Congratulations to the ReCon XI award winners:

Nic Cheung: Best Oral Presentation

Jess Leverett: Best Poster Presentation

Jimena Lopez Lamas: People's Choice Award

Thank you for attending ReCon XI this year! 

We appreciate your support and enthusiastic participation.

Please fill out the feedback form below by April 21, 2024.

Conference Schedule:

Morning

8:00am - 8:30am - Registration

8:30am - 8:45am - Welcome and Land Acknowledgement - Andrew Brotto, KSRGSS President & Kristi Skebo, ReCon Coordinator

8:45am - 10:15am - Oral Presentations Session #1

10:15am - 10:30am - Snack and coffee break

10:30am - 12:00pm - PD session: "Failure is Not Forever: What's Next?"- Challenges and failures experienced during graduate school journey and how to navigate them

- Dr. Josephine Godwyll, Dr. Taniya Nagpal, Dr. Jo Sheppard

Lunch

12:00pm - 1:00pm - Buffet style lunch (healthy lifestyle, including a chicken main-course)

Afternoon

1:00pm - 2:00pm - Keynote presentation: Dr. Nancy Spencer - topic TBA

2:00pm - 3:00pm - Oral presentations #2

3:00pm - 3:15pm - Afternoon break (coffee and tea available)

3:15pm - 4:00pm - Rod Murray Memorial Award Address: Clara-Jane Blye

4:00pm -5:30pm - Poster Presentations & Social Networking (snacks and light refreshments)

5:30pm - 5:45pm - Awards and Closing - Dr. Liz Halpenny & Kristi Skebo, ReCon Coordinator

5:45pm - 6:00pm - Poster take down and clean up

Vote for the People's Choice Award on April 12!

Did you see or hear a presentation today that reasonated with you? Intrigued you? Made you want to learn more?

Use the form below to vote for your favourite oral presentation (morning or afternoon session)

Oral Presentation Abstracts

Morning Oral Presentations

Making decisions on the Great Divide Trail - how do managers balance a dual-mandate in backcountry areas?

Regan F. Coyne1

1. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Protected natural areas are spaces that generate extensive discourse. Land managers are challenged to make difficult decisions as they seek to balance dual mandates to protect ecological integrity while also supporting recreational access. Dive into how land managers along the Great Divide Trail (GDT) seek to solve this equation. The GDT is a long-distance backcountry hiking trail that passes through five national parks, two provinces and 11 provincial parks, two wilderness areas, two special management areas and five forest districts. Each of these agencies approaches ecological management and recreational access in different ways ranging from high to low levels of regulation and management. As these GDT land management agencies and their staff enact and utilize different policies and practices, understanding how they conserve and protect land, wildlife, and waters located along the Trail, and in particular, how they simultaneously address ecological protection goals with mandates to support recreational access, can teach us important lessons about efforts to optimize recreation and ecological goals. Answering this question will advise other land managers’ efforts to balance these demands in their practice of recreation ecology in backcountry spaces.

No pain, same gain? A 6-second Wingate test to determine maximal peak power in endurance athletes

Joao Henrique Falk Neto (1), Aidan K. Comeau (1), Normand Boule (1, 2), Kelvin E. Jones (1, 3), Michael Kennedy (1)

1. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2. Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, 3. Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

A 6-second all-out test has been used to determine an athlete’s maximal peak power (MPP). Two to three trials within the same session are usually performed to increase the precision of the test. However, the reliability of the test in trained endurance athletes is unknown. Further, the physiological demands of these efforts have yet to be described. This study aimed to assess the intra- and inter-day reliability of a 6-second Wingate (WG) test to determine MPP in endurance athletes and to describe the physiological demands of performing two 6-second WG tests separated by 3 minutes of active rest.

