Kinesiology Student Learning Outcomes
Website Information
Learning and Teaching
Mission: The Department of Kinesiology promotes health and well-being through discovery, learning, and engagement in the study of physical activity. In particular we make these contributions through our two main areas: behavioral and biological bases of physical activity. We seek to improve the lives of citizens of Iowa, the U.S., and the world by the creation and dissemination of knowledge about physical activity and its relationship to health and well-being. Essential aspects of these efforts are the preparation of scholars and professionals in the study of physical activity at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition we educate the public and the University community in the scientific aspects of physical activity especially exercise, sport, and the movements of daily life.
Specifically by:
preparing professionals for leadership roles in the field of health and human performance, specifically exercise and sport science (including athletic training, exercise and sport studies, exercise science, sport management, and physical education teaching) and community health education (community/public health, substance abuse prevention, and wellness/fitness)
providing learning experiences related to physical activity, dance, and health for the general population of university students, faculty, and staff
Desired outcomes of the program – Back to the Top
Undergraduate programs. The Department of Kinesiology has eight learning outcomes. Five of these are outcomes directly related to class experience (outcomes 1-5), the expectation is that one or more of the outcomes are addressed in each of our courses. Three outcomes are a result of the broader university experience (outcomes 6-8) and therefore one or more maybe addressed in any of our courses. The KIN learning outcomes are as follows:
- Content knowledge. Broad conceptual view of physical activity and health, recognizes its scientific underpinnings (e.g., history, content, disciplinary concepts, tools of inquiry), and appreciates the interdisciplinary nature of the study of physical activity and health. Literacy will be gained from the personal, scholarly and professional perspectives.
- Discovery and Critical Thinking. The student can use accepted techniques of discovery and apply critical thinking within and outside of the discipline area. The student will solve problems independently and evaluate opinions and outcomes at the personal, scholarly and professional levels.
- Communication. The student uses knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal and media communication techniques to foster inquiry, collaboration, and engagement in physical activity and health related settings.
- Numeracy. The student understands and uses qualitative and quantitative analysis through formal and informal assessment strategies.
- Technology. The student understands and uses a variety of technological applications to improve personal understanding and enhance scholarly pursuits and professional practice in their chosen area of study.
- Citizenship. The student uses value and ethics based decision making to demonstrate personal, professional and world citizenship through fostering relationships, embracing leadership, accepting social responsibility, seeking and completing opportunities to improve the quality of life for others.
- Lifelong learning. The student is a reflective professional who actively seeks to further self-knowledge and seeks opportunities to grow professionally.
- Diversity. The student understands how individuals differ in their approaches to initiating and maintaining a physically active, healthy lifestyle, and creates appropriate environments for diverse participants.
Graduate Programs. The Department of Kinesiology has two outcomes for graduate students. The outcomes for KIN graduate programs are:
- Content Knowledge. The student understands central issues and current research of the field, is familiar with the breadth and depth of the field, and is able to communicate this knowledge.
- Discovery and Critical Thinking. The student is able to design, conduct, and assess the results of a meaningful research project. The student can present orally and in writing these results to a professional audience.
Measurement of outcomes (assessment) – Back to Top
Undergraduate programs. The Department of Kinesiology offers one undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health), with five curricular options (Physical Education Licensure, Health/Fitness Management, Athletic Training, Exercise Science and Community & Public Health). The Department of Kinesiology approved learning outcomes and revised the undergraduate curriculum to address those outcomes. Each faculty member has been evaluating student performance on the outcomes, independent from student grades. Individual faculty assessments have been collated at the department level. Further, a survey of graduates and their employers is planned for the fall of 2005.
Student Outcomes: Results
As a result of examining student performance on the outcomes by course, faculty have altered assignments to improve alignment with the outcomes. Further, faculty members are more aware of the relationship of their course to the outcomes. The next step is to revise the curriculum, once the data from graduates (2005 are the first graduates under the new curriculum). The data faculty have generated on student learning outcomes suggests that the faculty are generally pleased with student progress. So, the key determining factors in changing the curriculum will be data from graduates and employers.
Two of the option areas require program specific outcomes and independent testing of students for licensing, athletic training and teacher education. Graduates in both areas are successful in achieving licensure.
The alignment of the learning outcomes to the course objectives for the basic and advanced core is presented in Table 1. A matrix demonstrating the alignment of the outcomes, course objectives and course evaluations for the core classes is presented in Table 2. A matrix of the course content by courses was developed to help faculty see the potential for progression and is presented in Table 3.
