Overview
This unit provides knowledge related to the coordination and voluntary control of movement. Throughout this unit, you will explore concepts related to the structure of the neuromuscular and sensory systems, the mechanisms involved in posture, balance, gait and various human movements, and the assessment of motor function in health and exercise contexts. In this unit you will further explore how concepts of motor control and learning may be applied to acute and chronic movement disorders that you may work with in your exercise and sport science career. In addition, you will gain a better understanding of the changes in motor performance that may occur with learning, aging, and injury.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite - ESSC11003 Skill Acquisition and Movement
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2023
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Residential Schools
This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE
Assessment items linked to the Residential School provide limited time for completion, particularly at the end of term.
It is recommended that assessment tasks linked to the Residential School be revised to provide students with adequate time to produce their best work.
Feedback from SUTE
The unit and assessments provide great links to real-world scenarios.
It is recommended that assessment tasks and learning activities continue to be highly practical and provide real world examples.
Feedback from SUTE
The Residential School was engaging and well structured.
It is recommended that the Residential School continue to be structured with small, student-led experiments.
- Describe the structure and function of the neuromuscular and sensory systems as they relate to motor control and motor learning
- Explain theoretical concepts of motor control and learning as they relate to changes in motor function with learning, aging, and injury
- Use scientific literature to apply appropriate test protocols to assess motor function, and design programs for learning motor skills
- Demonstrate professional practice and ethical behaviour expected in exercise and sport science settings
The Learning Outcomes and Assessment tasks are aligned with Graduate Outcomes as outlined by Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA).
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | ||||
2 - Portfolio - 30% | ||||
3 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
4 - On-campus Activity - 0% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Communication | ||||
2 - Problem Solving | ||||
3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
4 - Information Literacy | ||||
5 - Team Work | ||||
6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
8 - Ethical practice | ||||
9 - Social Innovation | ||||
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures |
Textbooks
Motor Control: Translating Research into Clinical Practic
Edition: 5th (2017)
Authors: Shumway-Cook, A. & Woollacott, M.H.
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Philadelphia Philadelphia , USA
ISBN: 9781496345370
Binding: eBook
Motor Learning and Control: Concepts and Applications
Edition: 11th (2016)
Authors: Magill, R.A.
McGraw Hill Book Co
New York New York , NY , USA
ISBN: 9781308928777
Binding: eBook
Additional Textbook Information
Textbooks can be accessed online at the CQUniversity Library website. If you prefer your own copy, you can purchase either paper or eBook versions at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Computer - ability to access study materials, including instructional videos and scan and upload assessment.
- Microsoft Office or equivalent software
- Adobe Acrobat Reader (or similar) software for viewing PDF documents
- Zoom Capacity (microphone required, webcam preferred if possible)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
n.elsworthy@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Structure of the nervous system
Structure and basic function of the brain and brain regions
Chapter
Shumway-Cook and Woollacott: Chapter 1
Magill Chapter 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Neural communication
Sensory, perceptual and action systems - their role in motor control
Reflexes
Principles of EMG
Chapter
Shumway-Cook and Woollacott: Chapter 3
Magill Chapter 4, 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Motor learning and recovery of function
Neural plasticity
Overview of neurologic conditions
Chapter
Shumway-Cook and Woollacott: Chapter 2, 4, 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Development, assessment and management of postural control
Chapter
Shumway-Cook and Woollacott: Chapter 7-10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Development, assessment and management of mobility
Chapter
Shumway-Cook and Woollacott: Chapter 12-15
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No lecture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Review of motor learning theories
Impairments of brain and peripheral injury
Designing motor learning protocols
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No lecture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No Lecture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Mackay on-campus practical session:
Week 8 Tuesday and Wednesday (2 - 3 May 2023) 9:00am - 6:00pm.
Module/Topic
No lecture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Cairns on-campus practical session:
Week 9 Wednesday and Thursday (10 - 11 May, 2023) 9:00am - 6:00pm.
Assessment 2 - Portfolio Due: Week 9 Monday (8 May 2023) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Musculoskeletal and neural changes with aging
Age-related changes in mobility and postural control
Chapter
Reading will be provided on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Rockhampton on-campus practical session:
Week 10 Wednesday and Thursday (17 - 18 May, 2023) 9:00am - 6:00pm.
Module/Topic
Review
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
On-campus laboratory activity
Please find below, dates for the laboratory activities offered for ESSC13006 this term. You must attend ONE of the sessions listed below, based on your enrolment type. Please see the CQU Timetable for confirmation of dates, times and room allocations. Registration for these sessions will be available on Moodle at the beginning of term. On-campus students (i.e. Cairns, Rockhampton, Mackay) will be automatically allocated to their local campus. MIX student will need to select their preferred offering.
Mackay based students
This session will be held Week 8 Tuesday and Wednesday 2 - 3 May 2023 on the Mackay City Campus (90-92 Sydney Street, Mackay, QLD 4740), from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm. Attendance at both days of the session is compulsory. All students will be required to meet in the Biomechanics Lab (Building 4/G.21) at 8:45 am sharp on 2 May, 2023.
