1. Describe the components of the sensory/perceptual systems and contributions from the action systems in movement control.
2. Describe the major (neuro)physiological mechanisms and changes underlying motor learning and recovery of function.
3. Describe the development of postural control, how postural control modulates with aging and the aspects underlying abnormal postural control
4. Describe the characteristics of normal reach, grasp and manipulation and how these changes across the lifespan and with abnormalities
5. Demonstrate an ability to use neurophysiological and psychophysical procedures for assessing and quantifying optimal human movement control and learning
6. Apply scientific methods and research processes as it relates to movement control learning

Several texts will be helpful in guiding your understanding of the course material, and you will be directed to the relevant resources at the appropriate time. A sample of helpful resources is provided below:  

1. Shumway-Cook, A. & Woollacott, M.H. (5th Edition) Motor Control: Translating Research Into Clinical Practice. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
2. Magill, R.A. 2011 (9th Edition) Motor Learning and Control: Concepts and Applications. McGraw-Hill
3. Ives, J.C. (2014) Motor Behaviour: connecting mind and body for optimal performance. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
4. Schmidt, R. A., & Lee, T. D. (2011). Motor Control and Learning: A Behavioral Emphasis (5th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
5. Kandel Schwartz & Jessel (2000/2013). Principles of Neural Science 4/e and 5/e. McGraw-Hill.
6. Lord SR, Sherrington C, Menz HB & Close JCT  (2007). Falls in older people: Risk factors and strategies for prevention. 2nd Ed.
   Cambridge Uni Press.

References to various scientific journal articles will also be made. Understanding the science/research in relation to these articles is essential for a high score in the course. These journals are available online on the library website (e.g. pubmed) for university students.

Lectures will be implemented online using audio-visual recordings and students are expected to view and go through the online lectures prior to the one-hour workshop which will be used as an informal platform to reinforce lecture content, discuss and engage in activities related to lecture material. The workshops will not be recorded.

The course will be delivered via online lectures, workshops, practicals and small group discovery experience (SGDE). A total of 4 practical and 4 SGDE sessions will be held in the semester to provide students with an opportunity to translate concepts learnt in online lectures and workshops to practical/research contexts and to demonstrate their innovativeness. Attendance at these sessions is mandatory. Students’ understanding of the material will be assessed using written assessments (mid-semester and final examinations), online quizzes and practical/SGDE reports. Students should use the lecture outline and learning objectives at the beginning of each lecture as study guide for all assessments in the course. The activities and questions attempted in the workshop will also prove beneficial and provide guidance on how students should be studying for the course.

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

A full-time student should expect to spend, on average, a total of 48 hours per week on their studies.  This includes both the formal contact time required for the course (i.e. workshops, practicals and SGDE), as well as non-contact time (i.e. viewing online lectures, reading and revision for exams). Human Motor Behaviour and Learning is a 3-unit course.  As such, the expected workload will on average be 12 hours per week, including up to 4 contact hours per week.

Students will cover the following topics in a series of online lectures, workshops, practicals and SGDE (tentative semester schedule below). Please note that this schedule is subject to minor changes at the discretion of the course coordinator. If any changes to the schedule are implemented, an announcement would be made on MyUni at least 7 days in advance of the event occurrence.

THEME 1: PHYSIOLOGY OF MOTOR CONTROL

Week 1: Introduction & Overview + Somatosensory System

Week 2: Visual System & Vestibular System

Week 3: Action Systems (Prac 1 + Quiz 1)

THEME 2: PHYSIOLOGY OF LEARNING AND RECOVERY

Week 4: Plasticity & Learning

Week 5: Neural Plasticity and Recovery of Function (SGDE 1)

Week 6: Neural Plasticity and Neurodegenerative Disease (Prac 2 + Quiz 2)

THEME 3: POSTURAL CONTROL

Week 7: Normal Postural Control (Mid-Sem Exam + SGDE 2)

Week 8: Aging and Postural Control

Week 9: Abnormal Postural Control (SGDE 3 + Prac 3 + Quiz 3)

THEME 4: REACH, GRASP & MANIPULATION

Week 10: Normal Reach, Grasp and Manipulation

Week 11: Reach, Grasp and Manipulation: Changes across lifespan (SGDE 4)

Week 12: Abnormal Reach, Grasp and Manipulation (Prac 4 + Quiz 4)

There is a small-group discovery component in the course. The SGDE component has a total weighting of 20% (15% for the individual report and 5% for the group presentation).

SGDE for this course is focused on demonstrating the translation of concepts learnt in theory to practical contexts.

Throughout the project, students will work on group data collection, an individual written report and a group power point presentation on the topic. Assessment rubrics will be used for grading all components of SGDE.

Details of each assessment task are shown below. In brief, the course contains 2 written exams covering course content, 4 summative quizzes, 4 practical mini assignments and small group discovery presentation and report. Dates and explicit details for each assessment task will be given in advance via MyUni.