Endurance-trained participants (22 males, 5 females) completed nine 6-second WG tests over four days (3 trials at baseline, 2 trials on each subsequent day). The tests were performed on an electronically braked cycling ergometer against a load equivalent to 7.5% of the participant’s bodyweight. The reliability of the tests within- and between-days was assessed through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the standard error of measurement (SEM). Oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), and perception of effort were analyzed before and after each WG test. Blood lactate was measured at baseline, after the 2nd WG test, and 10 minutes after the test.

There was no difference in MPP values across the trials. The test displayed excellent between-day (ICC = 0.95, SEM = 40.0W, SEM% = 3.7%) and within-day reliability. HR, VO2, and RPE increased significantly after WG1 and WG2. HR and VO2 reached 86% and 88%, and 70% and 76%, respectively, of their maximal values after WG1 and WG2. Blood lactate remained elevated above resting levels for 10 minutes.

A 6-second WG test is a reliable method to determine MPP in endurance athletes. The test leads to an increase in physiological stress that athletes are likely to be fully recovered from within 3 to 10 minutes. "

Associations between Movement Behaviours and Psychosocial Health in Preschoolers

Tian Wang(1,2), Valerie Carson(1), Jie Zhuang(2)

1. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2. School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport

Background: The objective of this study was to examine: 1) adhere to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for movement behaviours and 2) associations between movement behaviours and psychosocial development in 315 preschool children aged 3-6 years from Shanghai, China utilizing a compositional data analysis approach.

Methods: From March to November 2023, accelerometry (physical activity, sedentary time, sleep) and questionnaire (screen time) data were collected to measure movement behaviours. Meeting WHO Guidelines was defined as (1) ≥180 min/day of total physical activity, including 60 min/day of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA), (2) ≤1 h/day of screen time, and (3) 10–13 h of sleep per 24-hour period. Psychosocial development was parental-reported via the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Demographic information was also parental reported. Descriptive statistics and compositional regression models were completed with sleep duration, sedentary time, light-intensity physical activity, and MVPA.

Results: Only 6.4% of children met the overall WHO Guidelines, with a lower percentage observed in girls (2.3%) compared to boys (6%).More time spent sleeping, relative to other movement behaviours was significantly associated with a lower externalizing behaviours (βilr = 0.18, p = 0.01) and conduct issues (βilr = 0.19, p = 0.009) as well as higher prosocial behaviours (βilr = -0.20, p = 0.002). No other significant associations were observed between movement behaviours and other assessed psychosocial outcomes. 

Conclusions: Findings suggest interventions are needed to improve guidelines adherence among preschoolers, especially in girls. Furthermore, findings underscore the importance of sleep for psychosocial development in this age group."

Now I have it. Now it’s lost.  An exploration of the performance block experience from a bioecological perspective

Jimena E. Lopez Lamas (1), Amber Mosewich (1), Margo Adam (1), Tara-Leigh McHugh (1) 

1. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

This presentation will outline my doctoral research on performance blocks that has recently started. Performance blocks describe when athletes suddenly lose the ability to perform a mastered skill, resulting in disruptions to performance and well-being (Bennett et al., 2015). Although studied for decades, the etiology and interventions for this phenomenon are still unclear (Lobinger et al., 2014). Using a three-study approach, my Ph.D. dissertation aims to explore the performance block phenomenon from a bioecological perspective to cultivate understandings that can guide future intervention and support strategies for this experience.

Study 1 aims to bolster empathic understanding of this phenomenon by exploring 4 to 6 athletes’ lived experience of performance block recovery through hermeneutic phenomenology. In Study 2, my exploration expands to include athletes and significant others (e.g., parents, coaches, siblings and teammates) that contribute to the performance block experience. Guided by an interpretive description framework (Thorne, 2016), this study encourages a holistic understanding of performance blocks that includes various perspectives and may glean insights into the personal and social constructs contributing to a positive or negative performance block experience. In Study 3, I will take my learnings and test their significance on a larger scale. Using logistic regression (n = 70  to 140; Vittinghoff & McCulloch, 2006), I aim to describe the relationship and predictive power of psychological (e.g., perfectionism) and psychosocial constructs (e.g., social support) on performance block occurrence and recovery. Together, my dissertation may contribute to collaborative approaches to understand, preventing, and recovering from performance blocks. 

