Medical Microbiology and Virology

Task - Critical evaluation of a research article based on an epidemiological topic.

Learning outcome 1: Apply knowledge of clinically relevant microorganisms to explain and evaluate pathogenesis, screening, diagnosis, treatment and epidemiology.

Learning outcome 2: Critically analyse, interpret and present epidemiological data including typing methodologies relating to infections and infectious disease.

Learning outcome 3: Demonstrate an in depth understanding of the scientific basis of human health and disease and be able to apply this knowledge to explain current diagnosis and management of common infectious and non-communicable diseases.

Learning outcome 4: Access, synthesise, critically analyse and present scientific information in multiple formats, suitable for diverse audiences.

Learning outcome 5: Analyse and interpret data from a range of different sources, using appropriate digital technology, including large data sets.

Assessment task

You are required to submit a 1000-word online blog that can be understood by a non-specialist audience. This blog needs to be a critical evaluation of a research article, of your choosing, based on an epidemiological topic.

Step 1
Your blog will be created using WordPress.

Step 2
You will need to adjust the privacy settings of your blog so that it is only accessible with a password. Please use the attached link to change the privacy option to ‘Anyone that visits must first provide this password' and set a memorable password. You then need to complete the Microsoft Forms survey here to submit your WordPress URL and password (called ‘memorable word' on the form) to the Module Team for marking and moderation purposes. If you fail to do this, this will be treated as a non-submission.

Step 3
You now need to select a research article based on an epidemiological topic to critically evaluate. The article that you choose needs to allow you to critically analyse, interpret and present current epidemiological data relating to a specific typing methodology/ methodologies used for a particular clinically relevant infection or microorganism.

Lectures in Weeks 3 and 4 covering Public Health Epidemiology and Intervention will provide you with the basic knowledge you will need to support you with your selection.

Your online blog needs to use language that is professional but accessible to a non- specialist audience.

Step 4
Students will have the opportunity to set-up their WordPress account and be able to practice their blog-writing skills in a dedicated workshop in Week 4 (please see details in Section 3). In this workshop, students will be asked to share their practice blogs with each other and to give each other formative feedback. Students will then have the opportunity to improve their blog-writing skills in line with feedback before they submit their online blog for summative assessment.

Section 3: Help and Support

• There will be a workshop covering the assessment briefs in Week 2. During this workshop you will have an opportunity to discuss the coursework (online blog) assessment requirements and to ask questions of the module team.
• There will be lectures covering Public Health Epidemiology and Intervention in Weeks 3 and 4. During these lectures, the following indicative content will be taught: methods used to monitor the epidemiology of infectious disease e.g. typing, local and global communicable disease epidemiology, infection control, vaccination, antimicrobial treatment, prophylaxis, potential alternative therapies, identification, monitoring and reporting of resistant organisms, impact of antimicrobial resistance on treatment and health.
• There will be a workshop covering how to use WordPress in Week 4. During this workshop you will have an opportunity to set up your Coventry.Domains site, discuss the writing of blogs using WordPress with the session leader and practice writing an online blog, receiving peer feedback (formative assessment). This will ensure you have all of the necessary information and feedback to help you improve your blog writing skills for use in this summative assessment.
• A number of videos showing how to use WordPress are available on the 6036BMS Aula page.
• Use of the discussion forum on Aula will be encouraged to ask questions. This will be monitored regularly, and answers posted so that the whole group can benefit from answers.

Attachment:- Medical Microbiology and Virology.rar