your research.  You may list two periodicals but cannot list two websites.  Periodicals must be those which have been peer-reviewed and are listed in journals (e.g., JAMA).  You may also list more than two resources, however, will only earn credit for the two which are required.  Search UTRGV library database.  Websites must be those as WebMD, American Medical Association, etc.  If in doubt about the appropriateness of your reference, refer to your academic coach for advice.

 

This assignment must be written in your own words.  No quoting paragraphs, etc.  External sources only; do not list your textbook, no Blogs, no Wikipedia, etc.  No in-text citations.  APA 7^th edition for Reference list only.

 

 

**NOTE:  Refer to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA Manual), the Purdue OWL website (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/), and/or to your group’s academic coach for assistance with APA format.

 

Example of APA format for an online document:

Author, A. A.  (200). Title of work.  Retrieved month day, year from source.

 

Example of APA format for a periodical; journal article having three to six authors:

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C.  (1994). Title of article.

Title of Periodical, xx, xxx-xx.

 

 

 

 

Follow the template listed on the following two pages to type your case study addressing the information listed on the previous pages. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title

Introduction

Begin paragraph here.  Type double-spaced using Times New Roman 12 font.  Type your case study as a Word document.  Remember that only one submission attempt in the assignment drop box is allowed.

Pathology

Begin paragraph here.  Notice that each paragraph is indented.  Continue typing your information in this format throughout the document.

Signs and Symptoms

Begin paragraph here.

Medical Specialists

Begin paragraph here.

Diagnostic Tests and Treatment

Begin paragraph here.

Prognosis and Psychosocial Issues

Begin paragraph here.

Assistive Technology (AT)

Begin paragraph here.

Research Sources

Begin paragraph here.

 

References (list these on a separate page as shown here)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT REMINDER:  Part 2 Reply Posts DB forum will open at 5:00 AM, Wednesday, October 19, 2022.  Post your case study in the forum by Tuesday, October 25^th.         

Step 2:  REPLY POSTS (comments) (15 points).  Due by noon, Tuesday, November 1, 2022.    

 

Read the case studies posted by your group members.  Select two different ones to which you will comment/reply IN DEPTH.  Reply posts must each consist of 200+ words.  Do not copy group members’ posts.  There must be informative dialogue.

 

In each reply post…

• comment on two specific points which you found interesting/caught your attention.

 

• List what you agreed and disagreed with about the post, and explain why; (i.e., describe why you think what you do and provide facts to support your opinions.)

 

• address the following about each post to which you replied: What did you find most useful about the information the author posted?  How would you apply the information you reviewed?

 

 

Part 3 DB Forum:  REFLECTIONS: (10 points).  Will open at 5:00 AM, Wednesday, November 9^th.  Reflection posts due by noon, Tuesday, November 15^th.  Begin a separate post in the Part 3 Reflections discussion board forum.  Title it Reflections.  In 250+ words

• Share something that you learned in completing this DB assignment (e.g, your ability to work in an online group setting, a disease/disorder, etc.)
• List and describe in detail one case study which you read but to which you did not reply.
• What interested you about it? Why?
• What did you enjoy about the DB assignment?
• What have you enjoyed about this course thus far?
• Consider a medical term which you saw and/or heard (TV, radio, work, etc.) and which you did not understand before beginning this course. List and define it and explain how you applied the rules of medical terminology to understand the meaning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Clarify:

 

Week	Deliverables	Deadline
Unit 1:  Week 4 September 21 – 27 (Wed.-Tues.)	Part I Discussion Board Assignment – Group Introductions & replies to two group members	*Due by noon, Tuesday, September 27th
Unit 1:  Week 5 Sept. 28 – October 4th (Wed.-Tues.)	Part I Group Introductions – Coaches approve topics.  Check the chart of approved topics posted in the Muddiest Point DB forum to verify that your topic was approved.
Unit 2:  Week 6 October 5 – 11 (Wed.-Tues.)	Part II Discussion Board Assignment continued – Begin work on Case Study (original post); Conduct research on your approved topic.
Unit 2:  Week 7 October 12 – 18 (Wed.-Tues.)	Part II Discussion Board Assignment continued – Finalize and submit Case Study (original post)  Submit via Assignment Drop Box	*Due by noon, Tuesday, October 18th
Unit 2:  Week 8 October 19 – 25 (Wed.-Tues.)	Part 2 DB Reply Posts forum will open on Wednesday, October 19th      Post a copy of your case study in that forum by noon, Tuesday, October 25th.       Begin reading your group members’ posts.	Due by noon, Tuesday, October 25th
Unit 2:  Week 9 Oct. 26 – November 1 (Wed.-Tues.)	Access your group’s Part 2 DB Reply Posts forum. Read your group members’ case studies. Select two about which you will comment. Post comments/replies in the Part 2 DB Reply Posts forum.	*Due by noon, Tuesday, November 1st
Unit 3:  Week 11 November 9 – 15 (Wed.-Tues.)	Part 3 Reflections post – Access your group’s Part 3 DB Reflections forum. Post Part 3 DB assignment.	*Due by noon, Tuesday, November 15th

 

 

Part 1 Group Introduction = 1 post (up to 5 points may be earned)

 

Part 2,   Step 1:  Case Study = 1 assignment submitted in drop box (up to 70 points may be earned)

Step 2:  Post copy of your case study in the Part 2 DB forum.  Reply to two different group

members = 2 posts (up to 15 points may be earned)

 

Part 3 Reflection = 1 post (up to 10 points may be earned)

 

 

