HKIN 215: Introduction to Motor Control and Learning Winter 2025

COURSE SYLLABUS

ABOUT STUDENT HOURS* LECTURES

DR. MELANIE LAM MONDAYS/TUESDAYS: 10:30 AM –12 PM TUESDAYS 1 PM – 2:15 PM
Email: [email protected] THURSDAYS: 1 PM -2:30 PM THURSDAYS 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM
Phone: (902) 867-5854 *Meetings can be held via Microsoft Teams or In-person. 75 MINUTE LECTURES
Office: ESC 3B ROOM: KC 1018A

75 MINUTE LECTURES

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The first half of the course will cover the “Principle of Skilled Performance”. We will:

1. explore how humans process information and make decisions,

2. consider the role that attention plays in motor performance,
3. review the sensory contributions to skill performance,
4. describe how motor programs control brief actions,
5. examine the various principles and laws of simple and coordinated actions,
6. identify motor control theories that account for how movement is controlled and
7. review the different approaches to how complex motor skills are performed.

The second half of the course will cover the “Principles of Skill Learning”. We will:

8. describe the concept of motor learning and the fundamental principles of how it is studied,
9. review the processes that influence motor learning—skill acquisition, retention, and transfer,
10. discuss how the structure of practice influences learning and
11. explore how augmented feedback influences motor performance and learning.

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HKIN 215: Introduction to Motor Control and Learning Winter 2025

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. describe the scientific method in skills research;

2. identify stages of information processing;
3. describe the role of attention as a limiting factor in human performance;
4. explain how feedforward and feedback information work;
5. describe motor programs and open-loop systems;
6. describe the relationships between speed and accuracy using Fitts’ Law and Schmidt’s law;
7. describe transfer designs and how they apply to learning;
8. explain the difference between skill acquisition, skill retention, and skill transfer;
9. identify different ways to organize practice schedules and their impact on performance and learning; and
10. identify the types of augmented feedback and how they influence performance and learning.

COURSE STRUCTURE POP QUIZZES

• 3-credit course. 75-minute lectures on Tuesdays • There will be ten random pop quizzes throughout
and Thursdays. the term.
• Lectures will be episodic and complement the • There will not be a pop quiz the same week as the
assigned readings. midterm.
• There is a required lab component. Constance • The quizzes will be administered in class using
Tweedie is the LAB INSTRUCTOR. Microsoft Teams.
• Missed pop quizzes cannot be rescheduled under
any circumstances; this includes illness and
hospitalizations.

A GIFT FROM ME TO YOU

You were “strongly encouraged” to read the course

syllabus. Here’s the bonus question on Midterm 1.

“Where did I complete my PhD?”

The answer is: UBC

ASSIGNED READINGS
Learning and Performance (6th Ed)
From Principles to Application
Richard A. Schmidt; Timothy D. Lee

You are responsible for reading the assigned chapters from the textbook BEFORE class. The readings are more detailed
than the lecture, so you must take the time to do the readings. Material covered in the assigned reading may not be
discussed in class. However, you will be tested on it in the exams.

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HKIN 215: Introduction to Motor Control and Learning Winter 2025

COURSE EVALUATION
20%
• There will be ten pop quizzes over the term. 30%
• There will not be a pop quiz in the weeks that there
is a midterm.
• Exams are closed book.
• Exams will cover material from both the lectures 20%
and the assigned readings.
• Exams include multiple choice, true/false, and 20%
short answer questions. 10%
• The final exam is CUMULATIVE. You will be tested
on all course material (Ch. 1 - 11).
Midterm 1 (Feb 6) Midterm 2 (Mar 13)
To pass this course, you must pass (> 50%) 2 of the
3 exams AND the lab component. Pop Quizzes Lab Component

Final Exam (TBD)

EXAM POLICY AND MISSED EXAMS

Exams are not open book; they are closed book. In the case of circumstances beyond your control (e.g., illness,
hospitalization, varsity sport commitment), midterms will not be rescheduled. Instead, the final exam will be
reweighted to be worth 50% of your final grade; this is not up for negotiation. Please note that this accommodation
does not apply to those who do not wish to write the midterm because they are unprepared.

In the case of illness or a major family emergency (e.g. death come final exam period, you must contact the
Administrative Assistant to the VP—Academic Affairs (Rita Myatt, [email protected])

GRADE ADJUSTMENTS
• If you believe your exam grade is unfair or have concerns, it's important to
approach the instructor promptly. This will allow for a timely resolution of the
issue.
• Be prepared to explain, with evidence, why the grade was inappropriate.
• When a re-assessment of the exam is conducted, it's important to note that
your grade could be raised, lowered, or remain the same. This is a standard
part of the process.
• Rest assured, calculation errors which do occur will be resolved to ensure
the accuracy of your grades.
• Requests to re-weigh an exam or extra credit assignments to boost grades
will be denied.
• Final grades will be rounded off to the closest integer.
• Please DO NOT approach the instructor for a ‘grade bump’ to facilitate
professional school applications, to keep a scholarship, or to maintain good
academic standing.

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HKIN 215: Introduction to Motor Control and Learning Winter 2025

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
You may record a portion of a lecture, class discussion, or course-related learning activity with the prior and explicit
permission of the course instructor. Any unauthorized recordings violate the instructor's intellectual property rights
and the Canadian Copyright Act. If you violate this agreement, you will be subject to disciplinary actions under the StFX
Community Code of Conduct.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

To support a culture of academic integrity, members of the StFX community are expected to promote honesty,
trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. You are expected to know what constitutes academic integrity. Please
review the StFX Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures
(https://www.stfx.ca/sites/default/files/documents/Appendix%202_Offences%20Against%20Academic%20Integrit
y-Apr2022.pdf) to avoid committing an academic offence and to take responsibility for his/her actions.

Generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly, Microsoft Copilot, etc.) can be used to learn and practice the
concepts presented in this course. They can also be used for editing assignments for revision (e.g., grammar and
spelling). However, it's important to note that reliance on these tools alone can hinder your learning in this course.
The primary goal of this course policy is to promote your understanding and intellectual development and to help
you reach the course learning outcomes.

If you are unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or if you need help learning how to avoid offences (e.g.,
plagiarism, cheating) or about 'rules' for group work/collaboration, please seek guidance from the course
instructor. In addition, you are encouraged to read the StFX Community Code of Conduct
(https://www.stfx.ca/university-policies-procedures/community-code-conduct).

ACCESSIBLE LEARNING
If you require accommodations or academic support because of a permanent or temporary disability, you are
invited and encouraged to contact the Tramble Centre for Accessible Learning.

108 Angus L. Macdonald Library

Phone: (902) 867-5349
Email: [email protected]

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 HKIN 215: Introduction to Motor Control and Learning Winter 2025

ASSIGNED READING LIST

Introduction to Motor Learning and Performance Chapter 1

PART I: PRINCIPLES OF SKILLED PERFORMANCE

Processing Information and Making Decisions Chapter 2

Attention and Performance Chapter 3

Sensory Contributions to Skilled Performance Chapter 4

Motor Programs Chapter 5

Principles of Speed, Accuracy and Timing Chapter 6

Performance of Complex Skills Chapter 7

PART II: PRINCIPLES OF SKILL LEARNING

Introduction to Motor Learning Chapter 8

The Motor Learning Process Chapter 9

Organizing and Scheduling Practice Chapter 10

Augmented Feedback Chapter 11

Note: The preceding is a proposed outline of topics apart from the midterm examinations. This schedule is subject to change.

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