Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2018-2019 (archived)

Module SPRT1321: Critical Skills for Sport and Exercise Sciences

Department: Sport and Exercise Sciences

SPRT1321: Critical Skills for Sport and Exercise Sciences

Type Tied Level 1 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2018/19 Module Cap None. Location Durham
Tied to C603

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To increase students’ understanding of the value of studying sport and exercise from multi-disciplinary perspectives.
  • To provide students with a background in academic conventions and expectations related to writing and communicating in the multi-disciplinary study of sport and exercise sciences.
  • To develop students' abilities to work individually and to work collaboratively to undertake specific tasks and achieve wider academic goals.
  • To increase students' awareness of their knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to the academic study of sport and exercise sciences.
  • To introduce students to the use of critical skills and techniques of investigation, analysis and research in the context of sport and exercise sciences.

Content

  • The purpose of this module is to provide an introduction to the critical skills required in Higher Education and more specifically the multi-disciplinary study of sport and exercise sciences. The module will introduce students to the range of critical skills, competencies and ways of thinking required to succeed in both Higher Education that are also transferable to the workplace. Students will gain an opportunity to engage in self-reflection, action planning and reviewing and to develop their academic skill set. The module will incorporate a range of teaching and learning methods: lectures, practicals, workshops, and tutor-led independent activities.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an awareness of the critical skills required in Higher Education and more specifically the multi-disciplinary study of sport and exercise sciences.
  • Demonstrate an appreciation of their existing skill set, learning styles, and future skill development needs for the multi-disciplinary study of sport and exercise sciences.
  • Undertake self-reflection and identify strategies to improve critical skills and academic performance in the sport and exercise sciences.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Identification of issues and problems within the context of sport and exercise.
  • Written communication skills for the social and natural scientific study of sport and exercise.
  • Numeracy skills for the social and natural scientific study of sport and exercise.
  • Source, interpret and present evidence and data for the social and natural scientific study of sport and exercise.
Key Skills:
  • Upon successful completion of this module, students will have demonstrated competency in:
  • Reflecting on accumulated knowledge, academic literature and data
  • Constructing reasoned arguments
  • Communication skills (verbal and written)
  • Searching appropriate sources and data bases
  • Referencing and bibliographic skills
  • Following good academic practice and protocols
  • Managing time and working to deadlines
  • Working independently
  • Working collaboratively

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Teaching and learning will be through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and practicals related to the development of academic critical skills and competencies such as writing (essays, reflections, lab reports); sourcing, presenting and referencing information and data; numeracy; verbal communication; group work; and independent learning.
  • Summative assessment will be through an initial skills audit after which students will produce a series of assessed tasks and work that will comprise their portfolio to demonstrate the development and acquisition of critical skills and competencies.
  • Formative assessment will enable students to develop their academic writing skills in both the natural and social scientific study of sport and exercise.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 10 Fortnightly 1 hour 10
Workshops 10 Fortnightly (5 per term) 2 hours 20
Seminars 10 Fortnightly (5 per term) 1 hour 10
Practicals 2 Once a term 3 hours 6
Preparation and Reading 154
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 20%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Skills Passport (audit and CV) 1200 words 100%
Component: Portfolio Component Weighting: 80%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Portfolio (to include some of the following: in-class tests; essays, oral presentation, group project) 5000 words 100%

Formative Assessment:

•Sample of academic writing in the natural and social scientific study of sport and exercise (600 words)


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University