Skip to main content
Unit of study_

EXSS3070: Advanced Exercise Programming and Delivery

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study builds on foundational knowledge of exercise testing and prescription in increasingly complex scenarios. Students will develop skills in special populations and settings, including group exercise, advanced high intensity interval training and resistance training techniques, as well as the pathophysiology and acute effects of exercise in clinical populations. Students will formally reflect on their current practice and proficiency in order to develop learning goals for their own continued skills and professional development.

Unit details and rules

Unit code EXSS3070
Academic unit Movement Sciences
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
EXSS2034
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Timothy English, tim.english@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Glen Davis, glen.davis@sydney.edu.au
Timothy English, tim.english@sydney.edu.au
Che Fornusek, che.fornusek@sydney.edu.au
Daniel Hackett, daniel.hackett@sydney.edu.au
Chin Moi Chow, chin-moi.chow@sydney.edu.au
Elizabeth Machan, elizabeth.cayanan@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Paul Watson, paul.watson@sydney.edu.au
Mark Liu, mark.liu@sydney.edu.au
Sarah Marvin, sarah.marvin@sydney.edu.au
David Hutchinson, david.hutchinson@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam Final exam
Examination
35% Formal exam period 1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment Video presentation and reflection task
Skills based evaluation
10% Week 04 5 min video and guided reflection
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5
Assignment 8-min video journal and 4-week exercise program implementing advanced exercise training techniques
Skills based evaluation
30% Week 09 8 min video & training program/logs
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Skills-based evaluation OSCE - Exercise delivery for a client with a pathology
Skills based evaluation
25% Week 13 15 min
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO7 LO6 LO5
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Video presentation: 5 min video of student trainer conducting group (minimum 3 other students in the cohort) exercise training, including both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness components.

Reflection task: Short evaluation of performance for 3 individuals in the group. Short, guided self-reflection on how well the student conducted the exercise training session, including identifying things that went well and things that need improvement.

4-week exercise program and 8-min video journal: Design and implement an individualised 4-week exercise program. Include training principles from content delivered over weeks 1-5. Submit completed training logs, an 8 min video journal and student reflection on learning.

OSCE: Delivery of exercise from a training session written by an AEP (provided to student) for a client with a pathology.

End-Semester Exam: Short and Long Answer questions covering content across the unit, with a focus on special populations and the pathophysiology of chronic conditions.

 

Assessment criteria

Result name Mark range Description
High distinction 85-100 Excpetional knowledge and skills
Distinction 75-84 High level of knowledge and skills
Credit 64-74 Good level of knowledge and skills
Pass 50-64 Basic level of knowledge and skills
Fail 0-49 Learning outcomes of the unit are not met to a
satisfactory standard. There is a risk of harm to
patients with the lack of knowledge and skill
demonstrated

 

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

If a student fails to attend their timeslot for the OSCE they will receive no marks for the assessment. Students will need approved Special Consideration for the opportunity to take a deferred OSCE.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to unit & design and implementation of group exercise testing and training/classes Lecture (2 hr)  
Design and instruct a group (10 clients – students) exercise class. Monitor (technique, heart rate, RPE) and provide feedback throughout session. Reflection on performance. Practical (2 hr)  
Week 02 High Intensity Exercise Testing and Training Lecture (2 hr)  
Assessment of anaerobic power and capacity. This will involve the conducting of the Wingate test and repeated sprint ability tests. Analyse and interpret the results of the tests. Reflection on performance. Practical (2 hr)  
Week 03 Advanced Resistance Training Techniques, Monitoring and Instruction Lecture (2 hr)  
Design high-intensity interval sessions (1 x indoor and 1x outdoor). Conduct one of these sessions with a client (student). Instruct, monitor (heart rate, blood pressure, RPE), provide feedback throughout session and document the data. Document a clinical case note of the session. Reflection on performance. Practical (2 hr)  
Week 04 Special populations: Elite, sub-elite and recreational athletes. Lecture (2 hr)  
Instructing free-weight exercises, integrating biomechanical and functional anatomical principles, ensuring good technique AND Case study – designing a periodized training program for a recreational athlete with a training history of greater than 12 months and results have plateaued. Practical (2 hr)  
Week 05 Special populations : Obesity and depression. Lecture (2 hr)  
Using machine or free-weight exercise, design and implement a resistance exercise session that incorporates advanced resistance training techniques (e.g. repetitions to failure, super sets, pre-exhaustion sets, cluster sets, drop sets). Document a clinical case note of the session. Reflection on performance. Practical (2 hr)  
Week 06 Special populations: Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes Lecture (2 hr)  
Case studies - Understanding the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome, T2D, and depression. Understand how to educate and practise educating clients (students) with metabolic syndrome, T2D and depression to change their health and physical activity behaviours. Exercise and medication interactions. Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 07 Special populations: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) - coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral artery/vascular disease (PAD/PVD) Lecture (2 hr)  
Case studies - Understanding the pathophysiology of CAD and PAD. Understand how to educate and practise educating clients (students) with CAD and PAD to help change their health and physical activity behaviours. Exercise and medication interactions. Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 08 Special populations: Respiratory disease – Asthma and COPD Lecture (2 hr)  
Case studies - Understanding the pathophysiology of obstructive respiratory diseases. Understand how to educate and practise educating clients (students) with obstructive respiratory disease to help change their health and physical activity behaviours. Exercise and medication interactions. Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 09 Delivery of Exercise Programs for those with CAD and PAD/PVD. Lecture (2 hr)  
Case studies – safely delivering EP programs for clients with CAD and PAD including clinical documentation. Reflection on performance. Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 10 Delivery of Exercise Programs for those with metabolic syndrome, T2D and depression. Lecture (2 hr)  
Case studies – safely delivering EP programs for clients with known metabolic syndrome, T2D and depression including clinical documentation. Reflection on performance. Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 11 Delivery of Exercise Programs for those with asthma and COPD Lecture (2 hr)  
Case studies – safely delivering EP programs for client with known asthma and COPD including clinical documentation. Reflection on performance. Tutorial (1 hr)  

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 10th Edition. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2017.

Coombes and Skinner: ESSA’s Student Manual for Health, Exercise and Sport Assessment. Elsevier, 2014.

Heyward, VH 2019, Advanced fitness assessment and exercise prescription, 8th ed., Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Select, perform, and evaluate a wide variety of advanced tests for cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness assessment and evaluate training programs for the improvement of performance
  • LO2. Apply a range of skills and knowledge to ensure that exercise sessions designed for the needs of individuals or groups using a variety of designs, are planned, and conducted in an
  • LO3. Design and justify resistance exercise programs for a range of individuals with different needs, including skills for instruction and correction of techniques, periodisation and use of ergogenic aids
  • LO4. Demonstrate the ability to monitor, evaluate, modify where necessary, and make referral to other professionals where relevant, to meet the implementation needs of an exercise program
  • LO5. Exhibit professional conduct that is sensitive to client diversity and equity and is consistent with the ESSA Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Practice.
  • LO6. Describe the effect of a range of chronic disease pathologies on the acute and chronic response to exercise
  • LO7. Explain the role of exercise and physical activity in the primary and secondary prevention of chronic disease

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is a new unit

Work, health and safety

WHS Compliance Checklist must be completed in Week 1

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.