EXERSCI 371 : Practicum in Exercise and Sport Sciences

Science

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A workplace-based course of supervised practice of not less than 100 hours. Competencies will be developed in the application of advanced physical fitness assessment and design of evidence-based, effective and individualised exercise programmes for the maintenance of health and physical fitness in apparently healthy individuals.

Course Overview

In EXERSCI 371, you will build on experience from EXERCI 105 & 271 by applying our advanced knowledge in exercise assessment and prescription in a workplace setting.  The primary feature of EXERSCI 371 is completion of one or more work-integrated learning placements that will provide you with up to 100hrs of supervised work experience in the field.  On placement, you will observe and learn from expert practitioners, and you will mirror the Exercise Scientist scope of practice by providing face to face exercise service delivery (minimum 60%), undertaking activities that support exercise service delivery (maximum 35%), and you will complete administrative tasks (maximum 5%) appropriate to the workplace setting.   The practicum experience and assessments completed in EXERSCI 371 can be used to meet some of the evidence portfolio requirements needed to for professional registration as an Exercise and Sports Scientist.    

EXERSCI 371 is the complementary workplace-based learning course for taught courses in the Applied Exercise and Sport Sciences pathway in the BSc major. It is a course that aligns with international requirements for accreditation as an Exercise Scientist. This course will involve students providing exercise supervision for apparently healthy clients in the Health and Rehabilitation Clinic or other placements in the Exercise Sciences domain.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: EXERSCI 271

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Exhibit professional workplace attributes and behaviors. (Capability 3, 6 and 8)
  2. Critically evaluate and self-reflect on discipline knowledge, skills and attributes in relation to professional standard. (Capability 3 and 4)
  3. Perform and interpret appropriate health screening tools and fitness assessments to risk-stratify individuals prior to commencing exercise programming. (Capability 3 and 8)
  4. Demonstrate an ability to adequately prepare for and undertake face-to-face exercise service delivery and other activities related to the Exercise Scientist scope of practice. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 8)
  5. Apply evidence-based practice to critically assess the needs of individuals and prescribe appropriate client-centred exercise programmes. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  6. Effectively communicate with clients, colleagues and relevant personnel in the work placement according to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity and cultural responsiveness. (Capability 1, 6 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Portfolio 50% Individual Coursework
Reflection 25% Individual Coursework
Practical 25% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Portfolio
Reflection
Practical

Tuākana

Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html

Exercise Sciences has a dedicated Tuākana space at the City Campus (301-183). Exercise Sciences Tuākana space consists of a few personal computers, a collection of prescribed textbooks of Exercise Sciences courses, personal study and relaxing areas with access to shared kitchen facilities. Tuākana students enrolled in any Exercise Sciences course are most welcome to make use of these facilities not only to support their learning but also to build whanaungatanga. Feel free to contact Waruna, the Exercise Sciences Tuākana coordinator, on w.weerasekera@auckland.ac.nz for any questions.

Special Requirements

You must be able to attend the assigned workplace learning placement site(s) in person at the agreed time(s), day(s), and week(s) as agreed to in the workplace-learning contract negotiated and signed at the beginning of the term. 

Work-integrated learning placement sites may be located at both on- and off-campus sites in and around central Auckland.  You may have to travel by personal or public transport to and from the placement site.   It is possible that some work-integrated learning placement sites will require attendance outside of standard teaching hours (e.g., evenings).  This will be negotiated with you and any agreement to this requirement will be included in the work-integrated learning contract. 

Some work-integrated learning sites may require you to have current First Aid and AED/CPR training. You are not required to hold current certification, but you may have fewer options for placement opportunities if you do not have this certification.  Evidence of First Aid training is typically required for professional registration and courses are regularly offered by private providers for a fee.    

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect up to 100 hours of work-integrated learning placement experience, 6 hours of  tutorial, and 44 hours of thinking about the content and completing the assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at the work-integrated learning placement(s) according to the agreed schedule to complete components of the course.
There are no lectures for this course. Other learning activities including tutorials/discussion/workshops will take place on campus with video-link.  These sessions will not be available as recordings.
There is no final exam for this course.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

All relevant resources provided through Canvas. No textbook or course packs are required.

Health & Safety

Work-integrated learning placements sites will provide site-specific orientation to the facility health & safety requirements and practices. Students are expected to adhere to the requirements of their placements.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

The first offering of EXERSCI 371 was in term 2 2023 and students provided considerable positive feedback.  Participation in community service activities such as World Heart Day that saw course students provide health-related fitness assessments and health education information to community members was well received with a recommendation to continue or expand these activities within the course. Every effort will be made to include similar activities in 2024 for students to engage in.    

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 09/11/2023 09:01 a.m.