Advanced Topics in Physical Activity and Brain Health (11548.1)
| Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
|---|---|---|
| View teaching periods | Intensive |
Bruce, Canberra |
| EFTSL | Credit points | Faculty |
| 0.125 | 3 | Faculty Of Health |
| Discipline | Study level | HECS Bands |
| Discipline Of Sport And Exercise Science | Level 4 - Undergraduate Advanced Unit | Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021) Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021) |
Students will enhance their understanding of multidisciplinary treatment and standards of care in Australia with a focus on mental health, neurological and aged-care/dementia-focused services; and will consider their own scope and future opportunities in relation to emerging areas of evidence-based practice. Students will also explore how the physical activity evidence for addressing brain health has shaped international approaches in these areas.
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:1. Evaluate the role of physical activity for the prevention, treatment and/or management of brain/neurological conditions including cognitive impairment and mental health;
2. Develop exercise interventions in line with evidence-based practice and scope as an exercise physiologist across different practice settings and with consideration of the condition(s), the individual context and scientific evidence;
3. Formulate sound clinical reasoning and decision-making around condition-specific critical factors and individual considerations associated with common neurological/brain conditions to inform risk management, and safe exercise interventions;
4. Appraise the application of physical activity evidence into standard models of care for mental health and aged care services and emerging areas of evidence-based practice; and
5. Compare Australian and international perspectives of multidisciplinary practice in aged care and mental health services, and the role of allied health professionals in each, including exercise physiologists.
Graduate attributes
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
Skills development
This unit will cover contemporary areas of physical activity research and health care practice for conditions affecting brain health, with a primary focus on cognitive impairment and severe mental illness.
The topics will challenge you to understand a more complex and integrated picture of brain health and function and the emerging evidence that supports the role of physical activity in prevention, rehabilitation and management across a range of conditions. The online learning modules provide with a deeper dive into pathophysiology, evidence for physical activity, multidisciplinary treatment and standards of healthcare in Australia as well as international perspectives. You will explore and evaluate where your role as an exercise physiologist fits into current and emerging areas of evidence-based practice.
Prerequisites
11545 Clinical Conditions 1 AND11546 Clinical Conditions 2
Corequisites
None.Incompatible units
None.Equivalent units
None.Assumed knowledge
From prior units of study, students will be expected to understand optimal brain health and function, the relationship between physical health and mental health, and the role of physical activity and exercise in promoting optimal brain health across the lifespan. Students will also be expected to have basic knowledge around the current role and scope for exercise physiologists in prescribing exercise as adjunct treatment for common mental health conditions.From prior units of study, students should understand the pathophysiology of vascular disease and inflammatory states as recognised risk factors and comorbidities for conditions affecting brain health.
| Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 2 | 31 July 2023 | Intensive | Miss Angela Douglas |
| 2024 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 2 | 29 July 2024 | Intensive | Assoc Prof Andrew McKune |
Required texts
None
Submission of assessment items
Extensions & Late submissions
Assessment 1 (Critical Reflection of Practice) is an individual assessment item that is to be submitted through Canvas by the due date.
Assessment 2 (Team Debate) is conducted as a live online group assessment. For the second part of this assessment, individual students will need to submit their analysis of another debate to Canvas.
Assessment 3 can be done as an individual or in pairs, and is to be submitted through Canvas by the due date. If done in pairs, each student must submit the file through their individual submission box. The written component of this assessment will be reviewed through 'Ouriginal', and students are encouraged to check their work first using the draft submission box to obtain an Ouriginal report and allow revision as needed, before submitting their final work.
Academic integrity
Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.
To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.
Use of Text-Matching Software
The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.
Assessment Expectations
The assessments in this unit are designed to encourage critical thinking, reflective practice and exploration of emerging evidence, contemporary practice and future concepts about the role of exercise physiology in the core study areas, as well as the contemporary topics covered. Students are given some choices in the topics they focus their assessment items on to allow students to explore areas of personal or professional interest.
Learner engagement
Students are encouraged to undertake the learning activities and assessments in this unit with the mindset of developing broader and deeper knowledge and skills for contributing to more effective healthcare provision in the future for people experiencing conditions that affect brain health, and in particular, cognitive impairment, mental illness and pain.
The learning modules require students to independently work through the range of presentations and resources provided, guided by the key learning questions for that topic, which will prepare them for the activities and discussions in the weekly workshop and tutorial to follow.
The learning modules and tutorials are closely connected and provide deeper exploration of the core topics and current and emerging evidence in those areas, while the workshops will focus more on application of practice as an exercise physiologist, and explore multidisciplinary care, health services and systems (Australian and international), and practical strategies for working with people who are impacted by cognitive impairment, mental illness and pain.
Participation requirements
Students are strongly encouraged to attend all workshop and tutorials on campus. The learning modules have been designed to allow students to work through the core content each week in their own time, while the workshops and tutorials will build on applied practice and engage students in critical discussions.
Required IT skills
None
Work placement, internships or practicums
None
Additional information
There are topics covered in this unit that may be personal and triggering for some individuals. This may be raised by the topic presenter or included in online materials to prepare students. While there will be opportunity for reflection and discussion across the range of topics, as well as capacity for students to speak with the topic presenter, it is also encouraged that students consider accessing the University of Canberra Medical and Counselling service if they need professional support; or alternatively speaking with their GP (if located elswhere) or accessing support through established online and phone support services.