Marks for the different components of the course are assigned in the following proportions.

Written Exams (40% of total mark)

Mid - Semester Written Exam - THEME 1 & 2 (15%)

Final Written Exam - THEME 3 & 4 (25%)

Lecture Components – (20% of total mark)

4 quizzes on MyUni (5% each)

Practical Components - (20% of total mark)

4 practical mini assignments (5% each - attendance in labs is required to submit assignments and attain the grade)

Small Group Discovery Project - (20% of total mark)

See SGDE assessment rubrics for more details. Attendance in all 4 sessions is compulsory to be eligible for final grading.

The final marks for Exercise, Movement & Cognition may be moderated under some circumstances. Moderation is only ever used to improve a mark or grade, not to decrease it.

Mid - Semester & Final Written Exams

Mid semester and final exams are designed to assess learning during the semester. The exam will assess understanding of principles and problem solving (both written and computational) capabilities. Questions will be based around lecture and workshop material discussed throughout the semester.

Lecture Components

Students will complete 4 quizzes (multiple choice, fill in the blank, true/false questions and short answer questions) scattered throughout the semester that will be administered online via MyUni. The week during which a quiz is administered is clearly stated in the table of learning activities summary above. All quizzes will be due within a week from administration and the due date will be clearly stated when each quiz is made active on MyUni. This component will be used to reinforce key concepts from lectures/workshops for the written exams and will ensure students keep up with content throughout the semester.
 
Practical Components

Students will be required to answer a few questions related to the laboratory session that includes details of data collection, analysis and interpretation. Attendance is compulsory in the practical sessions in order to attain a grade for the submitted answers.

Small Group Discovery Experience (SGDE) Component

SGDE will be focused on demonstrating the translation of the concepts learnt in theory to practical contexts using innovativeness. Specifically, students will design new and/or modify existing ways to assess motor skills/learning in various exercise and/or clinical contexts and will be assessed on an individual written report and a powerpoint presentation. Further details will be provided in SGDE guidelines.

Hurdle Requirements and Course Criteria

To successfully pass the course students must achieve all of the following criteria:

Achieve at least 45% in examinations and achieve an overall grade of at least 50% for the course

Replacement Exams Policy

This applies to ALL exams, including those held during class, not just those at the end of semester exam period.

Students seeking a replacement examination must refer to the University policy. The policy and an application form can be downloaded from the following site: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/supps.html

Requests for replacement examinations should be made by submission of the completed form and supporting documentation to the course coordinator. If the illness or exceptional personal circumstance occurred before the exam, students must submit their application for supplementary assessment no later than 5 business days after the occurrence of the condition, illness and/or exceptional personal circumstances, which form the grounds on which their application is made, regardless of the date of the
primary exam. If the illness or exceptional personal circumstance occurred on the day of the exam, students must notify the course coordinator and apply for a supplementary exam within 5 business days of the date of the primary exam. The application will be considered by the School’s Examinations Committee who will decide the outcome based on the materials provided by the student in support of their application and in line with the policies of both the University and the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The School Examinations Committee will not approve applications for supplementary examinations where the nature of the illness is considered minor. This decision cannot be made where no evidence is provided as to the severity of the illness. We strongly respect the right of students to keep the specific nature of their illness confidential. However the new University Policy on Replacement exams requires your medical practitioner to complete sections 2-4 of the appropriate form: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/3303/?dsn=policy.document;field=data;id=7446;m=view certifying that they considered your illness to be major. Replacement examinations cannot be approved without this certification (i.e. on the basis of a medical certificate alone). Students are strongly advised to take a copy of this form with them for completion by their medical practitioner at the time of their consultation.

1. Staff will clearly indicate the deadline (date and time) for coursework submission in the course information contained within MyUni.
2. Unless otherwise indicated, coursework should be submitted electronically via MyUni. Any students experiencing technical difficulties should contact the course coordinator at the earliest opportunity.
3. Coursework received after the deadline will be penalised as follows: 10% of total available points will be penalised per day (24 hour period or fraction thereof). An automatic zero mark will be applied after 7 days.
4. The deadline time will be strictly enforced according to the digital time displayed. Weekends and public holidays ARE included as penalty days.
5. Coursework submitted to any location other than those specified will not be accepted. This includes submissions to personal staff email addresses. Submission dates may be extended under exceptional circumstances. Please refer to the Modified arrangements for coursework assessment policy. You need to see the course coordinator at the earliest opportunity if you feel that you require an extension. Upon receipt of an application for extension http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/3303/?dsn=policy.document;field=data;id=7446;m=view staff may: Refuse permission for extension, specifying the appropriate reason(s); or Grant permission for extension without penalty; or Grant permission for extension with a penalty as guided by this policy.