Littrell Radiology

Lecture notes: A copy of the lecture notes can be purchased in the Palmer Vet’s Club (First floor of West Hall). The instructor reserves the right to edit or alter the lecture notes, performance expectations, and learning objectives.

Grade posting: Announcements and grades will be posted at www.littrellradiology.com. This site may also be accessed through the faculty page at www.palmer.edu. According to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students may request that grades be omitted from public posting. The student must submit a written retraction of his or her permission to post grades to the Registrar’s office and the instructor.

Grade inflation: The instructors do not engage in grade inflation (artificially raising point values to award higher letter grades). Those students earning less than 93% will receive a grade B; those students earning less than 83% will receive a grade C.

Dress code for lectures, practice, and practical examinations: Modest dress for males and females is expected in both the classroom and practice room. As this course requires participation in physical examination of your fellow students, clothing that allows access to the anatomy being examined is important. Female students are required to wear patient gowns for the thorax, heart, and lung examinations during laboratory practice and practical examinations; male students are required to wear either a patient gown or remove their shirts for the thorax, heart, and lung examination during laboratory practice and practical examinations. All students will be required to reveal the lower extremity anatomy during pertinent examinations. Short skirts or dresses are inappropriate for practice examinations. Long hair should be pulled back so as not to interfere with examinations, and fingernails should be cut short.

Classroom behavior: Professional behavior, in both the classroom and practice room, is expected from all students enrolled in this course and at Palmer College of Chiropractic. At all times, you will protect the modesty and privacy of your colleagues. Tardiness, excessive side-talking during lectures or other disruptions of the class, sleeping during the lecture, and other forms of unprofessional behavior, as determined by the instructor or fellow student, will not be tolerated. The student may be removed from the classroom. Disciplinary action from the Student Ethics Committee may be sought.

Attendance: Attendance is required for both hours of the course. If it is necessary for you to leave early or arrive late, please inform the instructor as soon as reasonably possible. Attendance will be taken daily. You will be marked as absent if you fail to attend the first hour and/or second hour of the course. You will be allowed no more than 8 absences for the course. More than 8 absences in the class will result in a grade 8 (Failure) of the class.

Electronic equipment: The use of laptops, cell phones, music players, and recording equipment is prohibited in the classroom. The use of electronic equipment during the lecture or practice sessions will result in an absence recorded for that day.

Policy on cheating and unethical behavior: Cheating of any form (including, but not limited to: crib notes, possession of old examinations, viewing others’ tests during an examination or quiz, plagiarism) is prohibited. Unethical behavior or disruptive behavior in the classroom is also prohibited. Violations of the course policies or of the policies of the Student Ethics Handbook will be referred to the Student Ethics Committee for review and resolution.

Practice, practical examinations, and surrogate patients: All students are required to participate in the practice and performance of each examination, as well as act as patients for their fellow classmates. If a student is unable to participate as a patient due to an illness or health condition, a release from that student’s health care provider will be required and a surrogate patient must be supplied by the student for the duration of the illness or condition.

Inclement weather: If inclement weather forces the cancellation of class, the material to be covered on the cancelled class day (including scheduled written examinations) will be covered when classes resume. The notable exception to this policy is in the event that weather forces the cancellation of a practical examination. In this case, the practical will be rescheduled when student proctors are available and material to be covered or the examination will occur as scheduled.

Class cancellation due to instructor illness or emergency: If the instructor must cancel class due to illness or emergency, a notice will be placed on the classroom door and will also be posted on the website, if possible. So that the course may continue on schedule, an assignment will likely be given and it is the student’s responsibility to complete that assignment by the next scheduled class day.

Quizzes: Quizzes are given the day before the scheduled practical examination. Quizzes are intended to test didactic and practical knowledge and to indicate your readiness for the practical examination. Quiz questions will be taken from the lecture material and textbook.

Practical Examinations: Practical examinations are intended to test didactic and practical knowledge and to reinforce skills utilized in the Palmer Clinics and in private practice. Performance expectations will be given for each practical to serve as guidelines for the practical examination procedures. The scoring criteria given to the examiner will be more detailed than the performance expectations.

Interim Examinations: Interim examinations are intended to test predominately the lecture material and textbook material; however, practical knowledge may also be included. Interim Examination #1 will consist of 50 questions on the topics covered up to the date of the examination. Interim Examination #2 will consist of 50 questions on the topics covered since Interim Examination #1. Interim Examination #3 will consist of 50 questions on the topics covered since Interim Examination #2. Each examination will include 8 extra credit questions.

Final Examination: The final examination will consist of approximately 50 questions on the topics covered since Interim Examination #3. The examination will also include 8 extra credit questions.

Examination material: The interim and final examination questions are taken from the required textbook. Students are expected to read the assigned chapters in order to successfully complete the examinations.

Viewing examinations: Students may review their examinations within the two week period following the administration of the examination; examinations will not be available for review until all make-up examinations are administered.

Narrative history: A narrative history assignment will be submitted by each student.

Periodic assignments: Periodic assignments may be given at the discretion of the instructor.

Make-up Policy: For extraordinary circumstances only, students will be allowed to make-up ONE grade in each category of quiz, practical, and interim examination. If more than one quiz, practical, or interim examination is missed, the missed points will be forfeited. All practicals and quizzes will be made up during the final week of classes. All interim examinations will be made up within five days of the original testing date. Extra credit questions will not be available on make-up examinations. You are required to inform the instructor of all absences prior to the administration of the quiz, practical, or exam.

Children in the classroom: Children are not permitted in the classroom, with the exception of emergency situations in which childcare cannot be arranged (snow cancellation, child care provider’s illness, etc.). UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES may a child be permitted in the classroom during a quiz, practical, or written examination.

Animals in the classroom: Only service animals are allowed in the classroom. You may not bring your pet into the classroom.

Point distribution:

1 quiz @ 20 points 20 points ~3.6% of total grade
3 quizzes @ 10 points each 30 points ~5.5% of total grade
4 practicals @ 40 points each 160 points ~30% of total grade
3 interim examinations @ 50 points each 150 points ~28% of total grade
1 narrative health history 20 points ~3.6% of total grade
1 mock history scenario 10 points ~ 1.5% of total grade
1 final practical @ 120 points 120 points ~22% of total grade
1 final written examination @ 50 points 50 points ~9% of total grade

560 points total

Grade 4 = A = 93% to 100% = 520.8 of 560 points
Grade 3 = B = 83% to 92% = 464.8 of 560 points
Grade 2 = C = 73% to 82% = 408.8 of 560 points
Grade 8 = F = < 72% = < 408.8 of 560 points
Grade 6 = Incomplete

Note: Periodic classroom assignments may be given that coincide with the mock history scenarios. The submission of these assignments is required and may add to the total point value for the course.