University of Technology Sydney

92524 Health and Lifespan Development

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Health
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level: Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject examines the cognitive, psychosocial and physical domains of human development in the context of sport and exercise. Students explore the changes that occur within human beings from birth to death. Specifically, students investigate the effects of age, gender, ethnicity and culture on health and development. Students engage with pre-class learning activities, case study discussions, tutorials and lectures with a focus on developing a strong theoretical understanding, as well as developing proficiency in evaluating practical real-world scenarios and applying knowledge related to health and lifespan development.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
A. Describe and discuss the processes of human growth and development over the lifespan with particular reference to physical, cognitive and socioemotional development
B. Examine the influence of age, gender, cultural background and developmental stages on individual exercise capacity and motivation to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle
C. Evaluate the impact of health and physical activity on human growth and development across the lifespan
D. Examine the culturally significant issues surrounding indigenous Australians and the effect on their health and wellbeing

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:

  • Take personal, social and ethical responsibility for their contribution to sport, exercise and health (2.0)
  • Competently apply knowledge and skills within the sport, exercise and health professions (3.0)
  • Engage in research and critical thinking to integrate diverse knowledge and develop creative, effective and evidence-based solutions (4.0)
  • Adapt to diverse industry contexts to enable optimal and sustainable sport, exercise and health outcomes (5.0)
  • Demonstrate professional cultural competency which contributes to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, inclusive of physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellness (7.0)

Teaching and learning strategies

The following teaching and learning activities will be used to engage students with the content and achieve student learning outcomes:

Online lectures provide students with essential knowledge that can be used to understand the theoretical and practical basis of human health and development across the lifespan. All lectures will be recorded using screen capture software and uploaded to Canvas. Students may access these lecture recordings at any time from the relevant week until the completion of the unit.

The foundational knowledge covered in lectures is further developed through pre-class tasks and tutorial activities. Students will be required to complete pre-class tasks that introduce weekly topics. These activities may include watching online videos or discussing a practical scenario. During tutorial sessions, students will engage with instructors and peers to undertake practical learning activities. These sessions will involve students working collaboratively to complete case study tasks and workbook activities.

Each week students will also be provided with formative online quizzes and practical problem-solving tasks to assess content knowledge. Students are strongly encouraged to complete these practice questions prior to summative assessment tasks. Feedback will be provided to students throughout the session via several mediums. Students are also provided with optional readings each week. These readings are not essential to complete in this unit but may provide students with an alternate more in-depth explanation of each topic area. Students are encouraged to use this resource if a greater explanation is required from the one provided in class.

Content (topics)

  • Growth, development and ageing
  • Cognitive, psychosocial and physical development throughout the lifespan
  • Physiological changes to the cardiorespiratory and muscular systems with ageing
  • Sport and exercise in infancy and childhood
  • Sport and exercise in adolescence
  • Sport and exercise in adulthood
  • Sport and exercise in diverse populations

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Podcast Assignment

Intent:

The purpose of this assessment task is for students to explore, critically appraise and to effectively and creatively communicate a concept in lifespan development. Students will be required to link a developmental concept to health, physical activity and/or sports engagement.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

A, B, C and D

This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s):

2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 7.0

Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 30%
Length:

Maximum of 4 minutes

Assessment task 2: Case Study Report

Intent:

This assessment task is designed to assess students understanding of the range of issues that encompass health and lifespan development. Students will be required to apply problem-solving and decision-making skills to a real-word scenario.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

A, B, C and D

This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s):

2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 7.0

Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 30%
Length:

Maximum 1000 words

Assessment task 3: Final Examination

Intent:

The purpose of this examination is to assess a student’s understanding of factors that underpin health and lifespan development. In this assessment, students will be asked to analyse and interpret information presented in lectures and laboratories throughout the session.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

A, B, C and D

This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s):

2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 7.0

Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%
Length:

2 hours

Required texts

The is no required text for this subject.

Recommended texts

The required preparatory activities for this subject will be advised on Canvas prior to any on campus classes. Please complete the set preparatory activities prior to the class in the week required.

NB: It is essential that students complete all required prepreparatory activities. The required preparatory activities will be considered assumed knowledge for tutorial classes and the examination.

References

Payne, V. G., & Isaacs, L. D. (2017). Human Motor Development: A Lifespan Approach (9th edition). McGraw-Hill Education.

Sigelman, C. K., & Rider, E. A. (2014). Life-span Human Development (3rd edition). Cengage Learning.

Other resources

UTS Student Centre
Building 10
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)

Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts

For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and Canvas at: https://canvas.uts.edu.au/.

UTS Library
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support you including textbooks, subject readings, old exam papers, academic writing guides, health literature databases, workshops, a gaming room and bookable group study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with all your questions.
W: lib.uts.edu.au, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666

Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.

HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733

Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.

The Accessibility and Financial Assistance Service
The Accessibility Service can support students with disabilities, medical or mental health conditions, including temporary injuries (e.g., broken limbs). The Accessibility Service works with Academic Liaison Officers in each Faculty to provide ‘reasonable adjustments’ such as exam provisions, assistive technology, requests and strategies for managing your studies alongside your health condition. If you’re unsure whether you need assistance, we recommend getting in touch early and we can provide advice on how our service can assist you. Make an appointment with an Accessibility Consultant (AC) on +61 2 9514 1177 or Accessibility@uts.edu.au.

The Financial Assistance Service can assist you with financial aspects of life at university, including Centrelink information, tax returns and budgeting, interest-free student loans and grants to assist with course-related costs. Check eligibility and apply online and make an appointment on +61 2 9514 1177 or Financial.assistance@uts.edu.au.