Case Study Rubric Breakdown of Points – Fall 2022

Part 1:  Group Introduction Post Due by noon, Tuesday, 9/27/22.  No Initial Posts will be accepted after this due date.  Thoroughly completed all:	Point Value (Total 5)	Your Points
·         Introduction consisted of 200+ words. ·         Less than 3 misspellings.  Did not use contractions.	1.5
·         Your name and list your interests related to your chosen career/field of study.  What intrigued you about it? ·         Experience you already possess in your career/field of study (e.g, internships)	.5   .5
·         write a brief synopsis about a recent news story or article about a medical topic which is of interest to you (e.g., vaping related deaths, benefits of weightlifting, etc.).  Why did you find the topic interesting?  What about it is important for your group members to consider in connection to the medical field and/or medical terminology?	1
·         Replied to two group members.	1
·         Selected two case study topics	.5
Total points earned for this post

 

Part 2:  Case Study – Initial Post Due in assignment drop box by noon, Tuesday, 10/18/22   Thoroughly completed all:	Point Value (Total 70)	Your Points
·         Case Study consisted of 650+ words.	3
·         Provided a creative, informative case study title	1
·         Did not use contractions. ·         Written in paragraph form (indented); no outlines.  Followed format.  Did not use bullets, numbers, etc. in posts. ·         This assignment written in student’s own words.  Original work.  No quoting paragraphs.	3
·         Three or less misspellings, grammatical errors, errors in punctuation	4
·         Began post by listing one major point of interest about topic/pathology.	1
·         Included 8 or more different medical terms in case study; underline and bold them.  (No credit for basic terms.)	4
Pathology – Provide the name of the disease/disorder and explain it in detail. ·         What is it? Pathogens?  What causes it? Epidemiology? ·         Who does it affect?  (e.g., breast cancer.  Does it primarily affect women, or are many men also affected?)	6
Signs and Symptoms: ·         Identify and define the signs and symptoms (these are different; they do not mean the same thing) of the disease/disorder. ·         How does each affect the body?	9
·         Medical Specialists:  Identify and describe two types of medical specialists other than a primary care physician (family practitioner) to which the patient should/must be referred (cardiologist, neurologist, etc.)?  Define/discuss each in detail (e.g, explain difference between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon or a vascular surgeon). ·         Explain why the patient should be referred to them. ·         What type of care will they provide?	7
Diagnostic Tests and Treatment: ·         Identify and define two major diagnostic tests used to properly diagnose the disease/disorder (e.g., angiogram, MRI). ·         Explain why each test would help properly diagnose the patient. ·         Identify and define two medically approved treatments that address the disease/disorder (e.g., medication, rehabilitation/therapy, etc.)	8
Prognosis and Psychosocial Issues: ·         Identify and explain the probable prognosis (outcome). ·         What are some related psychosocial issues?  Describe three (3).  Thoroughly explain who and what each affect and how.	7
Assistive technology (AT) ·         Identify and define two forms of AT that a patient diagnosed with the disease/disorder about which you are writing can use (walkers, prosthetics, etc.) How would these help the patient? ·         State the pros and cons of each. Explain these in detail.	7
Research Sources: o   External sources only; do not list your textbook, no blogs, no Wikipedia, etc.  No in-text citations.        APA for Reference list only.   ·         Write, in specific detail, a description about the limitations (what you found as not being very useful), and strengths (what you found to be very useful) about each of the reference sources which you used for your case study.  Regarding the website, describe its content and usability. Consider the following:  Why did you rely on those references?  Would you recommend them to someone who was diagnosed with the disease/disorder about which you wrote your case study to help educate them on their diagnosis?  If so, why would you recommend it?  Justify your use of the references you chose; including the periodicals (e.g., consider the validity of the author’s study; was the information specific and easy to comprehend; author’s expertise regarding the topic about which you are writing; etc.)   ·         At the end of your case study, type the word REFERENCES.  List in APA format, two (2) resources which you used in your research.  You may list two periodicals but cannot list two websites.  Periodicals must be peer-reviewed & listed in journals (e.g., JAMA).  Websites must be those as WebMD, American Medical Association, etc.	6                           4
Total points earned for this post

 

Case Study: Reply Posts Due in Part 2 DB forum by noon, Tuesday, 11/1/22 Thoroughly completed all:	Value (Total 15)	Your Points
Posted case study on Part 2 DB forum by 10/25/22 deadline	1
•Replied to 2 different case study posts submitted by 2 different authors.	2
•Each reply post consisted of 200+ words. Original work.  Paraphrasing acceptable. There was informative dialogue.	3
Written in paragraph form (indented); no outlines, bullets, etc. Did not use contractions.	2
Three or less misspellings, grammatical errors, errors in punctuation	2
•In each reply post, commented on 2 specific points which author wrote & which reviewer found interesting.	2
•In each reply post, reviewer stated what they agreed and disagreed about the post and explained why.	2
•In each reply post, reviewer addressed how they would apply the information they reviewed.	1
Total points earned for this post

 

Part 3: Reflection Post Due in Part 3 DB forum by noon, Tuesday, 11/15/22	Point Value (Total 10)	Your Points
•Reflection post consisted of 250+ words.	1
•Less than 3 misspellings, grammatical errors, errors in punctuation Did not use contractions Written in paragraph form (indented); no outlines, bullets, etc.	3
• Student shared something they learned in completing the DB assignment (e.g, a disease or disorder; ability to work in an online group setting, etc.)	1
·         List and describe in detail one case study which you read but to which you did not reply. ·         What interested you about it?  Why?	2
·         What did you enjoy about the DB assignment?	1
·         What have you enjoyed about this course thus far?	1
·         Consider a medical term which you saw and/or heard (TV, radio, work, etc.) and which you did not understand before beginning this course.  List and define it and explain how you applied the rules of medical terminology to understand the meaning.	1
Total points earned for this post