Longitudinal and cross-sectional associations between social media use and mental health in adolescents: The COMPASS study

Madelyn B. Curle (1), Karen A. Patte (2), Scott T. Leatherdale (3), Guy Faulkner (4), Gary Goldfield (5), Carla Hilario (6), Stephen Hunter (1), Valerie Carson (7)

1. School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2. Department of Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, 3. School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 4. School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 5. Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 6. School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Development, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, 7. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

With rising social media exposure to adolescents, it is vital to understand the impacts of social media on adolescent health, in particular their mental health and whether these effects differ based on gender. The objectives of this study were to examine: 1) the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between time spent on SM, mental illness, and mental health outcomes among a large sample of Canadian adolescents and 2) if associations are moderated by gender. 

Methods: Data was taken from waves 10 (2021/2022) and 11 (2022/2023) of the Cannabis, Obesity, Mental health, Physical activity, Alcohol, Smoking, Sedentary behaviour (COMPASS) study. Two cross sectional analyses were conducted using hierarchical case-complete data from waves 10 (n=46,010) and 11 (n = 36,235) and linked longitudinal data were used for the longitudinal study (n = 11,664). Multilevel modelling was used to examine the associations between time spent on social media and mental health outcomes such as: flourishing, personal relationships, emotional regulation, anxiety and depression. Three gender categories were examined for moderation of the relationship between social media and mental health: cisgender girls, cisgender boys, and transgender and gender diverse adolescents. The covariates age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status indicators were controlled for. 

Results: Results will clarify cross sectional and longitudinal associations between time spent on social media and mental health among Canadian adolescents. Final results are pending. 

You're not a programmer: How AI can assist the development of research-specific applications

Nicholas Cheung1

1. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

In research, we often have questions that require unique tools to answer – specific devices, unique questionnaires, proprietary software and more. As graduate students, we often face these barriers as these tools are often hard to come by, expensive, or not an exact fit for our research needs. The emergent world of language-model AI has brought forward many interesting conversations about its place in academia. To apply this technology in a way that can be beneficial to research without sacrificing the human aspect and the years of experience and education can be a challenging balance. 

Language model AI (ChatGPT 3.5) has recently enabled our lab group to explore new frontiers of data analysis and increase our research capacity without sacrificing the quality of research by utilizing one of its features we might not first associate with the faculty of KSR. Utilizing the programming language fluency, our group has been able to write custom analysis software to assist with our analysis. These programs allow us to spend less time in excel and other data-analytics programs applying calculations or making figures, as well as improve the capabilities, transparency and repeatability of our analytic techniques. Harnessing these language model AIs to develop these tools enable domain experts to continue using their expertise to get at analytically complex questions – previously unreachable without the resources to hire programming teams to develop these tools.

Weight bias in physical activity interventions during pregnancy: A systematic review

Emily A. Bonisteel (1), Taniya S. Nagpal (1)

1. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Background: Maternal obesity may increase complication risks during pregnancy. Physical activity (PA) interventions may improve outcomes and prevent complications, including among individuals who have overweight or obesity. Weight stigma, or negative misconceptions and stereotypes associated with weight, may be experienced by 1 in 5 women with overweight or obesity during pregnancy and be a barrier to PA. This study aims to explore whether PA interventions during pregnancy inadvertently promote weight stigmatizing discourse.

Methods: A systematic review will be completed. Databases include PubMed, SportDiscus, and Cochrane Reviews, with eligible studies including PA interventions for pregnant individuals with overweight or obesity. Keywords include pregnancy, overweight,  obesity, PA, and interventions. Two reviewers will complete screening stages (i.e., abstracts/titles, full text) on Covidence, with a third available for any conflicts. An extraction tool will be created using current literature, coding factors that may promote weight stigmatizing discourse such as whether or not authors used person-first language, if the hypothesis was driven by evidence or assumptions that obesity leads to poor outcomes or low adherence to PA, and were person-centered approaches considered. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool will assess for bias risk. 

