Students

ESPS2003 – Physical Activity and Public Health

2023 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Sophie Osborne
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
60cp at 1000 level or above and admission to BExerSpSc
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Using a public health systems approach you will learn about the impact of sedentary lifestyle on health and strategies to improve physical activity. You will learn about the barriers and benefits of regular physical activity and how enhance current levels of activity for an individual and on a large group scale. Not only will you learn about this as an exercise scientist but also what agencies exist that can assist and augment these initiatives.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of a sedentary lifestyle on physical across the lifespan and a range of diverse groups
  • ULO2: Describe the impact of inadequate physical activity levels on physical and mental health
  • ULO3: Apply a population level health systems approach to developing a physical activity improvement strategy
  • ULO4: Demonstrate how to identify at-risk populations (across various age and a range of diverse groups) with insufficient activity levels

General Assessment Information

Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy. 

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor. 

Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128). 

To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better. 

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn. 

Late Submissions 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.   

 For example: 

Number of days (hours) late 

Total Possible Marks 

Deduction 

Raw mark 

Final mark 

1 day (1-24 hours) 

100 

5 

75 

70 

2 days (24-48 hours) 

100 

10 

75 

65 

3 days (48-72 hours) 

100 

15 

75 

60 

7 days (144-168 hours)  

100 

35 

75 

40 

>7 days (>168 hours) 

100 

- 

75 

0 

 

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.  

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Public Health Policy Report 30% No Week 6 Fri 31st March 2023 11.55pm
Mid-Semester Quiz 30% No Week 8 Thurs 27th April 2023. In your tutorial time
Get Moving Podcast 40% No Week 12 Fri 26th May 2023 11.55pm

Public Health Policy Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 6 Fri 31st March 2023 11.55pm
Weighting: 30%

 

A report that could be used to inform public health policy in relation to physical activity and public health.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the impact of inadequate physical activity levels on physical and mental health
  • Apply a population level health systems approach to developing a physical activity improvement strategy
  • Demonstrate how to identify at-risk populations (across various age and a range of diverse groups) with insufficient activity levels

Mid-Semester Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 8 Thurs 27th April 2023. In your tutorial time
Weighting: 30%

 

Mid-semester quiz.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of a sedentary lifestyle on physical across the lifespan and a range of diverse groups
  • Describe the impact of inadequate physical activity levels on physical and mental health
  • Demonstrate how to identify at-risk populations (across various age and a range of diverse groups) with insufficient activity levels

Get Moving Podcast

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: Week 12 Fri 26th May 2023 11.55pm
Weighting: 40%

 

In a group, you will record a podcast that outlines consequences of sedentary lifestyle and initiatives on how to be more active.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of a sedentary lifestyle on physical across the lifespan and a range of diverse groups
  • Describe the impact of inadequate physical activity levels on physical and mental health
  • Apply a population level health systems approach to developing a physical activity improvement strategy

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online learning activities, including readings, lectures and tutorials. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.

Recommended readings:

Ainsworth, B. E., & Macera, C. A. (2012). Physical activity and public health practice. CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/b11718

Dishman, R. K., Heath, G., & Lee, I.-M. (2013). Physical activity epidemiology (2nd ed.). Human Kinetics.

Dugdill, L., Crone, D., & Murphy, R. (2009). Physical activity and health promotion : evidence-based approaches to practice. Blackwell.

Heath, G. W. (Ed.). (2019). Physical Activity & Public Health: A Practitioner's Handbook. APHA Press.

Kohl, Murray, T. D., & Salvo, D. (2020). Foundations of physical activity and public health (Second edition.). Human Kinetics.

Leitzmann, M. F., Jochem, C., & Schmid, D. (2018). Sedentary Behaviour Epidemiology (M. F. Leitzmann, C. Jochem, & D. Schmid, Eds.; 1st ed. 2018.). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61552-3

Weimo Zhu and Neville Owen (2017) Sedentary behaviour and health: Concepts, assessments, and interventions, Human Kinetics

Technology Used

Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.

Unit Schedule

Week

Lecture Concepts Covered

Laboratory/Tutorial Concepts Covered

1

  • Introduction to physical activity (definitions, burden of disease, disease prevention, concept of active living, beyond exercise and sport)
  • Critical reflection about activities of daily living (intensity, duration and domains) and how active living involves more than structured exercise and sport.

2

  • Benefits of physical activity – the evidence (epidemiology, guidelines)
  • No lab/tute

3

  • Sedentary behaviour and health – the evidence (epidemiology, guidelines)
  • No lab/tute

4

  • Physical activity and chronic conditions

 

  • Case studies on specific chronic conditions (e.g., obesity, CVD, diabetes, cancer, depression)

5

  • Physical activity and sedentary behaviour at the population level (plans and policies at regional, national and global levels)
  • No lab/tute

6

  • Physical activity across the lifespan
  • Case studies about different age groups

7

  • Physical activity in culturally and linguistically diverse communities
  • No lab/tute

8

  • Physical activity in Indigenous populations
  • Mid Semester Quiz
  • Modules about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

9

  • Promoting physical activity, reducing sedentary behaviour – what works
  • Case studies focusing on different settings

10

  • Systems approach to physical activity
  • Case study: Getting Australia Active III

 

11

  • Evaluating physical activity interventions
  • No lab/tute

12

  • Current debates, future directions
  • No lab/tute

 

13

  • Revision
  • No lab/tute

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Inclusion and Diversity

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.  

Professionalism

Fitness to Practice (FTP) is the demonstration of professional competence, acceptable professional behaviour, freedom from impairment and compliance with course-specific requirements needed for a student to practice properly and safely throughout their course and to appropriately practice within a professional environment as a future Exercise Scientist. 

Students undertaking the Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science are required to demonstrate they meet requirements of the four attributes of FTP - Conduct, Performance, Health and Compliance throughout their entire program of study so that they can meet the requirements of the exercise science profession. 

Students must also meet the inherent requirements to complete their degree, course, or unit and graduate. To meet the course requirements of the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science, full participation in practical classes which involve observation, manual handling, undertaking exercise for the purposes of instruction and demonstration is expected.

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.  

As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session. 

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know. 

 

Changes since First Published

Date Description
13/02/2023 Students must also meet the inherent requirements to complete their degree, course, or unit and graduate. To meet the course requirements of the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science, full participation in practical classes which involve observation, manual handling, undertaking exercise for the purposes of instruction and demonstration is expected.

Unit information based on version 2023.02 of the Handbook