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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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

Undergraduate Course: Sport Science 3B: Physiology & Skill Acquisition (SPRT10050)

Course Outline
SchoolMoray House School of Education and Sport CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis is a 2-part course covering two key disciplines within Sport Science: Exercise Physiology and Skill Acquisition.

In Exercise Physiology, students will study the physiological analysis of exercise and training. This wing of the course seeks to improve the students' understanding in relation to specific situations associated with physiological preparation for sport and activity. Acquisition of sports-specific knowledge will enhance an individual's capability to prescribe exercise and training in a variety of contexts.

Skill Acquisition at Level 3 seeks to provide students with a deeper understanding of perceptual-motor function and expertise. Students will gain an insight into current understanding of how athletes attend to relevant information in their environment for optimal performance, how the brain processes sensory information and controls movement. The course will explore methods used to develop perceptual expertise in sport.
Course description EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY
Indicative content: energy metabolism and provision, muscular fatigue, muscle morphology and adaptation, lactate threshold, aerobic and anaerobic function, integrative sources of energy, recovery and the physical demands of specific activity.

SKILL ACQUISITION
Indicative content: direct and indirect perception approaches, biological psychology / behavioural neuroscience, brain anatomy and functioning in relation to perceptual-motor control, ventral and dorsal systems for processing visual systems, basal ganglia, cerebellum, perceptual-cognitive expertise, assessing perceptual-motor function in and outside the laboratory, eye tracking, visual attention.

The course will require students to work effectively with others to identify and critically analyse an inter-disciplinary problem in the area of Sport Science, design a hypothetical study and create a scientific poster to report hypothetical results.



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) (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-requisitesVisiting students must have previously completed at least 3 Sport Science courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) and receive permission from the Moray House School of Education to enrol. We will only consider University/College level courses.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  0
Course Start Semester 2
Course Start Date 17/01/2022
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 29, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 145 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 2 x 1hr examination (60%)
1 x inter-disciplinary scientific poster (group) (40%)

A mark of 40% or higher is required to pass the course. Compensation is possible between the two components.
Feedback Formative 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.

Summative Feedback- We will provide cohort feedback on the assignment as well as specific feedback on each scientific poster. Exam feedback is available from academic teaching staff by arrangement.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)Paper 1: Skill Acquisition1:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)Paper 1: Skill Acquisition1:00
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)Paper 2: Exercise Physiology1:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)Paper 2: Exercise Physiology1:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of the effects of exercise and adaptation on the physiological systems of the body, including underpinning mechanisms.
  2. Apply theoretical knowledge and practical experience to analyse and interpret the integrative nature of the physiological factors which may limit performance in sport and physical activity.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of current understanding of the neuroscientific and psychological mechanisms underpinning and affecting sensory processing and movement control.
  4. Apply knowledge of perceptual-motor function and its assessment to suggest ways in which perceptual-cognitive expertise in sport can be measured and developed.
  5. Work with others to analyse a problem in the area of exercise physiology and skill acquisition and produce and formally present a scientific poster on a hypothetical study on the chosen topic.
Reading List
The following textbooks provide a good starting point. A list of further readings will be provided during the course. It is not necessary for you to buy and read all of the following books, but you may find consulting them useful:

Kenney W.L., Wilmore J.H. & Costill D.L. (2012) Physiology of Sport & Exercise (5th Edition). Human Kinetics, USA. - in particular pp. 49-68.

McArdle W.D., Katch F.I. & Katch V.L. (2015). Exercise Physiology: Energy, Nutrition and Human Performance (8th Edition). Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, USA.

Rosenzweig, M.R., Breedlove, S.M., & Watson, N.V. (2007). Biological Psychology: An introduction to behavioral and cognitive neuroscience. Sinauer, Boston MA - in particular: Chapters 2 (Neuroanatomy) and 11 (Motor Conrol and Plasticity).
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Graduate Attributes and Skills
This course addresses 15 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
(5) Synthesize knowledge from various disciplines so as to understand the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary nature of sport and exercise sciences.
(6) Develop logical arguments surrounding issues within sport science, physical activity and exercise

PERSONAL AND INTELLECTUAL AUTONOMY
(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.
(11) Be able to engage in critical discussion demonstrating listening skills, effective use of evidence and their own experiences to articulate points and defend their own assertions

PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS
(13) Be able to plan and execute substantive research projects in sport and exercise sciences.
(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.
(19) Be able to design, deliver and analyse the effects of training interventions in sport, physical activity and exercise
(20) Be able to select and apply the appropriate statistical procedures to analyse empirical data.
(21) Be able to present data and report research findings according to standard scientific conventions.
Keywordsexercise physiology training adaptation skill acquisition behavioural neuroscience visual processing
Contacts
Course organiserDr Martine Verheul
Tel: (0131 6)51 6554
Email: martine.verheul@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Kaiza Barbour
Tel: (0131 6)51 6571
Email: kaiza.barbour@ed.ac.uk
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