Course

Motor Skill Acquisition

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Sport Science
Course code
SPSC 1164
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 Weeks
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course provides students with knowledge of motor skill acquisition, the variables which influence the learning and performance of motor skills, and the relationship between motor skill acquisition, motor control and motor performance.
Course content
  • Motor skill acquisition
    • Motor learning, motor control and motor performance
    • Skills, actions and movements
    • Classification systems
    • Motor abilities categorization and individual differences
    • Measurement and assessment
  • Motor performance
    • Movement patterns
    • Stages of learning
    • Memory
    • Attentional limited capacity
  • Motor control
    • Neuromotor anatomy
    • Theoretical models
    • Movement preparation
    • Sensory contributions to motor control 
    • Spinal cord
    • Brain   
  • Motor skill learning
    • Defining and assessing learning
    • Stages of learning
    • Transfer of learning
    • Detecting errors
    • Correcting errors
    • Measurement  
  • Instructional methods
    • Demonstration
    • Verbal instructions
    • Augmented feedback
  • Practice design
    • Progressions and sequencing
    • Whole versus part practice
    • Speed-accuracy trade-off
    • Goal setting
    • Mental practice
    • Amount and distribution of practise
  • Motor research
    • Conducting research
    • Understanding research bias
Learning activities

Classroom time will be used for lectures, small and large group discussions, problem-based learning, reflections, lab-based activities and/or in-class assignments. On average, lab activities will make up 25% of the contact hours.

 

Means of assessment

Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:

Participation                            0-10%

Lab Reports and Lab Quizzes    10-40%

Research Project                      5-25%

Test(s)                                    20-30%

Case Study and/or Final Exam  10-40%

Total                                      100% 

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • classify skills, assess learners and measure performances to improve motor skill acquisition;
  • create practical strategies for skill improvement by applying motor performance factors as they pertain to a learner’s memory, stages of learning, attention and anxiety and/or arousal;
  • discuss and apply motor control principles in the learning of motor skills, error detection and correction of movement, and the creation of movement strategies in a variety of movement scenarios;
  • discuss and apply the factors affecting motor skill learning as it pertains to skills, learners, movement strategies and assessments;
  • describe instructional methods that can be effectively used to teach, lead and provide feedback in a variety of movement settings;
  • explain how different practice types and designs may influence motor skill acquisition; 
  • apply active learning, critical thinking and problem solving in quantitative motor skills research;
  • describe the basic steps in designing research projects. 
Textbook materials

Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may
include:

Coker, C. A. (Current Edition). Motor Learning & Control for Practitioners. Holcomb Hathaway Publishers.

Requisites

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

None

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for SPSC 1164
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX SCIE 1XX (3)
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO KIN 1XX (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) No credit
Langara College (LANG) LANG KINS 2211 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU BPK 1XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU PHED 1XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU HKIN 276 (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO HES_O 202 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV KIN_V 230 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV KIN_V 211 (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC UNSP 1XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV KIN 268 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC EPHE 1XX (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU KIN 202 (3)

Course Offerings

Fall 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
1
Remaining seats:
34
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N1119
Times:
Start Time
8:30
-
End Time
10:20
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N2221
Times:
Start Time
8:30
-
End Time
10:20
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N2223
Times:
Start Time
8:30
-
End Time
10:20
Section notes

Registration in this course provides registrants with a 'time conflict' error. This error can be disregarded for this course as it is due to a required room booking overlap.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
10
Remaining seats:
25
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N1119
Times:
Start Time
10:30
-
End Time
12:20
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N2221
Times:
Start Time
10:30
-
End Time
12:20
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N2223
Times:
Start Time
10:30
-
End Time
12:20
Section notes

SPSC 1164 002-Registration in this course provides registrants with a 'time conflict' error. This error can be disregarded for this course as it is due to a required room booking overlap.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
7
Remaining seats:
28
On waitlist
0
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. A
Room
A2312
Times:
Start Time
8:30
-
End Time
10:20
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. A
Room
A2310
Times:
Start Time
8:30
-
End Time
10:20
Section notes

SPSC 1164 003-Registration in this course provides registrants with a 'time conflict' error. This error can be disregarded for this course as it is due to a required room booking overlap.