School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Motor Learning and Control
  • Unit Code

    SPS2516
  • Year

    2025
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    3
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Daniel KADLEC

Description

This unit introduces students to the key concepts and theories of motor learning and motor control. Practical tasks will enable students to conduct and interpret typical assessments of motor behaviour, and to design and evaluate effective learning environments for the learning of motor skills.

Non Standard Timetable Requirements

Online Students will be required to participate in 2 x laboratory sessions conducted at the Joondalup Campus during the semester. Please see timetable for dates and times.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded {SPS1201, SPS2112}

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe the structure and function of the neuromuscular and sensory systems as they relate to the control of movement.
  2. Apply appropriate test protocols, including the strengths and limitations of the protocols to assess aspects of motor behaviour.
  3. Explain the changes in motor function or motor performance that may occur with motor learning across the lifespan, in response to injury or disease, and in different contexts.
  4. Discuss the common theoretical models that explain motor control and the processes of motor learning and skill acquisition.
  5. Design motor learning environments and protocols to maximise an individual’s motor control and learning in various contexts and stages of life.

Unit Content

  1. Neuromuscular anatomy and physiology, including sensory receptors, and spinal cord pathways.
  2. Assessment techniques in motor behaviour.
  3. Analysis and interpretation of changes in motor function and performance.
  4. Motor control theories and contemporary ideas and practical examples.
  5. Principles of skill learning - definition of learning, stages of learning, structuring the learning experience, providing feedback.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 2 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 1.5 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Additional Learning Experience Information

Students are required to complete a self-directed learning activity to build fundamental knowledge and will complete formative learning tests (online) to support their development of module content. Students will participate in practical laboratory sessions, where they learn to apply their knowledge in practical ways. As part of the report assessment, students will complete their own practice and learning of a designated motor skill using a specific practice method. At three different time points during the training period, students are required to submit video evidence of themselves practising the designated motor skill, and measures of their performance at each time point. Individual data from all students will be entered into an excel spreadsheet for analysis. This assessment also includes the design of practice activities to improve the performance of a self-selected movement challenge.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit information may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ReportAnalysis, interpretation and application of theories in motor control 30%
TestMotor learning and control quizzes30%
ExaminationEnd of semester exam40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ReportAnalysis, interpretation and application of theories in motor control.30%
TestMotor learning and control quizzes30%
ExaminationEnd of semester exam40%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

SPS2516|3|1