Results: Frequencies will be presented with higher scores representing more weight stigma-related content potentially present. A summary of previous prenatal PA intervention publications and possible inadvertent promotion of weight stigma will be created.

Conclusions: Findings inform improvement of future PA interventions in pregnancy for individuals who have overweight and obesity to be more weight-sensitive and inclusive, and mitigate weight stigma. "

3-Minute Thesis presentations

Canadian festivals’ commitment to environmental sustainability: A volunteer perspective

Mu He1

1. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

The role of volunteers in festivals is important, influencing the success of the festival. As festivals increasingly embrace sustainability, researchers argue that volunteers play a key role in assisting festivals to achieve sustainable initiatives (e.g., Dodds et al., 2022). For example, many festivals have a “green team” which is designed to help festivals reduce environmental impacts. Also, volunteers are expected to deliver green messages, which will engage attendees in festivals’ sustainable initiatives. In some other roles, volunteers can still facilitate a festival’s environmental sustainability through public transport use or riding a bike to and from the festival venue. 

However, how volunteers perceive festivals’ sustainability commitments and the extent of volunteers' influence on festivals' sustainability practices remain under-explored. Therefore, my research asked the following to questions: 

(1) What perceptions do volunteers hold regarding the sustainability initiatives of the festival for which they volunteered?

(2) What disparities exist between the perceptions of festival volunteers and volunteer managers regarding the festival's sustainability commitment?

To address these two questions, both survey and interview research methods were used. To understand volunteers’ perspectives, 141 useful questionnaires were collected from three Canadian music festivals. Two of them were folk music festivals and one was urban based music and arts festival. Three in-depth interviews were conducted with volunteer managers from the three festivals to understand the festival’s sustainability commitments and their perspectives regarding volunteers’ roles in encouraging and assisting the festival’s sustainability initiatives.

The Synergistic Impact of Team Faultlines Comprising Surface- and Deep-Level Diversity Features on Team Performance, and the Moderating Role of Members’ Shared Team Tenure and Leader’s Multicultural Experience

Yinle Huang (1), Brian P. Soebbing (1), Marvin Washington (3)

1. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2. College of Social Sciences & Humanities, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

In the present paper, we empirically analyze a dataset of the Italian Serie A from the 2013/14 to 2019/20 season to investigate how team faultlines based on players’ surface- and deep-level diversity attributes influence a team’s on-field performance. In addition, we examine the moderating role of shared team tenure and leaders’ multicultural experience in relation to the relationship team faultlines and team performance. Estimation results indicate a higher level of team faultlines strength impaired on-filed performance. However, the negative impact is mitigated by shared team tenure, and this mitigation is further amplified by leaders’ multicultural experience. 

Afternoon Oral Presentations

CHANGE DETECTION ANALYSIS TO EXAMINE RECREATIONAL SPACES USING REMOTE SENSING TECHNIQUE AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM(GIS)

Emmanuel Sarfo(1)

1. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

The purpose of this study is to explore how land cover changes for green spaces and their perceived impacts on opportunities for recreation can be examined among immigrant dominant low-income residential contexts. Our exploration involves the combined use of remote sensing and participatory mapping as processes that can provide data on land cover changes for green recreational spaces and capture perspectives on use. The spaces of focus include parks, wooded, and tree shaded areas that are utilized for recreational activities such as walking, camping, and photography. The changes in vegetative land cover in the aforementioned areas have been extensively explored through remote sensing methods. An increase in Normalized Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI) is assumed to be a positive indicator of improved opportunities of use. However, in immigrant dominant low-income residential contexts, considerations like cultural and social relationships with vegetative cover may influence the perceived opportunities to use green spaces. In this study we propose the use of remote sensing methods like change detection analysis to measure differences in land cover over a period of time, along with the use of participatory mapping processes to capture perspectives of residents on perceived opportunities of the use. The combined analysis we propose, will be informative to the pursuance of a critical approach to understanding linkages between green land cover changes and perceived opportunities for recreation, especially among socially vulnerable populations.

