The Complete Student Workout! - Boosting Physical and Mental Fitness in a Human Biology Laboratory Class?

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2015, Volume 36

Alistair V. Dias

Abstract

A student's life can become extremely busy over the course of a semester leaving little time to eat right, maintain a regular workout regime and overall live a healthy lifestyle. In HMB314H1F, a Laboratory in Human Biology course offered at the University of Toronto, students are given an opportunity to live a healthier lifestyle while learning about experimental design and human physiology with respect to exercise and fitness. Students introduce a lifestyle change (diet change, yoga or meditation practice, weight-lifting regime, etc...) and chart their performance on fitness station covering a component from one of five fitness categories while also measuring against a control station. Students present their findings in the form of a research poster at the end of the semester, analyzing their results and providing a rational physiological explanation for any performance improvements. Post-course survey data indicated that the course encouraged students to live healthier lifestyles and provided them a better understanding of human physiology and experimental design.

Keywords:  experimental design, fitness, stress

University of Oregon (2014)