WELCOME TO KINE 121

EXERCISE AND THE BRAIN

Tami Kadera
Assistant Professor of Kinesiology

E-mail: tgkadera@noctrl.edu

Office Hours: By Appointment Only

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Investigation of the effects of exercise on the brain. Students will learn the science behind how
acute and chronic exercise can impact learning, stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, attention deficit, hormones, and
aging. Methods of incorporating exercise into daily life will be discussed and practiced.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

As a result of active participation in the course, you will be able to:
1. Explain basic mechanisms related to brain health 
2. Identify the physiological effects of exercise on mechanisms related to learning, stress, anxiety, depression,
attention deficit, hormones, and aging 
3. Practice the incorporation of physical activity into daily life 
4. Employ social skills through interaction with peers 
5. Identify psychological benefits of regular physical activity 
6. Identify physical benefits of regular physical activity 
7. Apply physical activity in a safe and effective manner
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THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW!

1. This is an 8 week online course.

2. Physical activity is required in this course. Please consult your physician prior to participating. If you have a
concern regarding the activity, please consult the instructor. Modifications and adaptions can be made for
ALL fitness days.
3. HALF of your grade is based on participation (14 fitness days & 2 Virtual Seminars)
4. TWO virtual meetings will be held (each one is worth 15 pts)
a. Week 4- TBD
b. Week 7- TBD
5. We will hold our virtual class meetings via ZOOM to allow us to all see one another. You will need
to create a free account at https://zoom.us I will post the Meeting ID and Password in the
announcement section of Blackboard
6. Fitness activities need to be a minimum of 30 minutes (with the exception of the HIIT workout).
7. Your MYZONE Effort goal for each workout is at least 50% (the gray tile). (The exception would be with Yoga,
Pilates & Tai Chi).
8. You will complete a fitness log for every workout & include a screenshot of your MYZONE graph.
9. You cannot submit fitness logs for 2 workouts on the same day!
10. The choice days are yours to do whatever activity you want. You’ll just need to make sure that meet the time
and effort goals (or explain in your log why you didn’t).
11. All course information will be posted on Blackboard. Any specific materials needed for a class session and all
assignments, lectures, videos, journal articles, etc... will be posted to the corresponding weeks folder.
Checking Blackboard on a weekly basis is an expectation of the course for materials and grade updates.
12. Variety is the Spice of Life! My goal is to expose you to a variety of different fitness activities in hopes that
you find something that you enjoy and will continue doing once this course ends. With that said, you may not
like every fitness activity and not every fitness activity will work for everyone. If you are unable to participate
 in an activity, I ask that you notify me as soon as possible so that we can determine a suitable alternative.
This exception does not apply if you simply don’t want to do it or don’t like it.
13. All weekly assignments are due the following Monday at 8:00 AM CST. Assignment due dates are posted in
the weekly folders.

COMMUNICATION

INSTUCTOR
Please feel free to call me Tami or Professor Kadera. Whatever you are most
comfortable with works for me! For this class I will communicate with you
predominantly via Blackboard Announcements and your noctrl.edu e-mail. I will
typically check and respond to my NCC e-mail within 24 hours between Monday
morning at 9am and Friday at 3pm. Please plan accordingly as I do not regularly
check email over the weekends.
As we navigate the world of online education, I understand that many of you will
work through independent learning activities at various times throughout the day.

STUDENT
As an online course, it is necessary for students to frequently check Blackboard and refer to the course calendar. I
expect you to log into Blackboard several times per week when we are not in our synchronous sessions (Weeks 4 & 8).
The nature of an online course is to continue our learning throughout the week, even when we are not “face-to-face”.
In addition, you should communicate any questions or concerns as they arise so they can be properly addressed and in
a timely fashion.

NETIQUETTE
As a citizen in a digital world, you are responsible for maintaining appropriate communication in all academic situations,
including online. Netiquette is a set of guidelines for appropriate online communication. You are responsible for adhering
to the following:
• Be sensitive to differences (cultural, political, religious beliefs, etc.) and respect others’ views
and opinions.
• Discussion forums take the place of an in-class discussion, so be mindful of your language.
• Using all capital letters implies “shouting” on the Internet and is considered impolite or
aggressive.
• Use appropriate grammar and spelling; avoid text message slang/short-cuts.

