THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Moray House School of Education and Sport : Sport

Undergraduate Course: Sport Science 2C: Information Skills & Biomechanics (SPRT08020)

Course Outline
SchoolMoray House School of Education and Sport CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis is a two-part course covering the disciplines of biomechanics and information skills. Each part has its own teaching and assessment.
Course description PART 1 - SPORTS BIOMECHANICS
The British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences (BASES) describes Sport and Exercise Biomechanics as encompassing the area of science concerned "with the analysis of mechanics of human movement" In other words it is the science of explaining how and why the human body moves in the way that it does. In sport and exercise that definition is often extended to also consider the interaction between the performer and his or her equipment and environment. Biomechanics is traditionally divided into the areas of kinetics (concerning the analysis of the forces acting on the body) and kinematics (concerning the analysis of the movements of the body). The course will progress the learning in year to cover more advanced biomechanical principles and qualitative analysis methods will be used to examine human movement and sporting movements in field and laboratory settings.

PART 2 - INFORMATION SKILLS
This part of the course will allow students to explore a range of commonly available computer software and online tools. The courses will provide guidance on how to source scientific information and how to collect, summarize, analyze and present data according to current scientific conventions. The essence of this course is to provide training in the competencies needed to translate data into information. The content of the teaching has implications for almost all the academic work you do whilst at university.

This teaching and learning is research-led. Members of academic staff the Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Science (ISPEHS) who contribute to this course are all members of one or more of the following research groups hosted by ISPEHS: (1) Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC), (2) Edinburgh Sports Research, (3) Human Performance Science (HPS) and (4) Physical Education Research Forum (PERF).
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesAlthough not a strict pre-requisite, it is strongly advised that students have some knowledge of basic biomechanics, similar to what they would acquire through the biomechanics component of SS1B Biomechanics & Sport Psychology course (see course description for SS1B Biomechanics)
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  0
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 22, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 22, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 152 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 1 x 2 hour examination in Sports Biomechanics (60%)
1 x 2000 word equivalent assignment concerned with Information Technology in Sport Science, including but not limited to production of a wiki or web-page (40%)

To pass the course an overall mark of 40% or over is required and each assessment item must be passed separately with a mark of 40% or over; there is no compensation of marks.
Feedback Informal Feedback - This takes place during teaching, seminars and practicals throughout the semester. Your tutors will comment on your understanding of the ideas covered in the course, and may give you specific advice regarding your progress. Such feedback is intended to help you understand what your strengths and development points are, and to enable you to take informed responsibility for your learning and progression.

Discussion forum - Throughout the course as a whole the students are encouraged to use a discussion forum in LEARN. Any questions posted by students about teaching, learning and assessment are be responded to by the course tutors for everyone to see.

Cohort feedforward - Detailed cohort feed-forward from previous cohorts of students is provided for all assessments on this course.

PART 1 - BIOMECHANICS
Formative feedback - This is provided in a variety of ways during both the lectures and the lab sessions to check and enhance student learning. Examples include: Practical exercises involving data processing and analysis in the lab; qualitative analysis of various sporting events in the computer lab, using data from competitive and elite athletes; use of previous exam questions, which the students attempt to answer, and the answers are then checked and discussed in the class.

Summative feedback: Summative assessment is conducted at the end of the semester through a timetabled exam. Once the exam scripts are marked, student cohort feedback is provided for the exam, identifying strengths and weaknesses in particular areas.

PART 2 - INFORMATION SKILLS
Formative feedback - We provide weekly Session Feedback summaries after each of the computing sessions re-emphasising the main outcomes of the computing practical and any common problems encountered. We also provide feed-forward on the online group work during the final weeks of the course. The tutor will schedule meetings with each group to give direct feedback on their collaborative work. This will provide advice on modifications prior to submitting the work for assessment.

Summative feedback - A detailed cohort feedback document discussing the assessment and some common problems and successes evident in the collaborative groupwork will be available in LEARN. In addition all students will receive an individual copy of feedback on their groups work.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)2:00
Resit Exam Diet (April/May Sem 1 resits only)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge and understanding of kinematics and kinetics, and a more detailed knowledge of their application in selected sports
  2. Use a range of biomechanical principles to perform quantitative and qualitative biomechanical analysis in several sporting activities
  3. Use a range of generic and specific computer software tools for information handing, data collection and analysis in sport science situations
  4. Present a range of data and information according to scientific conventions and in output formats commonly encountered in sports science
  5. Collaborate with others to produce a complex review involving critical analysis, synthesis and evaluation
Learning Resources
BIOMECHANICS
1) McGinnis, P.M. (2013). Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise.3rd ed. Leeds: Human Kinetics. (chapters 1-7)
2) Knudson, D. (2007). Fundamentals of Biomechanics (available at: http://goo.gl/DIKsEU) (chapters 1-2 and 5-7)

INFORMATION SKILLS
1) The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 6th Edition. Washington, DC : American Psychological Association 2010.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills This course addresses 14 of the 21 graduate attributes developed on the BSc Applied Sport Science degree

RESEARCH AND ENQUIRY
(2) Search for, access, critically analyse, evaluate and synthesize information from literature in order to answer research questions in sport and exercise sciences.
(3) Plan and execute research projects, involving data collection and analysis, which answer research questions in sport and exercise sciences.
(4) Interpret data collected or reported in sport, physical activity and exercise studies
(6) Develop logical arguments surrounding issues within sport science, physical activity and exercise

PERSONAL AND INTELLECTUAL AUTONOMY
(7) Be independent learners who can take responsibility for their own learning
(8) Be able to respond to unfamiliar problems by extrapolating their existing knowledge and understanding

COMMUNICATION SKILLS
(9) Be able to communicate clearly using oral and written methods, including posters, presentations, essays, web pages, in order to critique, negotiate, create or communicate understanding
(10) Be able to use communication as a means for collaborating with and relating to others including staff, other students and research participants.
(12) Be able to initiate communication with non-university agencies connected to sport and exercise

PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS
(13) Be able to plan and execute substantive research projects in sport and exercise sciences (including but not limited to the dissertation and mini-project)
(14) Have developed their organisational, time management and decision-making skills
(15) Be able to work effectively in a team; overcoming and discussing problems and recognising the diversity of contributions different individuals can make to collaborative work

TECHNICAL/PRACTICAL SKILLS
(18) Be able to use the test, measurement and analysis tools appropriate to sport, physical activity and exercise, including for example laboratory or field tests.
(21) Be able to present data and report research findings according to standard scientific conventions
Keywordssport science biomechanics computing information ICT
Contacts
Course organiserDr Stelios Psycharakis
Tel: (0131 6)51 6587
Email: Stelios.Psycharakis@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Kaiza Barbour
Tel: (0131 6)51 6571
Email: kaiza.barbour@ed.ac.uk
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