AEROBICS FOR INSTRUCTORS

SYLLABUS

Instructor:Laura Fonzi, MS

Office:Suite 104 Trees Hall

Phone:412.648.9389

E-Mail:

Class Time:Wednesdays 3:00-4:55pm

Location:Trees Hall Dance Studio

Credit Hours:2.0

Course Description:

This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to lead group exercise classes including: Hi-Lo, Step, Kickboxing and Body Sculpting. Upon completion of this course, the student should feel confident leading his or her own group exercise class. In addition, this course will prepare students to take a national group exercise instructor certification written exam and practical, which is necessary in order to obtain an instructor position in the university or health club setting.

Course Objectives:

  • Appropriately design a group exercise class
  • Understand the fundamentals of group exercise instruction
  • 8-counts, 32 count phrasing, transitions, creating and breaking down combinations, cueing, etc…
  • Instruct the components of a group exercise class including: warm-up, aerobic workout, sculpting and cool-down.
  • Ability to instruct a variety of group exercise formats
  • Hi-Lo, Step, Kickboxing and Body Sculpting
  • Preparation for national group exercise instructor certification

Grading Criteria:

  • Attendance and Participation

Attendance is MANDATORY! This class consists of mostly practical application and learning and it is imperative that you attend class or you will fall behind.

ATTENDANCE POLICY1 absenceNo penalty

2 absences1 Letter Grade

3 absencesFailing Grade

Assignments:

Attendance and participation30 points

Instructor Critiques 50 points (5 points each)

Homework25 points (5 points each)

Exams:

Mid-Term Practical50 points

FinalPractical 50 points

Total Points205 points

Course Materials:

REQUIRED TEXT: ACSM’s Resources for the Group Exercise Instructor. 2011

Course notes will be accessible on courseweb. It is the responsibility of each student to print off a copy prior to each class. Copies of notes will not be provided in class. All handouts that are not posted on courseweb will be given out in class.

Disability Statement:

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and Disability Resources and Services (DRS), 140 William Pitt Union (412) 648-7890, , (412) 228-5347 for P3 ALS users, as early as possible in the term. DRS will verify your disability and determine reasonable accommodations for this course.

TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE

DATE / TOPIC / Assignment/HW
08.28.13 /
  • Class Introductions
  • Review Syllabus
  • Introduction to Group Exercise
/ Chapter 1
09.04.14 /
  • Group Exercise Class Design
  • Hi-Lo and Kickboxing Demonstration
/ Chapter 3
DUE: Critique 1
09.10.14 /
  • Group Exercise Fundamentals - Hi-Lo and Kickboxing
  • Creating and breaking down combos, choreography
  • Designing a warm-up
  • Practicing the warm-up
/ Chapter 4
DUE: Critique 2
09.17.14 /
  • Group Exercise Fundamentals – Hi-Lo and Kickboxing cont…
  • Student Demonstrations – Warm-up
  • Cueing for warm-up
  • Practice Hi-Lo or Kickboxing with cueing
/ Chapter 5
Cueing Handouts
DUE: HW 1
Critique 3
09.24.14 /
  • Student Demonstrations – Warm-up and Hi-Lo with cueing
  • Evaluation
/ DUE: Critique 4
10.01.14 /
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Group Exercise Fundamentals – Cool-Down, Abs and Stretching
  • Practice
/ Chapters 6 & 7
DUE: Critique 5
10.08.14 /
  • PRACTICE FOR MIDTERM
/ DUE: Critique 6
DUE: HW 2
10.15.14 /
  • MIDTERM EXAM – Practical and Written
/ DUE: Critique 7
DUE: Written Breakdown
10.22.14 /
  • Step Aerobics Demonstration
  • Design and Practice Warm—up and 1 Step Pattern

10.29.14 /
  • Special Conditions
  • Student Demonstration– Step Aerobics
  • Evaluation
/ DUE: HW 3
11.05.14 /
  • Sculpting Demonstration
  • Aerobic Fundamentals – Resistance Exercises
  • Practice Resistance Exercises
/ Lecture 6 Notes
DUE: HW 4
Critique 8
11.12.14 /
  • Student Demonstration – Resistance Exercises
  • Evaluation
  • Practice for Final Exam
/ DUE: HW 5
Chapter 10
DUE: Critique 9
11.19.14 /
  • Legal Considerations
  • Practice all Skills for Final Exam

11.26.14 / No Class – Thanksgiving Break
12.03.14 / FINAL EXAM / DUE: Critique 10
12.10.14 / FINAL EXAM

HW 1: Hi-Lo Warm-Up with breakdown

HW 2: Hi-Lo Warm-Up and 1st pattern with breakdown AND Kickboxing Warm-Up with breakdown

Written Practical Midterm: Hi-Lo warm-up, 4 patterns, and cool-down for Hi-Lo

Kickboxing warm-up, 4 patterns, and cool-down

HW 3: Step Warm-Up with breakdown

HW 4: Step Warm-Up and 1st pattern with breakdown

HW 5: Full Body Resistance Training Workout with warm-up, around 45 minutes of resistance training, and cool-down

Written Practical Final: Step Warm-up, 4 patterns, and cool-down

60 minute interval (bootcamp style) workout

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