EXERSCI 706 : Seminar in Advanced Exercise Physiology

Science

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A seminar-based course examining the physiological responses and adaptations to physical exercise or inactivity. Students evaluate, present, and discuss seminal and contemporary research publications on selected topics largely focusing on the cardiovascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal systems. Emphasis will be placed upon investigations of the explanatory elements of adaptation, from the level of the genome to the living human, and the use of relevant contemporary experimental techniques.

Course Overview

This course advances students understanding on the biological regulations and adaptations to physical exercise during a life span. It suits students in Honours, Postgraduate Diploma or Masters year in exercise sciences, physiology or clinical exercise physiology.

The course is divided into modules and each module has a specific area of exercise physiology focus.  The course also introduces students to  research methods used in the exercise field.

Students are required to deliver oral presentations on specific exercise physiology topics therefore basic understanding on exercise physiology is expected.

Course Requirements

Restriction: PHYSIOL 706, SPORTSCI 706

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain the physiological responses and adaptations to exercise and physical inactivity. (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
  2. Critically evaluate experimental approaches to the manipulation and determination of the responses and adaptations to exercise and physical inactivity. (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
  3. Search and interpret relevant research in exercise physiology to justify responses and adaptations to exercise and physical inactivity. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Presentation 60% Individual Coursework
Discussions 10% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 30% Individual Test
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3
Presentation
Discussions
Final Exam

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

Key Topics

 Topics  include: paediatric exercise physiology, aging, exercise capacity, cardiovascular physiology, muscle adaptations  and nutrition and exercise performance.

Special Requirements

Students are required to deliver oral presentations and complete a final written assessment. Presentations and written assessment will be conducted during class hours.

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 33 hours of lectures, 40 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 60 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

  • Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including seminar presentations to complete credit components of the course.
  • Lectures will be available as recordings. 
  • The course will not include live online events.
  • Attendance on campus is required for the final test.
  • 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 articles assigned for presentations will be provided in Canvas.
Students wanting to review basic concepts in exercise physiology can access any editions of:
  • McArdle, W.D., F.I. Katch, and V.L. Katch, Exercise physiology: nutrition, energy and human performance. 7th ed ed. 2010, Philadelphia, Pa London: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Guyton, A.C. and J.E. Hall, Texbook of Medical Physiology. 10th ed. 2000, Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company.
  • Powers, S.K. and E.T. Howley, Exercise physiology: theory and application to fitness and performance. 8th ed ed. 2012, New York: McGraw-Hill.

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 course has been well received by students and we will keep working to ensure students  gain valuable practical presentation skills in EXERSCI 706.

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.