Cairns based students
This session will be held Week 9 Wednesday and Thursday 10 - 11 May, 2023 at the Cairns Basketball Centre (289 Aumuller Street, Manunda QLD 4870), from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm. Attendance at both days of the session is compulsory. All students will be required to meet in the Biomechanics Lab at 8:45 am sharp on 10 May, 2023.
Rockhampton based students
This session will be held Week 10 Wednesday and Thursday 17 - 18 May, 2023 at the Rockhampton North Campus (554-700 Yaamba Rd, Norman Gardens QLD 4701), from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm. Attendance at both days of the residential school is compulsory. All students will be required to meet inside Building 81 on the basketball court at 8:45 am sharp on 17 May, 2023.
Mixed mode students
If you are enrolled as a Mixed mode student, you will be able to attend any of the above listed sessions. Registration is required for all mixed mode students, and is allocated on a first come first serve basis. Space is limited for each offering, due to room restrictions and staffing. Please access the on-campus activity registration link available on the ESSC13006 Moodle site.
1 Online Quiz(zes)
You will be required to complete six (6) online quizzes relevant to the first six (6) learning Modules. Each online quiz will cover content related to the specific learning module (i.e. Online quiz 1 will assess Module 1 content). All quizzes will be available from 6 March 2023 (Monday Week 1), and all quizzes must be completed and submitted by 28 April 2023 (Friday Week 7) at 5:00pm AEST. Each online quiz will consist of ten (10) multiple choice, true/false and/or short answer questions (i.e. fill in the blanks, word matching). Each online quiz will contribute to 5% of your overall unit grade (i.e. 6 quizzes contributes to 30% of your overall grade for this unit).
You can only attempt each online quiz once and each online quiz must be completed in a single session. Online quizzes should be completed on a computer, as attempting the quiz on a smartphone can result in your session being ended in the event of a phone call or notification. You cannot save your answers and return to the online quiz at a later time. It is your responsibility to log on to Moodle and complete each online quiz during the time the quiz is available. In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no late submissions allowed for any of the online quizzes.
6
Weekly
Week 7 Friday (28 Apr 2023) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 8 Monday (1 May 2023)
Responses to online quiz questions will be marked as correct or incorrect by the Moodle, and tabulated to give your mark for each online quiz. For questions with text-based responses (e.g. fill in the blank) you should take care with spelling (Australian English) and grammar, as answers are spelling and grammar sensitive.
- Describe the structure and function of the neuromuscular and sensory systems as they relate to motor control and motor learning
- Explain theoretical concepts of motor control and learning as they relate to changes in motor function with learning, aging, and injury
2 Portfolio
Assessment 2 - Portfolio consists of two (2) parts: Assessment 2a - Brief Review; and Assessment 2b - Presentation. See below for specific information on each part.
Assessment 2a - Brief Review (20%)
Reviews of the literature are important contributions to science. They provide a concise summary of what is currently known about a topic, and often identify gaps in the literature which guide future research. This task will require you to write a brief literature review (4 pages maximum) on a topic related to one (1) of the provided case studies. Case study’s will be released on Moodle by Friday Week 2 (17 Mar, 2023) of term. The case study will describe a condition or scenairo related to a neurological condition affecting motor performance. The purpose of this brief review is for you to summarise the existing scientific literature related to the condition or scenairo, and the effect the condition has upon motor and/or sensory function, as well as the role exercise may have in the recovery from or management of the condition or scenario.
You are writing this review for a peer-reviewed scientific journal. This review should be written for a scientific audience, thus the writing style and language should meet the expectations of the intended audience. Information regarding the structure of the review and formatting guidelines is available on the ESSC13006 Moodle site.
Assessment 2b - Presentation (10%)
Throughout your career, you may be required to present to a number of different audiences on a variety of topics related to your future career pathways. In this assessment you will create a 3-minute video which summarises the content of your brief review in a manner suitable for a lay, or non-scientific audience. The final product (video) must be of a standard that could be used by a not-for profit organisation (e.g. Parkinson's Foundation, MSAustralia) to explain the condition or scenairo and how exercise may benefit a person with that condition. You may use any structure (case study, powerpoint presentation) but you must be visible throughout the video. Further information regarding presentation format, guidelines, marking rubric and examples will be provided on the ESSC13006 Moodle site.
Week 9 Monday (8 May 2023) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 11 Monday (22 May 2023)
The brief review (Part A) is designed to assess your ability to critically search, evaluate, analyse and summarise the scientific literature related to a specific neurological condition. You will be assessed on the following criteria: summary of the condition, outline of the motor and/or sensory impairments, exercise programs used to manage the condition, writing style, referencing and adherence to guidelines. The presentation (Part B) will assess your ability to present this information to a lay or non-scientific audience. In addtion to the criteria for Part A, in Part B you will be assessed on the following criteria: communication skills to a lay audience, audio/visual presentation skills, accuracy of information presented and adherance to guidelines. A specific marking rubric will be provided on the ESSC13006 Moodle site.
