On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1	Describe the components of the sensory/perceptual systems and contributions from the action systems in movement control.
2	Describe the major (neuro)physiological mechanisms and changes underlying motor learning and recovery of function.
3	Describe the development of postural control, how postural control modulates with aging and the aspects underlying abnormal postural control
4	Describe the characteristics of normal reach, grasp and manipulation and how these changes across the lifespan and with abnormalities
5	Demonstrate an ability to use neurophysiological and psychophysical procedures for assessing and quantifying optimal human movement control and learning
6	Apply scientific methods and research processes as it relates to movement control learning

Several texts will be helpful in guiding your understanding of the course material, and you will be directed to the relevant resources at the appropriate time. A sample of helpful resources is provided below:  

1. Shumway-Cook, A. & Woollacott, M.H. (5th Edition) Motor Control: Translating Research Into Clinical Practice. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
2. Magill, R.A. 2011 (9th Edition) Motor Learning and Control: Concepts and Applications. McGraw-Hill
3. Ives, J.C. (2014) Motor Behaviour: connecting mind and body for optimal performance. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
4. Schmidt, R. A., & Lee, T. D. (2011). Motor Control and Learning: A Behavioral Emphasis (5th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
5. Kandel Schwartz & Jessel (2000/2013). Principles of Neural Science 4/e and 5/e. McGraw-Hill.
6. Lord SR, Sherrington C, Menz HB & Close JCT  (2007). Falls in older people: Risk factors and strategies for prevention. 2nd Ed.
   Cambridge Uni Press.

References to various scientific journal articles will also be made. Understanding the science/research in relation to these articles is essential for a high score in the course. These journals are available online on the library website (e.g. pubmed) for university students.

Lectures will be implemented online using audio-visual recordings and students are expected to view and go through the online lectures prior to the two-hours workshop. The workshops will be used as an informal platform to reinforce lecture content, discuss and engage in activities related to lecture material. Students will also be involved in a research-based discovery project during the workshops. The workshops will not be recorded.

The course will be delivered via online lectures, workshops and practicals. A total of 4 practicals will be held in the semester to provide students with an opportunity to translate concepts learnt in online lectures and workshops to practical/research contexts and to demonstrate their innovativeness. Attendance at these sessions is mandatory. Students’ understanding of the material will be assessed using in-class/online tests and practical reports. Students should use the lecture outline and learning objectives at the beginning of each lecture as study guide for all assessments in the course. The activities and questions attempted in the workshop will also prove beneficial and provide guidance on how students should be studying for the course.

A full-time student should expect to spend, on average, a total of 48 hours per week on their studies.  This includes both the formal contact time required for the course (i.e. workshops, practicals), as well as non-contact time (i.e. viewing online lectures, reading and revision for exams). Human Motor Behaviour and Learning is a 3-unit course.  As such, the expected workload will on average be 12 hours per week, including up to 4 contact hours per week.

Students will cover the following topics in a series of online lectures,workshops and practicals (tentative semester schedule below). Please note that this schedule is subject to minor changes at the discretion of the course coordinator.

THEME 1: SENSORIMOTOR CONTROL

Week 1: Somatosensory System, Internal Models, Muscle Afferents
Week 2: Cutaneous and Joint Receptors, Vestibular System, Visual System
Week 3: Voluntary Movement, Ascending & Descending Pathways, Primary Motor Cortex (Prac 1) + Test 1 (on Theme 1)

THEME 2: MOTOR LEARNING AND RECOVERY

Week 4: Motor Behavior, Motor skills and measurement of motor performance, Performance and Action Preparation
Week 5: Attention, Memory, Motor skill learning and specifics of Internal models
Week 6: Demonstrations, Instructions, Augmented Feedback, Practice Structure
Week 7: Learning in Simple Systems, LTP and LTD (Prac 2)
Week 8: Test 2 (on Theme 2)

THEME 3: POSTURAL CONTROL

Week 9: Posture and Balance Terms, Postural Control, Sensory Contributions to Postural Control (*Public holliday - no workshop*)
Week 10: Risk Factors for Falling, Balance assessment and falls, Cerebellum & Balance, Case studies (Prac 3)

THEME 4: REACH, GRASP & MANIPULATION

Week 11 & 12: Normal Reach, Grasp and Manipulation, Movement Control Principles, General Movement Principles, Case Studies (Prac 4)
Week 13: Test 3 (on Theme 3 & 4)

Details of each assessment task are shown below. In brief, the course contains 3 written tests covering course content and 4 practical assignments. Dates and explicit details for each assessment task will be given in advance via MyUni.

