handbook - HKU Common Core Curriculum - The University of Hong ...

Scientific & Technological Literacy
Course Code // CCST9024
Required Reading
Selected chapters from:
Harrison, E. (2007). Blood cells for sale. Scientific American,
297(5), 108-109.
Hoffbrand, A. V., Moss, P. A. H., & Pettit, J. E. (2006).
Essential haematology (5th ed.). Malden, MA; Oxford:
Blackwell.
Kline, R. M. (2001). Whose blood is it, anyway? Scientific
American, 284(4), 42.
Netting, J. (1999). Viral gene screen. Scientific American,
281(2), 31-32.
Nucci, M. L., & Abuchowski, A. (1998). The search for blood
substitutes. Scientific American, 278(2), 72-77.
Porter, R. (2003). Blood and guts: A short history of medicine.
London: Penguin Books.
Starr, D. P. (1998). Blood: An epic history of medicine and
commerce (1st ed.). New York: Alfred A. Knopf. [Also
available from Scientific American]
Study Load
Activities Number of hours
Lectures 24
Problem-based Learning tutorials 12
Fieldwork/ Visits 5
Reading / Self-study 40
Practicals 4
Films and videos 5
Assessment: Essay / Report writing 24
Assessment: Field work visit report 6
Total: 120
Assessment: 100% coursework
Assessment Tasks Weighting
Short essays 30
Practical quiz and worksheet 10
Field trip presentation 20
Participation in Problem-based Learning
tutorials 10
Problem-based Learning portfolio 30
Blood, Beliefs, Biology
Course Learning Outcomes
On completing the course, students will be able to:
1. Explain how scientific discoveries and technolgoical
innovations shape our understanding
of blood, its biological properties and potential
uses.
2. Discuss how blood maintains our body in
health, and describe why transfusions of blood
and its products have been viewed to bring both
benefit and harm to human beings.
3. Demonstrate understanding of how cultural
and personal beliefs shape engagement with
blood through rituals, ceremonies, and in films
and stories associated with vampirism.
4. Articulate how science is distinct from, and
connected with, other areas of investigation
in the humanities, the social sciences, and in
everyday life.
Lecture Time // Second semester (Wed)
This course will enable students
to understand the reasons for the
fascination which blood holds
over human beings from a number
of different, but interrelated,
perspectives. They will be able to
articulate how our views of blood
are not only changed in time
through scientific discoveries
and technological innovations,
but are also affected by cultural
and religious beliefs. Under the
theme “Nature and Methods of
Science,” the course will address
the historical understanding of
blood and its function viewed
from both a western perspective
as driven by scientific discoveries
and from the traditional Chinese
concept of blood and its relationship
to qi. Under the themes “Science,
Technology and Society”
and “Science and Technology in
Everyday Life,” the student will
understand how advances in science
coupled with innovations in
technology have expanded the uses of blood e.g. blood banks (and the need for screening
for infectious agents), blood as source of stem cells, and blood tests in forensic
and legal medicine. Finally, the course will examine the meanings which blood bring
through cultural and religious beliefs e.g. the role of blood in sacrifice and rituals; the
prohibition of transfusion of blood by Jehovah’s Witnesses, the global fascination with
taking and giving of blood in vampirism and its association with immortality.
Course Co-ordinator
Professor L.C. Chan
Department of Pathology,
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
Tel: 2255 4872
Email: chanlc@pathology.hku.hk
Teacher(s):
Professor L.C. Chan
Department of Pathology,
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
Tel: 2255 4872
Email: chanlc@pathology.hku.hk
Dr J.C.C. So
Department of Pathology,
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
Tel: 2255 4570
Email: scc@pathology.hku.hk
Dr S.L. Beh
Department of Pathology,
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
Tel: 2255 4863
Email: philipbeh@pathology.hku.hk
http://commoncore.hku.hk/ccst9024
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