- Explain theoretical concepts of motor control and learning as they relate to changes in motor function with learning, aging, and injury
- Use scientific literature to apply appropriate test protocols to assess motor function, and design programs for learning motor skills
3 Written Assessment
The on-campus activities undertaken in this unit provide an opportunity for you to complete a range of tasks related to aspects of motor learning and skill acquisition, specifically cognitive function, posture, gait, mobility, and fatigue. Throughout these experiments, you will be assessing different aspects of motor learning and control, and you will be required to develop a short laboratory report from the data you collected during these laboratory tasks. You will be required to write a short report based upon one of the activities undertaken as part of the on-campus laboratory activities. Below are guidelines for the short report, further information will also be provided on Moodle:
- Word count: No more than 4 pages, excluding title page, references, figures, and tables.
- Title page including title of the report, student name and number, word count and number of tables/figures.
- Formatting guidelines:
- Double spaced and justified text
- Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri font, size 12
- Normal margins (one-inch, 2.54 cm on all sides)
- Page numbers in footer, centered and all pages should be numbered consecutively
- Figures and tables are encouraged to present the findings/results, however there is a maximum of three (3) tables and/or figures allowed. Any tables/figures should be inserted after the reference list (1 table/figure per page - and not counted to page limit).
- Language: English (Australian)
- This is an individual assessment and your laboratory report must be your own work.
- The report should be completed in Microsoft Word or similar word processing software.
- Follow American Psychological Association (APA) 7th style referencing. A full reference list is required at the end of the report.
- Your reports are to be submitted via the specific assessment submission link on the ESSC13006 Moodle page.
- Only .DOC, and .DOCX formats will be accepted. Submissions in other formats may not be able to be marked
In the absence of an approved extension, any submissions received after the due date will incur penalties in accordance with University policy.
The short report is due at 5:00pm AEST, 10 working after the completion of the On-campus activity. Mackay: 17 May, 2023; Cairns: 25 May, 2023; Rockhampton: 1 June, 2023.
Due to the varied due dates, the two week feedback turnaround may not be possible. All results and feedback will be available before Exam Week Thursday (15 Jun, 2023).
The short report is designed to evaluate your ability to interpret data and performance outcomes related to the assessment of motor performance and factors which may impact function. The report will be marked using a detailed marking rubric. The laboratory report will be assessed on the following criteria: introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusion referencing and adherence to guidelines. A detailed marking rubric will be made available on the ESSC13006 Moodle site.
- Describe the structure and function of the neuromuscular and sensory systems as they relate to motor control and motor learning
- Use scientific literature to apply appropriate test protocols to assess motor function, and design programs for learning motor skills
4 On-campus Activity
This assessment involves the compulsory attendance and active participation in the on-campus practical activities for the unit. You are required to attend (and actively participate in) ONE of the timetabled on-campus activity sessions (Mackay, Rockhampton or Cairns). Further details regarding the times and dates of these on-campus activities can be found in the Term Specific Information section of the ESSC13006 Unit Profile, on the ESSC13006 Moodle site and via the CQUniversity Handbook. A series of practical laboratory-based tasks will be completed during the on-campus laboratory activity sessions and you are expected to attend and participate in all tasks. A Laboratory Manual will be provided to you via Moodle prior to the on-campus activity which contains information to assist in performing each task, tables for data collection, and critical thinking/discussion questions. These sessions contribute to the data collection and analysis for your brief report assessment task. To complete this assessment item you must:
1. Sign the attendance sheet. Please note there will be multiple attendance sheets to sign throughout the activity sessions
2. Bring a printed copy of the Laboratory Manual to the on-campus laboratory activity sessions
3. Actively participate in each of the tasks delivered throughout the on-campus activity sessions.
Each student will recieve a copy of a deidentified data set. This is necessary for the completion of Assessment 3 - Short Report. This will be made available via USB transfer and/or Moodle at the conclusion of the on-campus activity. Further information will be communicated throughout the on campus activity and via the ESSC13006 Moodle site.
Attendance at on-campus practical activities will be recorded at the practical sessions in Mackay, Rockhampton and Cairns. See Term specific information for relevant dates and times for each location.
Attendance at the on-campus practical session, with adequate participation will result in a passing grade for this assessment. Failure to attend and adequately participate may result in a fail grade for this assessment item, and being unable to pass this unit. Attendance at the on-campus activities will be assessed through signed attendance sheets and facilitated by staff members managing the sessions, you will need to sign an attendance sheet for each task. If you miss a session without an approved reason, there will NOT be an opportunity to simply ‘catch up’ at any time. The Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) outlines acceptable reasons for adjusting assessment. If you do not attend one of the on-campus laboratory activities, and provide a valid reason with supporting documentation, then an attempt to make alternate arrangements will be made (for example a ‘catch up’ session at a suitable time or an alternative assessment/task) in consultation with the Unit Coordinator.
No submission method provided.
- Demonstrate professional practice and ethical behaviour expected in exercise and sport science settings
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.