XNB280 Exercise Conditioning

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

The prescription and programming of exercise are essential competencies of any exercise and sport scientists. This unit focuses on exercise programming and delivery to improve aerobic and anaerobic capacity for health and wellbeing of general populations through to improving performance in athletic populations. This unit complements the resistance training unit which focuses on improving strength.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Describe the physiological basis for aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance, using inclusive and culturally appropriate strategies in exercise response and adaptation
2. Explain the acute responses to and chronic adaptations to aerobic and anaerobic conditioning, incorporating considerations for diverse populations and individual variability.
3. Develop and implement evidence-based conditioning programs for a variety of performance and health goals, demonstrating a sound knowledge of evidence-based exercise programming principles while considering individual needs and diverse backgrounds to enhance outcomes.
4. Recognise the limitations of the evidence base for the prescription of aerobic and anaerobic exercise, and independently source current, peer-reviewed scientific evidence, acknowledging the need for culturally sensitive and context-specific adaptations in exercise prescription.
5. Apply effective and inclusive communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills in an interdisciplinary team environment, and reflect on personal and team performance with diverse populations in exercise and health-related settings.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit will involve a combination of digitally enhanced, self-directed online learning and face to face practicals. The lectures will cover evidence for the efficacy and appropriateness of different types of exercise programs and their constituent activities, as well as the principles which govern program design.

Practical classes will involve integrating theory and practice, including participation in activities to develop practical skills that promote an understanding of the demands of exercise and real-world issues for their implementation in an exercise program. These scenarios will present a range of fitness conditions, different exercise modes and training modalities. Practicals will also incorporate the delivery of exercise conditioning sessions, focusing on exercise instructional skills. Knowledge and skills will be further applied during Work Integrated Learning experiences, where you will be required to deliver a conditioning program to a general population. Interdisciplinary and interprofessional learning will also be facilitated via the involvement of nutrition and dietetics students in offering a more holistic approach to optimising health and fitness.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning to that point. Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:

• You will be provided with verbal and/or written feedback on each piece of formative and summative assessment during the semester
• criteria sheet grading
• comments on summative assessment work in addition to criteria sheets
• generic comments back to the cohort via QUT Canvas
  
  You are encouraged to communicate with the unit coordinator or unit tutor if you have any questions or concerns about the assessment items.

Assessment

Overview

Each assessment item is designed to measure your knowledge and mastery of professional skills stated in the learning outcomes.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Designing and Leading Inclusive Group Exercise Sessions

The design and delivery of exercise in a group context is core business for exercise professionals. This assessment will require you to demonstrate the skills and competencies learnt in the practicals to plan and deliver a group exercise session based on fitness or sports performance goals. You will identify clients' problems with their technique and correct them as you would working as an exercise professional. You will also need to show how you adjust the exercises for clients with injuries or disabilities within the scope of an accredited exercise scientist. The delivery is to be filmed to produce a digital presentation. Each member of the group must deliver aspects of the exercise session delivery on which you will be assessed individually.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is NOT authorised during this assessment. Unauthorised use may be treated as a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and appropriate penalties imposed.

Assessment: Mid-Semester Examination

A theory examination of course material delivered prior to this date, including the design of an exercise program that meets the needs and capacity of a client, based on current, best practice guidelines. The examination consists of a combination of multiple choice, fill in the blanks, calculations and short answer questions. The examination questions will be derived from all online learning materials and practicals. 

The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is NOT authorised during this assessment. Unauthorised use may be treated as a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and appropriate penalties imposed.

Assessment: Assessing and Training a 'Real-World' Client

You will be required to personally train a client twice a week for a four-week period and perform an initial and final assessment. You will be required to write a report on various aspects of the process. This report will require you to collate, critically evaluate and transfer into practice a wide range of research to ensure the programs provided to your clients are evidence-based, culturally sensitive and context-specific. The devised report will reflect the requirements of an exercise professional and will be coupled with a brief critical self-reflection on this experience and your performance.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details page for specific guidelines.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

American College of Sports Medicine. (2014). ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription (9th ed.). Baltimore: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

ESSA’s Student Manual for Health, Exercise and Sport Assessment
1st Edition
Authors: Jeff Coombes Tina Skinner

Recommended text(s)

Joyce, D., & Lewindon, D. (2014). High Performance Training for Sports. Human Kinetics. USA.