Tracing Ski Tracks: Uncovering the U of A Varsity Ski Club History, 1932-1938

Lyndsay Conrad1

1. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta

What did Dr. Peggy O’Meara, the first female physician in the Canadian Forces and Honorable Judge Marjorie Bowker, esteemed Alberta family court judge, have in common? They both served on the executive of the University of Alberta Varsity Ski Club (VSC), which was a driving force for skiing on campus from 1932 to 1938 leading students to winter enjoyment and the University body through the Great Depression. This presentation asks, in what ways did the VSC contribute to the U of A campus community during the dirty thirties? The VSC propelled ski culture and connected institutions, communities, and families influential to skiing in Alberta. Club members contributed to a vibrant student community by teaching ski lessons, organizing ski tournaments and offering Sunday ski hikes in the River Valley. Opportunities to enjoy skiing were plentiful as the club created a ski hill, built a ski cabin and constructed a ski jump west of campus. Drawing students from various communities into sport and outdoor recreation, the VSC played an important role in the rising popularity of skiing in Alberta during the 1930s. Of key importance were club members from Banff who carried their love of skiing and expertise from the Rockies to the campus of Alberta’s first university. The history of the VSC will be told through photos, piecing together an untold story of winter recreation and leisure on U of A campus during the interwar period.

Cardiovascular Response to 13 Days of Apnea Training in Novice Breath-holders

Benjamin O'Croinin (1), Nicholas Cheung (1), Gurleen Kaur (1), Kathryn Kang (1), Luca Malaguti (2), Trevor Day (3), Craig Steinback (1)

1. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2. Sea to Sky Freediving Co., British Columbia, Canada, 3. Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Apneas are highlighted by an initial easy-going phase during which individuals are relaxed and the length of which is dictated largely by physiological factors. This is followed by the struggle phase, during which involuntary breathing movements are present and the individual must psychologically overcome the ever increasing drive to breathe. This study aimed to assess the adaptations that result from 13 days of training to extend both phases in novice breath-holders. 22 novice breath-holders (11 females) underwent 13 days of physiological and psychological apnea training. A freediving coach guided participants through daily practice apneas while teaching meditative and breath-holding techniques. In-lab pre and post-training, participants performed a maximal apnea, static handgrip (SHG), post-exercise circulatory occlusion (PECO), and a Stroop test. Training extended maximal apnea duration pre-training (44.1±21.3s) to post-training (75.0±32.6s; p<0.001), with an average increase of 84.9%. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was obtained at both timepoints in 11 participants. Our results will be fully elucidated over the next few weeks, but our expected findings include augmented bradycardia, increased arrhythmogenesis, and a larger MSNA response during post-training apneas. We believe that SHG and PECO will elucidate the role of central command in these responses and the Stroop test will show resistance to psychological stress post-training.

The interplay of parental, social, environmental factors related to outdoor play in childcare centres during COVID-19

Yeongho Hwang (1), Madison Boyd (1), Cody Davenport (1), Valerie Carson (1)

1. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Purpose: This study aimed to 1) identify underlying subgroups based on the interplay of parental, social, and environmental factors related to outdoor play in childcare centres during COVID-19, and 2) examine whether these subgroups displayed mean-level differences in outdoor play.

Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized questionnaire data collected during COVID-19 (June-August 2021) from 193 childcare centre directors in Alberta, Canada. Directors reported five contextual factors related to outdoor play: parental interest in outdoor play, social support from the provincial government, health authority, and licensing, as well as the number of play areas in licensed outdoor spaces. Directors also reported on outdoor play and centre demographics. Outdoor play frequency and duration were calculated for both toddlers (19-35 months) and preschoolers (36-60 months). Latent profile analysis was conducted using bias-adjusted 3-step approach.