Graduate programs. The Department of Kinesiology (KIN) offers the Master’s of Science in Kinesiology and Health and the Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology and Health Degrees. There are two specializations offered in each degree, behavioral basis of physical activity and the biological basis of physical activity. Student progress on the learning outcomes is monitored at three points, these are:
M.S. program: Program of Study approval, Thesis proposal, Thesis defense.
Ph.D. program: Program of Study approval, Preliminary exam, Thesis Defense.
Feedback process—informing change – Back to the Top
Undergraduate program. The first graduates in the department, when it was called Health and Human Performance, completed their studies in May of 2005. The Department of Kinesiology, as it is now named, is in the process of developing evaluations of the curriculum in terms of the learning outcomes for those graduates. The results will be used to inform curricular revisions during the 2005-6 academic year to be included in the next catalog.
Graduate programs.
The Graduate Executive Committee reviews the annual evaluations of graduate students to determine patterns of concern regarding the learning outcomes of our graduate students. The primary indicators of mastery of the outcomes is in publications and presentations of the student’s research.
Supporting Teaching and Learning – Back to Top
Faculty. The faculty, lead by the curriculum committee, is vested with the responsibility for teaching and learning. The faculty is encouraged to participate in workshops, seminars and other forums that facilitate teaching and learning. The annual evaluation of faculty work critically examines the reflection of individual faculty on their teaching and their student’s learning.
Budget. Funds are available for instructional support for courses in the form of equipment, technology, supplies and instructional assistance.
Technology in classrooms. Most of the classrooms have been upgraded to include the latest in instructional technology, including wireless internet, LCD projectors, and video/DVD players. Three core laboratory classes and several option courses use technology appropriate to the content, for example ….
Student Computer Laboratory. The Department has a student computer laboratory in the Forker Building with dedicated desktop (IBM and MAC), laptop and printers for student use. Digital video equipment is available and interfaces with the computers in this lab. Technology support staff are available during most business hours to assist students.
Curriculum. The KIN curriculum began with learning outcomes, then developed courses to meet those outcomes. The theory was that each outcome cut across three levels of the undergraduate curriculum (basic core/personal perspective, advanced core/scholarly perspective and options/professional perspective). As students matriculate their mastery of the outcomes increases as do the expectations. Early in the courses and curriculum lower levels of cognition are expected (comprehend, understand, apply) while later in courses and the curriculum the cognitive demand increases (analysis, synthesis and evaluation) as described by Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Graduate Student Teaching. Graduate students are mentored in teaching and learning as part of their preparation. Typically the graduate student would present a lecture while being observed by their faculty mentor, teach laboratories under the mentorship of another more experienced graduate student or a faculty member, and finally teach a section of a course under the supervision of a their mentor. Our graduate program is based on the “preparing future faculty” model and emphasizes teaching during graduate preparation.
Learning environment – Back to Top
Physical
The Department of Kinesiology is housed in the Forker Building. Most classes are conducted in this building. Offices for full time faculty and both teaching and research laboratories are in the Forker Building. Classrooms are equipped with LCD projectors with video capability, adjustable lighting, wireless internet and other more traditional instructional equipment (black boards, overhead projectors). Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in several courses use research labs and teaching labs for class experiences. Those labs are described in the next section. Specific lab experiences for undergraduates are as follows:
Ex Sp 358: The labs for exercise physiology cover the general sections of exercise physiology; cardiovascular, respiratory, muscle, environmental and anatomical. Students collect data on peers under the supervision of faculty or graduate students and write lab reports on the results.
Ex Sp 372: The labs for motor control and learning involve small group discussions of questions that integrate content from lecture as well as data collection, analysis and interpretation of results. All students also make a 10 minute power point presentation of research from their term paper.
Ex Sp 458: The labs for Exercise testing and prescription focus on fitness testing and cardiovascular risk assessment. Students test peers and have the opportunity to assess non-students (e.g., Highway Patrol) extending the class activities.
Athletic Training. Students work with certified athletic trainers and physical therapist who serve 18 varsity sports in five athletic training rooms, an on-campus physical therapy clinic, and three off-campus sites. The rotations allow an athletic training student to gain experience with different athletes and patients and to interact with different health care personnel. Students do clinical rotations at Cyclone Sports Medicine Clinic, Ames High School, McFarland Clinic and Drake University.
