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SPRT1321: Critical Skills for Sport and Exercise Sciences

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Tied
Level 1
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Sport and Exercise Sciences

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To assist students in their transition and adaptation to Higher Education.
  • To equip students with the critical academic skills required for Higher Education and the multi-disciplinary study of sport and exercise sciences (Interpersonal Skills; Personal Effectiveness; Verbal Communication and Presenting Skills; Information and Research Skills; Literacy and Written Communication Skills; Critical Thinking and Problem-solving; Numeracy; Digital Skills).
  • To provide students with a background in academic conventions and expectations related to writing and communicating within the multi-disciplinary study of sport and exercise sciences.
  • To develop students' abilities to work individually and to work collaboratively to undertake specific tasks, achieve wider academic goals, and develop their personal effectiveness, interpersonal skills, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • To increase students' awareness of, and reflection on, their skills, competencies and abilities in relation to the academic study of sport and exercise sciences.
  • To increase students' understanding of the value of studying sport and exercise from multi-disciplinary perspectives.
  • To introduce students to the identification of employability skills and career planning.

Content

  • The purpose of this module is to provide an introduction to the critical academic 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, including staff-led content, interactive group-based activities (including a field trip), and directed activities and study tasks using a blend of in-person and online content and delivery.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an awareness of the critical academic skills required in Higher Education and more specifically the multi-disciplinary study of sport and exercise sciences.
  • Demonstrate knowledge 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 their critical skills and academic performance in the sport and exercise sciences.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Demonstrate competency in communication skills for the social and natural scientific study of sport and exercise.
  • Demonstrate competency in numeracy skills for the social and natural scientific study of sport and exercise.
  • Source, interpret and present literature, 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:
  • Interpersonal Skills; Personal Effectiveness; Information and Research Skills; Literacy and Communication Skills; Critical Thinking and Problem-solving; Numeracy; Digital Skills

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 in-person and online staff-led content, interactive group activities (e.g. during field trip and seminars), directed independent and group-based activities, and independent preparation and study tasks related to the development of academic critical skills and competencies, such as: writing (essays, reflections); sourcing, presenting and referencing information and data; numeracy; verbal communication; group work; and independent learning.
  • Summative assessment will be two assessed components that will comprise: 1) a Reflective Portfolio to demonstrate students' development and acquisition of critical academic skills and competencies; 2) a literature review essay. The Reflective Skills Development Portfolio will comprise a series of reflective proformas via PebblePad. Completion of this will also require two meetings with the students Academic Advisor and required attendance at a course provided by Durham Universitys Academic Skills Centre.
  • Formative assessment will allow students to develop, demonstrate and gain feedback on competencies in searching for and referencing academic literature.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Meeting with Academic Advisor2Termly15 minutes0.5Yes
Lectures10Weekly in Term 1 only1 hour10 
Seminars9Fortnightly (4 in Term 1 and 5 in Term 2)1 hour9Yes
Academic Skills Centre course11 in Term 12 hours2Yes
Online learning materialsVariableWeeklyVariable20 
Field Trip11 in Term 18 hours8Yes
Independent (directed) learning, study tasks, reading, formative and summative preparation150.5 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: Reflective Skills Development PortfolioComponent Weighting: 50%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Portfolio1000 words100Yes
Component: Literature Review EssayComponent Weighting: 50%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Essay1500 words100Yes

Formative Assessment

Submission of a report on a Literature Search Strategy and formatted reference list (450 words).

More information

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