Results: We identified four subgroups characterized by different levels of social support. Within each subgroup, both parental interest in outdoor play and the number of play areas in licensed outdoor spaces remained unchanged during COVID-19 compared to before. Subgroups labeled low, moderate, high, and very high social support comprised 20.4%, 30.6%, 33.8%, and 15.1% of childcare centres, respectively. Centres in the very high social support subgroup reported higher levels of outdoor play frequency and duration for both toddlers and preschoolers over other subgroups.

Conclusion: During COVID-19, the childcare centres that best promoted outdoor play belonged to the subgroup with very high social support.

Practical implications: Identifying subgroups of contextual factors can guide targeted interventions for outdoor play in childcare centres.

"Climbing and Climate Change: Nurturing Sustainable Mountain Sport Tourism in UNESCO Mountain Parks”

Hossein R(1)

1. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Embarking on an exploration of paramount significance, this study critically dissects the intricate relationship between climbing activities and their contributions to climate change, unraveling the subsequent challenges faced by mountain ecosystems and communities tethered to mountain tourism. Delving into the specific landscapes of Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies and Damavand in Iran, a potential UNESCO mountain park, the research employs a comprehensive mixed-methods approach.  Driven by a global imperative, the study pioneers a quantitative survey targeting mountain sport tourists and qualitative interviews with mountain guides. Its panoramic insights transcend local boundaries, encompassing regions like the Himalayas, the Alps, and the Andes. Simultaneously, the study endeavors to provide localized solutions, presenting invaluable perspectives for mountain sport tourists, communities, travel agencies, and NGOs. In a stride toward innovation, this research introduces eco-friendly initiatives, notably Leave No Trace (LNT) and the Clean Climbing Concept (CCC). Against the disconcerting backdrop of vanishing glaciers, these practices emerge as pivotal instruments, instrumental in mitigating the carbon footprint on mountains. By unwaveringly adhering to LNT and CCC principles, the research aspires to nurture environmental preservation, securing the sustainability of mountain destinations for the well-being of future generations. In conclusion, the study accentuates how the convergence of sustainable practices and mountain sport activities acts as a transformative force, reshaping our relationship with mountains and bequeathing a legacy of unspoiled landscapes for generations to come.

Keywords: Mountain Climbing, Climate Change, Mountain Sport Tourism, Banff National Park, Damavand, UNESCO Mountain Parks, Leave No Trace, Clean Climbing Concept. 

Movement Fundamentals and the Mind-Body Connection: Design process, pedagogy, and student experiences with experiential, embodied learning in KIN 156

Emily Noton (1), Kristina Skebo (1)

1. Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

In our faculty, undergraduate students study theoretical knowledge from various sub-disciplines (physiology, psychology, biomechanics and motor learning to name a few) and practice applied knowledge (coaching, playing sports and dance, program design, etc). However, theory and practice are rarely combined in a single course where students are able to generate embodied knowledge. Recognizing this gap, our faculty endeavored to revise the activity core courses.  Subsequently, I designed and have taught two undergraduate courses that combine anatomy, biomechanics, and mind-body integration (use of breath, imagery, and proprioception) through an experiential learning approach. This process led me to write a paper (Noton, 2023) about how I integrated somatic, embodied knowledge from my background as a professional ballet dancer to design and teach the first course (KIN 156, Movement Fundamentals and the Mind-Body Connection). Following this, my TA and I had many informal conversations during and after KIN 156 classes where the undergraduate students shared that their experiences in this class were “unlike any other in their kinesiology courses”.  I am now interested to know more about their experiences with KIN 156: how was the course unique for them, what value did students place on their learning in the class, and if/how this experiential approach enabled them to understand more fully the overlap between theory and practice in kinesiology. By examining students’ perceptions through a questionnaire, this study will allow us to calibrate and fine-tune our course content and approach in KIN 156.

Poster Presentations