Unit rationale, description and aim
The ability to prescribe and deliver safe, appropriate and effective exercise programs with an evidence-based, best practice approach, to meet the specific health, fitness and/or performance goals of clients, is central to exercise science practice. These knowledge and skills are consistent with the professional standards of several accreditation bodies, including those for Exercise Science. This unit introduces students to current methods of exercise prescription and delivery. It explores methods for various populations including the apparently healthy, those of sub-optimal health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and athletes. Scientific knowledge and skills are applied in the design, implementation and evaluation of exercise prescription, including integration of learnings from other sub-disciplines of exercise science. Students will be exposed to different methods of delivery, including exercise for individuals and groups and in different environments. The aims of this unit are to provide students with an understanding of the principles of exercise screening, prescription and monitoring, to build exercising testing skills and results interpretation developed in EXSC121 and EXSC198 (EXSC225), in order to prescribe and deliver exercise programs from an evidence-based approach.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Perform health screening and risk stratification a...
Learning Outcome 01
Select and conduct exercise tests to meet the spec...
Learning Outcome 02
Prescribe exercise for apparently healthy clients/...
Learning Outcome 03
Deliver exercise programs to apparently healthy cl...
Learning Outcome 04
Clearly and coherently communicate information rel...
Learning Outcome 05
Content
Topics will include:
- Health screening and fitness evaluation
- Physical activity guidelines (e.g., Resistance training; Flexibility training; Endurance training)
- Exercise/fitness testing principles, application and interpretation (field and laboratory)
- Training principles
- Exercise prescription
- General principles
- Periodization
- Apparently healthy individuals
- Athletes and team sports
- Writing and delivering programs – individual and group exercise
- Monitoring exercise, training and performance
- Exercise considerations and contraindications for special populations (e.g., Children; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples; Pregnancy; Elderly; Obesity)
Assessment strategy and rationale
In order to best enable students to achieve unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes, standards-based assessment is utilised, consistent with University assessment requirements. A range of assessment strategies are used including: tasks that have been purposefully designed to replicate authentic application of knowledge and skills required in practice. Tasks include: a written report based on case study work to assess application of this learning and its communication; a written report based on project work to assess application of this learning and its communication; and a final exam to assess student learning of unit content and a hurdle task to assess student competency of delivering an exercise session to meet client goals.
Overview of assessments
Exercise testing protocol Enables students work...
Exercise testing protocol
Enables students working collaboratively to demonstrate their application of knowledge and skills through the design of a testing protocol, conducting exercise tests and interpretation of data. This includes demonstration of reporting and communication skills.
20%
Training program for an apparently healthy client...
Training program for an apparently healthy client (case study)
Enables students to demonstrate their application of knowledge and skills by interpreting data and prescribing an exercise program to meet client goals. This includes demonstration of reporting and communication skills.
40%
Final written exam Enables students to demonstra...
Final written exam
Enables students to demonstrate their understanding and application of unit content through questioning and case study.
40%
Delivery of an exercise activity Enables student...
Delivery of an exercise activity
Enables students to demonstrate their application of knowledge and skills delivering an exercise session to meet client goals. This includes demonstration of communication skills. Students will be assessed on their ability to deliver an exercise session/activity to a small group of students.
HURDLE
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Learning and teaching strategies include active learning, case-based learning, individual and group activities, cooperative learning, project work, web-based learning, and reflective/critical thinking activities, delivered across 12 weeks. These strategies will provide students with access to required knowledge and understanding of unit content, and opportunities for their application and practical skill development in exercise testing contexts, the prescription of exercise programs to apparently healthy clientele, and the delivery of exercise interventions. These strategies will allow students to meet the aim, learning outcomes and graduate attributes of the unit, as well as professional practice standards. Learning and teaching strategies will reflect respect for the individual as an independent learner. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively within group activities.