Biomechanics: Movement Analysis, Course Logistics, and Extra-Credit Opportunities
Course Philosophy and Community
There are no ordinary individuals; everyone is unique in nature, and our relationships express transformation on a personal level and, hopefully, on a collective level this semester.
Emphasis on openness in engagement and building a class community through interactive, participatory experiences.
Encouragement to be active and relational in class interactions to foster a supportive learning environment.
Semester Structure and Schedule
A detailed schedule was posted this morning, including lab days, assignments, and online lecture videos.
Online lectures are not the sole content; they will be less than one session or less than minutes per week, with playposit online video lectures supplementing in addition to the current week’s content (except for last week due to travel).
Lab days appear in the schedule; some labs will be held in the classroom and some in the gym (noted in parentheses).
Because Florida experiences hurricanes, the schedule may be flexed and expanded as needed; however, exams are not intended to be moved.
Exams: there are exams in the course; they are not explicitly cumulative, though some topics build on previous material. The final exam is not a comprehensive exam per se.
Exams and Assessments
Three lecture exams: not explicitly cumulative, but some topics build on previous ones throughout the semester.
Final exam: not a comprehensive exam.
Exams are designed to fit within a flexible schedule while preserving essential assessment goals.
Movement Exchange and Extra Credit
An extra-credit opportunity called the Movement Exchange exists, designed to embody movement and biomechanics concepts through learning a new skill or movement.
Schedule options:
Fridays at (primary slot)
Gym space also reserved on Thursdays at the same time (alternative slot)
First Movement Exchange: this Friday in the gym (Fridays at 12:50).
Focus: teaching/learning to throw a disc (Ultimate Frisbee) and social engagement.
If you already know how to throw, you can come and play.
Volunteering to teach Movement Exchange:
Students can teach a movement exchange to earn extra credit beyond attendance.
Movement exchanges emphasize introducing a movement, not necessarily advanced skills (e.g., gymnastics, yoga, basketball, soccer beyond basic level).
You don’t need to be an expert; share something you can teach about movement.
A Canvas page provides details: required equipment, availability on Friday, and other logistics.
If Friday slots don’t work, instructors and the instructor will try to find alternate days.
Additional asynchronous pathways for extra credit:
Earn a total of points (equivalent to 2 ext{%}) of extra credit for attending Movement Exchanges; cap at points.
Learn your classmates’ names; helping the instructor learn names earns extra credit as well.
Friday headshots session: the instructor will bring a camera for headshots, providing name cards for classmates; dress code is flexible, but nicer attire is encouraged for professional headshots; you can wear pajamas if you prefer.
The headshots are optional and intended to bridge to more professional presentation as you use photography in life.
Another asynchronous opportunity: teach yourself a new movement over the semester and document progress with a pre-video and a post-video demonstrating what you learned.
Examples from the instructor’s past experiences: unicycling, latte art, a dragon squat adaptation, muscle-up attempts, etc.
Students are encouraged to choose a movement they want to learn, even if they think they have limited prior skill.
A classmate named Ivan can assist with a muscle-up example.
If you have an idea for a movement to learn, discuss with the instructor; the course offers guidance and structure to support your self-driven project.
Personal and Academic Context of the Instructor
The instructor has a background in mechanical engineering and biomechanics, with long-term familiarity with UF.
UF biomechanics faculty: many resources beyond this class; potential research opportunities exist in labs across campus.
Research experiences are valuable, whether or not you intend to pursue research careers; exposure now is low-stakes but helpful for future opportunities in clinical or medical paths, or in research-integrated roles.
The instructor is a “triple Gator” (bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD from UF) who has lived the evolution of the engineering-to-biomechanics landscape at UF.
The aim is to connect you with broader biomechanics resources and researchers if you’re interested.
Movement Analysis Framework in the Course
Focus for the next few days: hit on the second lecture, which covers an approach to analyzing human movement, framed within biomechanics aims: improving or optimizing movement to restore healthy baselines or enhance performance.
The framework to apply in groups: select a movement and break it down with respect to:
Goals of the movement
Events and phases of the movement
Metrics to quantify the movement
Instrumentation and data collection options for obtaining those metrics
This is intentionally low-stakes; worksheets are provided to guide analysis, but correctness is not the primary goal.
Emphasis on critical thinking and specificity when describing movements; surface-level observations may be misleading as you design titrated experiments.
Group work integration: a group (e.g., a rowing group) could collaborate; the instructor will guide pieces and keep the class moving through the sections.
Plan to pause for questions to clarify goals and any logistical issues (e.g., PlayPosit platform concerns) before proceeding.
PlayPosit and Technology Logistics
PlayPosit issues encountered: attempts were set at the assignment level rather than per-question, causing grading confusion.
In future lectures, graded attempts will be managed at the question level to avoid repeat problems; students who made attempts will not be penalized by past mistakes.
If questions are answered incorrectly, no worry about it affecting the future grading; grades will be adjusted accordingly.
The instructor will provide ongoing support and will adjust grades to reflect attempts and improvements over time.
Lab Spaces, Scheduling, and Campus Resources
Lab days are scheduled in both the classroom and the Florida gym; the Florida gym is a historic space with a preserved basketball floor.
The gym features equipment such as pull-up bars; there is a plan to accommodate such apparatus if available.
The scheduling approach prioritizes two main time slots for Movement Exchange (Thursday and Friday) to balance student availability with instructor logistics.
If neither slot works for a student to teach a Movement Exchange, the instructor will try to accommodate alternative arrangements.
The goal is to create a sense of community and provide opportunities outside regular class time for practical application of biomechanics concepts.
Real-World Relevance, Ethical and Practical Implications
The class emphasizes applying biomechanics to real-world activities and everyday movement to improve health and performance.
Opportunities to learn, teach, and engage with peers reflect values of inclusivity, collaboration, and mutual learning.
Extra-credit structures aim to reward proactive learning and community participation while maintaining fairness across the class.
For students pursuing medicine, physical therapy, or sports science, exposure to biomechanics analysis, data collection, and instrumentation is directly relevant to foundational professional competencies.
Students are encouraged to critically assess movement using precise terminology and measurable metrics to avoid superficial conclusions.
Quick Reference: Key Numbers and Facts
Online lectures: less than minutes per week on average
Exams: lecture exams; final exam is not comprehensive
Extra credit cap: up to points or 2 ext{%} of total
Movement Exchange times: Fridays at ; Thursdays at the same time as an alternative slot
Headshot session: Friday, end of class
Potential repetitions or adjustments due to weather (hurricanes) and scheduling flexibility
Emphasis on not penalizing early PlayPosit attempts; grade adjustments to ensure fairness