Physical Education Licensure: Students have two types of field experience. On-campus experience in Ex Sp 275 and some other courses is with children from HDFS lab classes and homeschool students in 202 Forker. Off-campus experiences include placements in ACSD and surrounding schools, Willson-Beardshear Early Learning Center and St. Cecilia’s School (Ames). The culminating experience is student teaching. Students do 8 weeks of elementary student teaching in Iowa or at centers in Houston or Omaha. Secondary student teaching can be international (England, Australia, Czech Republic, Italy) or at the same sites used for elementary, this placement is also for 8 weeks.
Research Environment – Back to Top
With a renovation of about 6000 square feet on the first floor of the Forker Building, a unified set of Human Performance Laboratories has been created. The newly renovated space connects with about 4000 square feet of previous individual labs (described individually in the following sections) to create the Human Performance Laboratories that includes an undergraduate teaching lab, conference room, and office space as well as individual labs in applied motor development, exercise biochemistry, exercise physiology, exercise psychology, health promotion and exercise, hemodynamics, molecular exercise physiology, motor control/learning, and pediatric exercise science. These labs support research of faculty working with undergraduate and graduate students including projects that are supported by grants and contracts.
Motor Control and Learning Lab is a 900 sq ft facility with state-of-the-art equipment. It is located on ground level near a parking lot, so is easily accessible for clinical populations. We have online data acquisition capabilities, including 3-D motion analysis & ability to process & complete data analyses. State-of-the-art 900 sq ft Biomechanics Lab is next door for support in video assessment and digitizing.
Applied Motor Development Lab is comprised of two sections. The first is a 312 square foot facility with state-of-the-art video equipment (digital and analog) including split screen video. This part has one-way glass overlooking the second part, a large gymnasium that is used for research and instruction. The gym includes a rock climbing wall and other permanent equipment. An adjacent storage area houses all the moveable equipment necessary for a best practice elementary physical education program.
Exercise Physiology Lab
The Biomechanics Laboratory is 36' by 50' research and teaching facility located within the Department of Kinesiology at Iowa State University. This laboratory is equipped with an eight-camera Peak Vicon video system for tracking and analyzing three-dimensional human movements. Two AMTI force platforms are used to measure postural balance and forces between the ground and an individual's feet. An eight-channel Octostim stimulator is used to deliver electrical stimulation pulses to muscles via surface electrodes. Two three-dimensional Kistler force transducers measure hand-support forces applied to a bench or walker during functional movements such as sit-to-stand transfers. An Exeter impact tester is used for evaluating the shock absorption properties of athletic playing surfaces and equipment. Matlab software is used to run biomechanical simulations, SIMM software is used to develop musculoskeletal model, and SPSS/SAS software is used for statistical analyses. Students utilize the Biomechanics Lab for ExSp 355, and undergraduate advanced core class. For example, students in ExSp 355 participate in lab exercises to evaluate jumping on different mat surfaces, running with different types of shoes, and sit-to-stand movements during simulated pregnancy.
Applied physiology and fitness lab. Room 140 of the Forker Building is the Fitness/Wellness Teaching Laboratory. Besides a seating area specifically designed for teaching undergraduates, the Laboratory is fully equipped to educate students on the procedures of completing fitness assessments and cardiovascular disease risk assessment. This equipment includes 2 stress test systems and a crash cart (to assess the presence of cardiovascular disease), 4 Monark cycle ergometers (cardiovascular fitness); a Biodex isokinetic dynamometer, several handgrip dynamometers, bench press system and several floor mats (muscular strength and endurance); 2 sit-and-reach systems (back flexibility); digital scale, several skinfold calipers, anthropometric tapes and a digital hydrostatic underweighing (body composition); and several mercury sphygmomanometers.
Learning Communities – Back to Top
The Department of Kinesiology has two learning communities. One of for Freshman, the other for transfer students. The learning community is associated with Ex Sp 255, the introductory class that is part of the basic core.
The Department of Kinesiology sponsors several student organizations. Including:
Alliance of Health and Fitness Professionals is for students interested in fitness and wellness.
Eta Sigma Gamma is open to community health education majors and minors.
Kinesiology and Health Club is open to all students. However, many activities focus on sport and physical education.
KIN Graduate Student Association is open to all graduate students in the department.
Athletic Training Club is targeted at students enrolled in the Athletic Training Option.
Orchesis I is an audition dance club.
Orchisis II is a non-audition dance club.
Strength and Conditioning Club is open to all students interested in strength and conditioning with an emphasis on team sports.
