Module: Expertise in Elite Performance

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Expertise in Elite Performance
Module Code	SS504 (ITS) / SPO1047 (Banner)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Health & Human Performance
Module Co-ordinator	Jamie Taylor
Module Teachers	Robin Taylor, Áine MacNamara
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	7.5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only

Description

In this module students will critically review contemporary research focusing on expertise and expert performance in sport. Students will examine competency and expertise-focused approaches to the develop of elite performance, and as a means to drive elaborative and adaptive thinking, judgment and growth. Students will learn how the study of expertise and expert performance in sport promotes an understanding of the factors that constrain human achievement, and the extent to which these may be overcome by systematic engagement in practice and training. Various theoretical frameworks for studying expertise in sport will be presented and appraised, and their application to specific sport environments and domain will be explored.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critique the literature into professional expertise and its application to their professional context
2. Evaluate contemporary research, theory and concepts as a means to explore and critically reflect on practice in their domain
3. Critically appraise the application of cognitive skills to the development and establishment of professional practice in their domain
4. Synthesise information and translate it for practitioner and academic audiences, and prepare for dissemination using appropriate means of delivery

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Online activity	25	Students will engage with online material via Loop including but not limited to webinars, online tasks, quizzes, and tutorials
Independent Study	100	Independent pursuit of relevant issues and ideas raised during the module. Participants will be expected to engage in reading and critical review of literature relevant to the module
Directed learning	25	Stimulus presentations and discussion, delivered online using blended learning formats, will be used to tease out possible contributing topics and test the student’s current levels of knowledge and experience with them. As their reading progresses, students may be directed towards relevant recent investigations in their own and parallel domains.
Assignment Completion	37.5	Students will individually complete a written assignment
Total Workload: 187.5

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Expertise versus competence in performance domains
Students will critically review contemporary research focusing on expertise and expert performance in sport. Students will examine competency and expertise-focused approaches to the develop of elite performance and as a means to drive elaborative and adaptive thinking, judgment and growth. The study of expertise and expert performance in sport promotes an understanding of the factors that constrain human achievement and the extent to which these may be overcome by systematic engagement in practice and training. Various theoretical framework for studying expertise in sport are presented and appraised and their application to specific sport environments and domain are explored.

Determinants of expertise
Students will explore current understanding of the components that combine towards achieving expertise in sport from the perspective of practitioners and performers.

Knowledge base of sport practitioners
Against a growing professionalisation within sport, students will explore the conceptual knowledge necessary for practitioners working in sport, reflecting socio-political, pedagogical, critical thinking concerns at both a general and local level

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Assignment	As practitioners, it is important to disseminate research to peers in order to improve practice. In this assignment, students will identify and then read a number of papers from their area of interest. Reflecting their applied positioning, students will then translate the research so that it is consumable for a a practitioner audience. Indicative formats include, but not limited to, infographic, blog, podcast and presentation.	30%	n/a
Assignment	Students will develop a report exemplifying knowledge bases pertinent to expertise in their domain utilizing, where appropriate, an interdisciplinary focus. The assessment format is flexible. Indicative assessment formats are below: (a) Written report – 8000 words (b) Journal article – 3000 - 8000 words depending on target journal (c) Portfolio submission (e.g., powerpoint slides, visual data, AV data) with accompanying narrative (3000 - 5000 words)	70%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

J. Baker, S. Cobley, J. Schorer, & N. Wattie: 2020, Routledge handbook of talent identification and development in sport,, Routledge, London,
David W. Eccles: 2020, Handbook of Sport Psychology, 4th, 22, Routledge, London,

Other Resources

None