Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

Students gain an appreciation of physical activity and wellness across a lifespan. The students learn about strategies to engage people in physical activity and health promoting behaviours across the lifespan, including behaviour modification techniques, theories of activity adherence and principles/types of fitness and health education programs. A large component of this unit is student centered, with a requirement being to reflect on their current lifestyle and discuss its implications for their future wellbeing.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. define and explain what is meant by the following terms: physical activity, fitness, wellness, health and nutrition;
2. provide a brief insight into their personal history of sport, physical activity and exercise participation;
3. articulate their individual beliefs and evolving philosophy of physical activity and wellness;
4. demonstrate an awareness of the benefits of physical activity, appropriate nutrition and stress management techniques for health;
5. describe, list and apply the underlying principles of personal, predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors;
6. differentiate between the Stage of change and Processes of Change model and apply these to human behaviour;
7. distinguish between alterable and unalterable cardiovascular disease risk factors;
8. describe the recommendations for health related physical activity and fitness across all ages;
9. evaluate between the different forms of physical activity measurement;
10. determine and use terms such as heart rate reserve, threshold of training, and repetition maximum in the correct context;
11. summarise the current participatory patterns of the general population in sport and physical activity while reflecting on their own participation behaviours;
12. communicate reasons as to why people do and do not participate in sport and physical activity while reflecting on their own reasons for participating;
13. determine and calculate their daily energy expenditure;
14. differentiate between the nutrition terms of calories and kilojoules;
15. keep a dietary diary and evaluate it for nutritional quality;
16. participate and experience physical activities including: running, circuit resistance training, Pilates, Swiss ball training, resistance training, and flexibility training.

Assessment

Assessment Task 1: 50% (2000 words)
Assessment Task 2: 50% (2000 words equivalent)
Attendance is required at practical/laboratory/tutorial classes.

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Laura Ward

Contact hours

3 hours per week