Postgraduate Course: Physical activity for health across the life span (SPRT11004)
Course Outline
| School | Moray House School of Education |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Physical activity benefits physical and mental health. It promotes social connectedness, quality of life, and general well-being. However, in 2012 the Lancet declared a global pandemic in terms of a lack of physical activity. This course will explore the determinants of physical activity and sedentary behaviour across the life span, as well as the benefits in in determining health in specific populations. It will consider the evidence underpinning physical activity recommendations in early years, children and adolescents, and older adults, and barriers and facilitators to activity in these populations.
This course will be taught by staff who are members of the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC: http://www.ed.ac.uk/education/pahrc) |
| Course description |
Through lectures, activities and assignments, this course will consider the prevalence of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in early years, children, adolescence and older adults. The key developmental and psychosocial determinants of physical activity in different populations will be covered. Throughout the course students will be encouraged to critically review the evidence identifying the relationship between physical activity and sedentary behaviour in each population.
It is likely that the course will include sessions on:
Early years populations
Children and adolescents
Gender differences
Older adults
Students will be encouraged to actively participate in interactive lectures and activities. Students will be set pre-class tasks to guide their reading and engagement with the material. Assignments will further facilitate consideration of the lecture material and how it relates to additional research papers and application. Students will also have the opportunity to engage with PAHRC-led research activities.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | No specific pre-requisites are required but please contact course organiser to discuss suitability |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | No specific pre-requisites are required but please contact course organiser to discuss suitability |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
| Course Start Date |
15/01/2018 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
88 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
2000 word case study report |
| Feedback |
Students will be provided with detailed summative individual and cohort feedback on their case study assignment. Prior to beginning the case study assignment students will submit an unassessed case study proposal. Students will receive formative feedback on this proposal. This formative feedback should be used to inform the case study assignment, and students are specifically asked to detail their 'Action on Prior Feedback' on the cover sheet of their case study assignment. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate a knowledge of and critical awareness of the role of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the maintenance of health in early years, childhood, adolescence and older adulthood
- demonstrate an awareness of barriers to and facilitators of physical activity in groups at specific stages across the life span
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Reading List
Core texts for this course are:
Hardman, A. and Stensel, D. Physical activity and health : the evidence explained. 2nd edition. (2009) UK, Routledge.
Smith, A and Biddle, S. Youth Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour (Eds). (2008) Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Selective journal articles from relevant journals such as Journal of Physical Activity and Health and Journal of Aging and Physical Activity
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
During this course students will have the opportunity to practice and develop their ability to:
1) be independent learners who take responsibility for their own learning, and are committed to continuous reflections, self-evaluation and self-improvement;
2) be able to exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in academic activities, including decision making on the basis of independent thought;
3) be able to reflect on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgements in physical activity and health;
4) be able to identify and effectively communicate with relevant individuals and organisations beyond their immediate environment;
5) have the confidence to make informed decisions relating to problems and issues in physical activity and health;
6) be able to identify and manage risks appropriately (e.g., during fieldwork, working with vulnerable groups) |
| Special Arrangements |
We welcome students from outside the MSc Physical Activity for Health programme, but students should first contact the course organiser to determine suitability |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
5 x 2 hours weekly interactive lectures |
| Keywords | Physical activity; lifespan perspective; children; adolescents; older adults; medicine |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Samantha Fawkner
Tel: (0131 6)50 9778
Email: s.fawkner@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Cristina Roman
Tel: (0131 6)51 6265
Email: Cristina.Roman@ed.ac.uk |
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