Maximal Oxygen Consumption: KINS 3601 Exercise Physiology Laboratory Spring 2008

Exercise Physiology Laboratory is designed to illustrate the physiological effects of exercise on the human body as well as provide demonstrations in graded exercise testing.

This artifact is a lab report written on a VO2 max test performed during class. This lab write up was written to fully evaluate the maximal oxygen consumption capacity of the fellow student.

This artifact meets the competency of demonstrating the ability to think and write critically. With the results of the exercise treadmill test, the data collected was used to evaluate the maximal oxygen consumption of the individual as well as generate figures to demonstrate the effects of graded exercise on the human body. The introduction and discussion of the lab write up required additional research information and critical thinking to fully demonstrate the effects of graded exercise testing.

With this assignment I learned one of the many exercise testing protocols, and what is expected physiologically with graded exercise. Not only did I convey it on paper, but by physically taking part in the exercise test I was able to learn hands the components of exercise testing. This experience relates to Physical Therapy; exercise testing will not be performed, but the assessment and evaluation of data obtained from an individual will be necessary in treating patients.

Motion Analysis of Overhand and Underhand Throwing Techniques: KINS 3591 Kinesiology and Biomechanics Laboratory Fall 2008

Kinesiology and Biomechanics laboratory was a class that involved hands on experiences surrounding the scientific study of kinetics and kinematics. In this class the analysis of fundamental movements and mechanical principles were applied to human motion.

This artifact is a research paper written over a motion analysis of overhand and underhand throwing. This paper is the final product of a group research project that involved recruiting a participant, collecting video data, digitizing the data, analyzing the data, generating graphs, and interpreting data with the use of Kwon3D Motion Analysis Program. I chose to include this artifact in my portfolio because I was responsible for writing the paper and collecting all the thoughts of my group members into a final product.

This paper demonstrates the ability to think and write critically. This assignment required critical thinking to interpret the data; I feel that I have demonstrated the ability to write critically by transferring not only my thoughts but my group member’s thoughts as well into a formulated write up over motion analysis.

In researching this topic I learned many interesting contrast and comparisons about overhand and underhand throwing techniques. In the field of Physical Therapy I will be encountering throwing athletes; I will be able to use the experiences from this hands on motion analysis project to better understand my patients needs and rehabilitation process.

Athletes or Non-Athletes: Who has the Fastest Reaction Time?: KINS 4573 Motor Learning and Development Fall 2008

Motor Learning was a class designed to cover the concepts of motor behavior from infancy to adulthood In this class we assessed the effects of personality traits, generic, and environmental factors on learning motor skills.

This artifact is a PowerPoint presentation on a group research project. The research project involved collecting data from 30 participants and performing statistical analysis. I included this artifact because I was accountable for collecting data from ten participants; I was also for responsible creating the PowerPoint and performing the statistical analysis with the use of Microsoft Excel.

This artifact meets the competency to demonstrate the ability to use technology due to the use of Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel. These programs are very important when navigating presentations and large amounts of data collection.

With this assignment I learned how to create a research topic and test a null hypothesis; I also learned how to apply statistical analysis learned from Measurement and Evaluations KINS 4593. I will be able to take the skills of creating an effective PowerPoint into a career, like Physical Therapy. The ability to produce a presentation will be useful at times when educating a large group of patients; it will be a helpful visual tool for patients as well.

Paralympics Powerlifting: KINS 2622 Adapted Physical Education Fall 2008

Adapted Physical Education was a class aimed at preparing myself and others for fields and life situations involving individuals with disabilities. This class was important for learning several types of disabilities, the contraindication for those disabilities, and even teaching tips for individuals with disabilities. In this class we even had the opportunity to interact with several hearing impaired and visually impaired students; one I call a rewarding experience.

This artifact is an informative presentation over powerlifting in the Paralympics. In this presentation background information, American athletes, medalist, and interesting facts were presented to increase awareness on one of the many sports during the Paralympic Games held in Beijing 2008. This was a group project; I chose this artifact to represent my ability to create a PowerPoint presentation because I was designated by my group to do so. Outside of creating the PowerPoint I was responsible for the sections on 2008 Medalist.

This artifact meets the competency to demonstrate the ability to use technology because I created this presentation with the use of technology, Microsoft PowerPoint.

I learned that individuals with physical disabilities can too excel in the difficult sport of powerlifing. The research involved to create this presentation opened my eyes to the many opportunities out there for individuals with disabilities. I will be able to use my ability to create a PowerPoint presentation as a Physical Therapist at times when it is necessary to educate a large group of patients at one time. Also with knowledge surrounding the Paralympics I will be able to encourage individuals with disabilities to look into different activities that may be beneficial.

Low Ropes Journal: KINS 4003 Low Ropes Experiential Activities Spring 2008

Low Ropes Experiential Activities is a unique course offered at Texas Woman’s University. In this course experiential education is modeled through low ropes facilitation. The purpose of this class it to build problem solving, communication, leadership, team building skills, etc. with physically and mentally challenging group activities. Learning by doing is a theme of the Low Ropes Experiential Activities course. Students not only are taken through a Low Ropes course, but they become facilitators to eighth grade female student athletes in the local Lewisville Independent School District.

This artifact is a journal of my daily experiences in the Low Ropes course. In each entry I describe the events and challenges we faced as a class, but also the struggles I encountered internally. I feel that this journal represents my personal growth as a student and a facilitator.

This journal meets the competency to demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively because it is an in-depth reflection and explanation of the entire course. I feel I was able to communicate effectively in each entry including information on every challenge and my thoughts and struggles with each challenge.

I not only learned the many qualities necessary to facilitate a low ropes course, but I also learned about my strengths and weaknesses as a team member. I learned how to improve my communication skills, how to think outside of the box, and how to interact with people I did not know. This course and artifact will be helpful in the field of Physical Therapy because I will be able to return to my journal and remind myself of the many uses of communication, problem solving methods, and positive of team building. I feel that this course was not only an educational experience but one that can help me succeed in any group and team activity in the future.

Skinfold Calipers: Which Caliper’s Pinch Makes You Lose an Inch?: KINS 4593 Measurement and Evaluation in Physical Education Fall 2008

Measurement and Evaluation in Physical Education is a course that implements evaluation procedures used by researchers in the field of kinesiology. With this course the creation and construction of a research hypothesis as well as the administration of tests became a firsthand experience. Statistical analysis to interpret research results was also a major aspect of Measurement and Evaluation in Physical Education.

This artifact is a visual representation of a research poster that was created for the Kinesiology Fall Research Symposium held in November of 2008. This project was a group project; on top of recruiting and performing skinfold measurements on 15 participants I was responsible for writing the abstract, introduction, calculating the results. As a group member I also played a major role in creating the poster for the presentation. The purpose of this project was to determine if there was a significant difference in the predicted percent body fat of three different skinfold calipers.

The artifact meets the competency to communicate effectively. I feel that this poster communicates effectively because it represents the research, methodology, results, and discussion of our project successfully and in a short amount of space. As a group we were able to distinguish between important and necessary information.

I learned how to formulate a research project from start to finish with this artifact. I also learned how to apply and perform appropriate statistical analysis on the data collected. This was an interesting research project because it allowed for me to actually have hands on experience and apply knowledge learned in the classroom. I feel that this artifact is applicable to the field of Physical Therapy because the ability to communicate effectively is a crucial aspect of working with patients. This artifact allowed for me to generate results into a visual format which will be a useful tool in educating patients.