Course Outline

SPX100 Physical Activity and Health

Course Coordinator:Florin Oprescu (foprescu@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Sports and Exercise Science

2024Semester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

In this course you will learn about contemporary thinking in health promotion, as it relates to the levels of physical activity at a population level. You will examine a range of health programs and agencies and analyse the various issues involving them. You will be introduced to physical activity levels across the lifespan within populations and explore interventions to improve health, fitness and associated psycho-social aspects. You will complement this thinking with research from interdisciplinary areas of health, sport and exercise to improve the health status of the population.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online materials 2hrs Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus tutorial 2hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

  • Promoting Health Across the Lifespan
  • Individuals and Populations                            
  • Environments and Health Promotion  
  • Behaviour change models and techniques     
  • PA Campaigns, Politics and Funding  
  • Designing and Evaluating Interventions

What level is this course?

100 Level (Introductory)

Engaging with discipline knowledge and skills at foundational level, broad application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts and with support. Limited or no prerequisites. Normally, associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Describe the roles of Exercise Scientists in the broad structure and success of the Australian health system. Engaged
2 Explain the role of sedentary behaviour and physical activity in the aetiology, prevention and management of chronic conditions, mental health and disability. Knowledgeable
3 Describe the potential impact of public policy on promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour in diverse populations and identify agencies involved in the promotion of physical activity and identify potential partners to assist with this promotion. Empowered
4 Apply and evaluate population-level recommendations and Australian guidelines for optimising physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour across the lifespan. Empowered
5 Relate the benefits and risks of physical activity and apply evidence-based principles to recommend appropriate levels of physical activity for diverse populations. Engaged
6 Identify and assess populations at risk of insufficient physical activity or sedentary behaviour to inform development of appropriate recommendations and/or interventions. Creative and critical thinker

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Students will work on formative tasks toward Tasks 1 and 2 in class time and receive formative feedback on these during class.
Students will be provided with example MCQ and/or short answer questions to work through in class time, formatively for the exam.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Oral and Written Piece Group 25%
15 minutes presentation, 15 PowerPoint slides
Week 5 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check and in class
All 2 Written Piece Individual 40%
1500 words
Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Examination - Centrally Scheduled Individual 35%
120 minutes
Exam Period Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Monitoring and Measuring Physical activity
Goal:
To develop skills in measuring and monitoring physical activity, and using research to identify links between physical inactivity and health outcomes for specific populations
Product: Oral and Written Piece
Format:
In groups of 4 or 5, student will collect and analyse data about physical activity in a specified population, and  present their findings in a 15 min oral presentation with Powerpoint slides.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Explanation of the role of sedentary behaviour and physical activity in the aetiology, prevention and management of chronic conditions, mental health and disability.
2
2
Relevance of evidence to identify issues in physical activity and sedentary behaviour
6
3
Effectiveness of communication of data about physical activity and links to health outcomes
2
All - Assessment Task 2:Health Promotion project portfolio
Goal:
To demonstrate abilities in developing a health promotion plan to increase physical activity or reduce sedentary behaviour among a specified population group.
Product: Written Piece
Format:
Written assignment, using a template provided.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Appropriateness of health promotion strategies to address determinants of a physical inactivity in a specified population
6
2
Application of health promotion principles, and appropriate theories/models to design health promotion strategy activities.
4 5
3
Quality of written communication and adherence to genre
3 4
4
Use of evidence to develop a portfolio of health promotion strategies.
5
All - Assessment Task 3:Final Examination
Goal:
To demonstrate understanding and application of knowledge about appropriate recommendations and/or interventions for populations at risk of insufficient physical activity or sedentary behaviour
Product: Examination - Centrally Scheduled
Format:
Multiple choice and short answer questions on case studies to be completed via an online, centrally scheduled examination. This will be held during the final exam period.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Description of the role of Exercise Scientists in the broad structure of the Australian health system
1
2
Reducing sedentary behaviour across the lifespan using population-level recommendations and Australian guidelines for optimising physical activity.
4
3
Recommendations of appropriate levels of physical activity for diverse populations.
5
4
Assessment of populations at risk of insufficient physical activity or sedentary behaviour and development of appropriate recommendations and/or interventions
6

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

Schedule

Period and Topic Activities
Week 1
Learning materials: Introduction to SPX100			
Tutorial: Introduction to SPX100
Private Study
Week 2
Learning materials: Promoting Health Across the Lifespan
Tutorial: Promoting Health Across the Lifespan
Private Study
Week 3
Learning materials: Individuals and Populations I 
Tutorial: Individuals and Populations I 
Private Study
Week 4
Learning materials: Individuals and Populations II
Tutorial: Individuals and Populations II
Private Study
Week 5
Learning materials: Environments and Health Promotion I
Tutorial: Environments and Health Promotion I
Private Study 
Assessment . On-line Quiz I
Week 6
Learning materials: Environments and Health Promotion II
Tutorial: Environments and Health Promotion II
Private Study
Week 7
Learning materials: Behaviour change models and techniques
Tutorial: Behaviour change models and techniques
Private Study
Week 8
Learning materials: PA Campaigns, Politics and Funding
Tutorial: PA Campaigns, Politics and Funding
Private Study
Week 9
Learning materials: Designing and Evaluating Interventions I
Tutorial: Designing and Evaluating Interventions I
Private Study
Assessment . On-line Quiz II
Week 10
Learning materials: Designing and Evaluating Interventions II
Tutorial: Designing and Evaluating Interventions II
Private Study
Week 11
Learning materials
Private study
Week 12
Learning materials
Private study
Week 13
Learning materials: Conclusions, future directions
Private study

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Recommended Harold Kohl III, Tinker Murray, Deborah Salvo 2020 Foundations of Physical Activity and Public Health 2nd Human Kinetics
Recommended Bouchard, C, Blair, S.N. & Haskell, W.L 2012 Physical Activity and Health 2nd Human Kinetics
Recommended Dishman, R., Heath, G. & Lee 2013 Physical Activity Epidemiology 2nd Human Kinetics

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks will be penalised at the following maximum rate (the rates are cumulative):

5% (of the assessment task’s identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task
10% (of the assessment task’s identified value) for the third day
20% (of the assessment task’s identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task
A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task.
Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late.

To request an extension, you must contact your Course Coordinator and supply the required documentation to negotiate an outcome.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
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  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au