SEHS is a human science driven by curiosity about what makes humankind flourish, both physically and mentally. Spanning multiple disciplines, it is the formal study of the impacts of physiology, biomechanics and psychology on human health and athletic performance. Its most prominent advances have occurred from the late 19th century onwards, in tandem with similar advances in other scientific and technological fields.
Like other DP sciences, SEHS is also an experimental science that combines academic study with the acquisition of practical and investigative skills. Students undertake practical experimental investigations in both laboratory and field settings. This helps them to acquire the knowledge and understanding necessary to apply scientific principles to the critical analysis of humankind and its sporting endeavors.
The course is divided into three themes: “Exercise physiology and nutrition of the human body”, “Biomechanics” and “Sports psychology and motor learning”. Each of these themes is explored through the dual lenses of health and performance.
In “Exercise physiology and nutrition of the human body”, students explore three topics:
Communication
Hydration and nutrition
Response
Students will explore guiding questions such as: “How does our body respond to changes in lifestyle, environment and qualities of training?”
In “Biomechanics”, students delve into three topics:
Generating movement in the body
Forces, motion and movement
Injury
Guiding questions include: “What are the primary causes of musculoskeletal injury?” and “How can they be prevented and treated?”
The third theme is “Sports psychology and motor learning”, where students probe five topics:
Individual differences
Motor learning
Motivation
Stress and coping
Psychological skills
Guiding questions may include: “What characteristics explain how and why some individuals succeed and experience well-being in sport and health contexts more than others?”
This is a 2 year course that will follow this course outline:
Key Concepts: Forces, Fuel for movement, Training & Learning
Topics and Subtopics:
A.2.2 Fueling for health and performance
A.2.3 Energy systems
A.3.1 Qualities of training
B.2.3 Movement analysis and its application
C.2.1 Motor learning processes
C.4.2 Coping
Key Concepts: Individual differences, Forces & Response
Topics and Subtopics:
B.2.2 Fluid mechanics
C.1 Individual differences
C.3 Motivation
C.5 Psychological skills
A.1.1.2 The endocrine system—Reproductive hormones only
Key Concepts: Structure and function Forces
Topics and Subtopics: (Unit 1 Learning Outcomes Specified in this Document)
B.1.3 Muscular function
B.1.2 Structure and function of connective tissues and joints
B.1.4 Levers in movement and sport
B.2.1 Newton’s laws of motion
B.1.1 Anatomical position, planes and movement
Key Concepts: Energy, Homeostasis & Response
Topics and Subtopics: (Unit 2 Learning Outcomes Specified in this Document)
A.2.3 Energy systems
A.1.1 Inter-system communication—but not “reproductive hormones”
A.1.2 Maintaining homeostasis, but not A1.2.2
A.1.3 Transport
A.2.1 Water and electrolyte balance
C.2.2 Attentional control
C.4.1 Arousal and anxiety
Key Concepts: Forces & Health
Topics and Subtopics:
B.3 Injury
A.3.2 Benefits to health of being active
Sports, Exercise and Health Science, Oxford
Google Classroom is an essential part this class. The enrollment code for classes:
Google Classroom Enrollment Code: 4sxvahtx
We will occasionally use Gizmos as there are few related to our topics.
Gizmos Login Link: https://apps.explorelearning.com/account/el/login/student
Class Enrollment Code:
Students are expected to complete assignments ON TIME. If work is not done on time, submit it ASAP. No late work will be accepted once a Topic Assessment has been given.
If absent on the day of an assessment you will have ONE week from this date to complete that assessment. Failure to do so will result in zero for the assessment.
If there is an issue in accomplishing any one of these two tasks, the student MUST meet with me in a timely manner and not the last day of a deadline.
No points will be taken off late work but for each assignment NOT completed on time, points will be deducted from an assignment specific academic responsibility score.