Risk Assessment Statement

You are required to read the Health and Safety Rules for School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences Laboratories and Clinics prior to undertaking any of the practicals for this unit. These Health and Safety Rules are provided in electronic form on the online teaching site for this unit and are prominently displayed in hardcopy within the laboratory/clinic. The tutorial components of this unit are practical and involve strenuous physical activity that may present some possible risk of injury or complication. You will be required to complete a pre-participation medical screening questionnaire.

Course Learning Outcomes

XN50 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science

1. Design and deliver exercise assessments and programs to meet the specific needs of contemporary sport, exercise and health contexts.
   Relates to: Designing and Leading Inclusive Group Exercise Sessions, Mid-Semester Examination, Assessing and Training a 'Real-World' Client
2. Apply problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical reasoning to implement, analyse and evaluate evidence-based interventions for diverse clients and stakeholders.
   Relates to: Mid-Semester Examination, Assessing and Training a 'Real-World' Client
3. Communicate and collaborate to transfer complex knowledge to clients and health professionals in a culturally safe manner.
   Relates to: Mid-Semester Examination
4. Apply knowledge and skills within the professional, legislative, and ethical standards of practice.
   Relates to: Designing and Leading Inclusive Group Exercise Sessions, Mid-Semester Examination

XN51 Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology

1. Design and deliver exercise assessments and programs to meet the specific needs of individuals and populations across the full health spectrum.
   Relates to: Designing and Leading Inclusive Group Exercise Sessions, Mid-Semester Examination, Assessing and Training a 'Real-World' Client
2. Apply problem-solving, critical thinking and analytical reasoning to implement, analyse and evaluate evidence-based interventions for diverse clients and stakeholders.
   Relates to: Mid-Semester Examination, Assessing and Training a 'Real-World' Client
3. Communicate and collaborate to transfer complex knowledge to clients and health professionals in a culturally safe manner.
   Relates to: Mid-Semester Examination
4. Apply knowledge, skills, and clinical reasoning within the professional, legislative, and ethical standards of practice.
   Relates to: Designing and Leading Inclusive Group Exercise Sessions, Mid-Semester Examination

XN52 Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Honours)

1. Design and deliver exercise assessments and programs to meet the specific needs of individuals and populations across the full health spectrum.
   Relates to: Designing and Leading Inclusive Group Exercise Sessions, Mid-Semester Examination, Assessing and Training a 'Real-World' Client
2. Apply problem-solving, critical thinking and analytical reasoning to implement, analyse and evaluate evidence-based interventions for diverse clients and stakeholders.
   Relates to: Mid-Semester Examination, Assessing and Training a 'Real-World' Client
3. Communicate and collaborate to transfer complex knowledge to clients and health professionals in a culturally safe manner.
   Relates to: Mid-Semester Examination
4. Apply knowledge, skills, and clinical reasoning within the professional, legislative, and ethical standards of practice.
   Relates to: Designing and Leading Inclusive Group Exercise Sessions, Mid-Semester Examination

XN55 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science (Honours)

1. Design and deliver advanced exercise assessments and programs to meet the specific needs of contemporary sport, exercise and health contexts.
   Relates to: Designing and Leading Inclusive Group Exercise Sessions, Mid-Semester Examination, Assessing and Training a 'Real-World' Client
2. Critically apply problem-solving, innovative thinking, and analytical reasoning to develop, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions for diverse clients and stakeholders.
   Relates to: Designing and Leading Inclusive Group Exercise Sessions, Mid-Semester Examination, Assessing and Training a 'Real-World' Client
3. Communicate and collaborate effectively using a range of written, oral and digital formats to transfer complex knowledge to clients and sport and exercise professionals in an inclusive and culturally responsive manner.
   Relates to: Designing and Leading Inclusive Group Exercise Sessions, Mid-Semester Examination, Assessing and Training a 'Real-World' Client
4. Uphold the professional, legislative, and ethical standards of sport and exercise science expected of learner practitioners.
   Relates to: Assessing and Training a 'Real-World' Client