Marks for the different components of the course are assigned in the following proportions.

Written Exams (60% of total mark)

Test 1 (Theme 1) - 15%
Test 2 (Theme 2) - 15%
Test 3 (Themes 3 & 4) - 30%

Practical Components - (40% of total mark) 

4 practical mini assignments (10% each - attendance in labs is required to submit assignments and attain the grade)

The final marks for Human Motor Behaviour & Learning may be moderated under some circumstances. Moderation is only ever used to improve a mark or grade, not to decrease it.

Tests

The tests in the course are designed to assess learning during the semester. They will assess understanding of principles and problem solving capabilities. Questions will be based around lecture and workshop material discussed throughout the semester.

Practical Components

Students will be required to answer a few questions related to the laboratory session that includes details of data collection, analysis and interpretation. Attendance is compulsory in the practical sessions in order to attain a grade for the submitted answers.

Hurdle Requirements and Course Criteria

To successfully pass the course students must achieve all of the following criteria:

Achieve at least 45% in examinations and achieve an overall grade of at least 50% for the course

Replacement Exams Policy

This applies to ALL exams, including those held during class, not just those at the end of semester exam period.

Students seeking a replacement examination must refer to the University policy. The policy and an application form can be downloaded from the following site: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/supps.html

Requests for replacement examinations should be made by submission of the completed form and supporting documentation to the course coordinator. If the illness or exceptional personal circumstance occurred before the exam, students must submit their application for supplementary assessment no later than 5 business days after the occurrence of the condition, illness and/or exceptional personal circumstances, which form the grounds on which their application is made, regardless of the date of the
primary exam. If the illness or exceptional personal circumstance occurred on the day of the exam, students must notify the course coordinator and apply for a supplementary exam within 5 business days of the date of the primary exam. The application will be considered by the School’s Examinations Committee who will decide the outcome based on the materials provided by the student in support of their application and in line with the policies of both the University and the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The School Examinations Committee will not approve applications for supplementary examinations where the nature of the illness is considered minor. This decision cannot be made where no evidence is provided as to the severity of the illness. We strongly respect the right of students to keep the specific nature of their illness confidential. However the new University Policy on Replacement exams requires your medical practitioner to complete sections 2-4 of the appropriate form: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/3303/?dsn=policy.document;field=data;id=7446;m=view certifying that they considered your illness to be major. Replacement examinations cannot be approved without this certification (i.e. on the basis of a medical certificate alone). Students are strongly advised to take a copy of this form with them for completion by their medical practitioner at the time of their consultation.

1. Staff will clearly indicate the deadline (date and time) for coursework submission in the course information contained within MyUni.
2. Unless otherwise indicated, coursework should be submitted electronically via MyUni. Any students experiencing technical difficulties should contact the course coordinator at the earliest opportunity.
3. Coursework received after the deadline will be penalised as follows: 10% of total available points will be penalised per day (24 hour period or fraction thereof). An automatic zero mark will be applied after 7 days.
4. The deadline time will be strictly enforced according to the digital time displayed. Weekends and public holidays ARE included as penalty days.
5. Coursework submitted to any location other than those specified will not be accepted. This includes submissions to personal staff email addresses. Submission dates may be extended under exceptional circumstances. Please refer to the Modified arrangements for coursework assessment policy. You need to see the course coordinator at the earliest opportunity if you feel that you require an extension. Upon receipt of an application for extension http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/3303/?dsn=policy.document;field=data;id=7446;m=view staff may: Refuse permission for extension, specifying the appropriate reason(s); or Grant permission for extension without penalty; or Grant permission for extension with a penalty as guided by this policy.