Motor Control and Skill Acquisition (8913.1)

Please note these are the 2025 details for this unit
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Motor Control and Skill Acquisition
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods Flexible
On-Campus
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Discipline Of Sport And Exercise Science Level 2 - Undergraduate Intermediate Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Students will describe how human movement and motor programs are initiated, controlled, learned, taught and performed. The different methods used to enhance skill acquisition through the transfer of learning, knowledge of results and practice effects, including distributed and mass practice as well as whole and part learning concepts will be examined. Students will be required to use information processing models to demonstrate an understanding of perception, selective attention and decision-making capabilities.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:
1. Assess motor skills using multidimensional models;

2. Describe the role of sensory input and perception in movement coordination, skill acquisition and motor program retention; and
3. Design an appropriate motor learning framework based on established methodologies.


Graduate attributes

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 - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
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 - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Prerequisites

9808 Regional Anatomy and Physiology

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

Restrictions: This unit is not open to students who have passed 6833 Motor Control

Equivalent units

6833 Motor Control

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2025 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2024 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 05 February 2024 Flexible Dr Michael Maloney
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 On-Campus Dr Michael Maloney
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Lists of recommended texts/readings - Magill, R. & Anderson, D. (2017) Motor Learning and Control - Concepts and Applications 11th Ed. McGraw -Hill Education, New York, NY. Text available from the Library (not compulsary)

Submission of assessment items

Special assessment requirements

Students are required to achieve an overall unit grade of 50% to pass the unit 

Individual assessment items that are failed may not be resubmitted. For information on supplementary assessment, please see below.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment will not be offered to students in the unit.

Note: Students who have failed a single unit in their final semester with a final mark between 45-49%, where the unit is required for course completion, are eligible for supplementary assessment. However, a Unit Convener may seek permission from the Associate Dean (Education) for an exemption from this requirement if it is impractical or inappropriate to offer supplementary assessment (e.g. where the unit involves teaching practicums or professional placements).

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.

Late submissions

Online Quiz: Where possible the online quiz will remain open for late submissions, but the below late policy will apply. Extensions must be sought in advance using the university forms, and EC applications will be considered 

For the presentation and proposal: When a student does not submit an assessment task on or before the due date and time, their mark will be reduced by five percentage points per day from the total mark available (e.g. if an assessment was submitted three days late a mark of 70% would be reduced to 55%, or put another way, if a student was awarded 21 out of 30 and submitted three days late their mark would be reduced to 16.5 out of 30), up to a maximum of seven days at which time the assignment will no longer be accepted, unless there are approved extenuating circumstances

As noted above, students are encouraged to back-up their work frequently, to submit work well before the final deadline, to plan and prepare coursework well before the formal deadline, and to seek extensions in advance where legitimate grounds can be demonstrated. 

Please note the URKUND plagiarism software wil be used to evaluate all submissions.

Please note all assessment items will be moderated in accordance with the moderation policy outlined on the Canvas site.

Participation requirements

With a view to creating independent and self-sufficient learners, a large proportion of this unit can be completed online - with minimal attendance requirements. This does, however, require students to actively engage with the recorded lectures, and to make informed decisions about their learning strategy (its is encouraged that you attend practicals)

Required IT skills

Word processing, internet access, the ability to search relevant databases (for research articles) and use referencing software is required.

In-unit costs

Students are not required to purchase any unit-text or special equipment, although they may wish to do so. 

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

Students seeking to gain D or HD grades must demonstrate critical awareness and critical analysis of the subject matter.

Next step

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