COURSE EVALUATION Assignments Points

GRADING POLICY Fitness Logs (12 @ 12 pts) 144

As indicated in the Undergraduate Course Catalog, Typically, 6
hours per week of combined class and study Annotation Guides (8 @ 15 pts) 120
time are expected for each 2-credit hour course.” This means Seminar Participation (2 @ 15pts) 30 that
3 hours out of class per week on average is expected over the
course of the term; please plan accordingly to complete this so Connection Activities (7 @ 10 pts) 70 your
expected grade aligns with your course work effort.
Final Reflection 25
It is your responsibility to keep track of your grades in
Blackboard. The total points for the term will be 464 points.
Please see Blackboard for specifics of each assignment and Impact Project 75
their point value.
TOTAL 464
This course will use the following grading scale:

 93-100% = A
 90-92% = A-
 87-89% = B+
 83-86% = B
 80-82% = B-
 77-79% = C+
 73-76% = C
 70-72% = C-
 60-69% = D
 Below 60%= F

SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS

All assignments are to be type written in a 12-point font, double-spaced with correct spelling, grammar, and
punctuation. All sources must be cited in text and in Bibliography using APA or MLA style. Assistance with APA or MLA
style can be found on the NCC Library website. Assignments need to represent your own work. Any individual
assignment, quiz or test that resembles another student will receive an automatic grade of zero. All assignment
details will be available on Blackboard

COURSE STRUCTURE & POLICIES

As indicated in the Undergraduate Course Catalog, Typically, 6 hours per week of combined class and study time are
expected for each 2-credit hour course.” This means that 4 hours out of class per week on average is expected over
the course of the term; please plan accordingly to complete this so your expected grade aligns with your course work
effort.
The course calendar will serve as an outline of what topics will be covered during synchronous and asynchronous class
meetings, readings, corresponding out of class work, and assignments due. It is your responsibility to keep up with
the calendar and due dates. Every effort will be made to adhere to this calendar however please note that due to
technology and life, changes may occur. In the event of a calendar update, you will be notified, and the updated
calendar will be posted to Blackboard. The 2 Synchronous meetings are required and cannot be made up unless you
notify the instructor prior to the meeting date to arrange a makeup meeting.
Our course is setup into individual folders, by week, on Blackboard. Each week you can access the corresponding
folder to find all the materials you need to complete the independent learning tasks for that week. This includes drop
boxes for all assignments due that week and any materials you may need to complete a synchronous learning activity.
Technology- As an online course, most of our shared experience will be through Zoom, Blackboard and other virtual
platforms. To successfully engage with one another, you will need access to a computer, tablet, or smart phone with
internet/cellular data that is compatible with Blackboard. It is expected that students pursuing blended or online
courses have access to a computer or tablet with high speed internet. Portions of this course will require you to
watch videos, upload documents to Blackboard, and respond to discussion boards online. To best prepare, please be
sure to identify at least one back up option to your primary computer and internet source if possible. If you face
challenges accessing the devices or services you need, please contact the Cardinal Operation Hope & Help -
https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?NorthCentralCollege&layout_id=8
Late Work - Due dates are listed in BB and on the Tentative Schedule. While deadlines are important and will be
upheld, I understand life happens, emergencies do arise and we are likely to face technological challenges over the
course of the semester. If this is the case, please reach out to me to discuss the possibility of an extension prior to
when the assignment is due (if possible, more than 24 hours in advance). Work not approved for late submission or
not turned in by the extension date provided will be discussed between the professor and the student to determine if
a point loss penalty can be avoided by establishing a plan for student success in the course.

Accommodations – I am happy to help! Students who need special accommodations for assignments should present
themselves within the first few days of class. Documentation from the Center for Student Success office may be
necessary for some accommodations, but modifications can be provided for all activity days.
Plagiarism Statement- "Plagiarism means the offering of someone else's words, ideas, or conceptions as if they were
one's own. Students are indeed encouraged to draw upon the information and wisdom of others, but in the spirit of
scholarship they are always expected to state such indebtedness so that a) their own creativity can be justly
appreciated and b) their use of sources, like a scientist's experiment, can be verified by others. Plagiarism differs from
this productive use of sources in that the similarity of the original and the borrowings is very close; it is acknowledged
inexactly or not at all; and it shows little or no creative application by the borrower. Plagiarism is a prime intellectual
offense in that the borrower is faking the learning process. No learning community can thrive if its members
counterfeit their achievements, deceive their teachers, and take unfair advantage of their fellow students. Since the
integrity of the whole academic community is thus at stake, the penalties are high.”

OTHER COLLEGE POLICIES

Students are expected to abide by the college policies:

 Course Catalogs: Both undergraduate and graduate catalogs are available through North Central’s online
catalog home page.
 Student Code of Conduct
 Academic Honesty (Cheating, Plagiarism, Sanctions) and Academic Dishonesty
 Withdrawal Policy
 Assessment Disclosure: Student work products for this course may be used by the College for educational
quality assurance purposes. Identifying information will be removed from your assignment to protect your
confidentiality. If you do not want your assignments or coursework to be included in any assessment of
learning or any type of program evaluation, please notify your instructor immediately. 
STUDENT RESOURCES
North Central College cares about, and is committed to, the safety and success of all members of the College
community. If you or someone you know may be struggling academically and/or personally, College resources and
assistance are available. As your Professor, I may seek support for you by passing information on or sharing concern
with the Office of Student Affairs or the Center for Student Success by submitting an Early Alert Referral Form.
 The Center for Student Success is committed to ensuring all students have access, opportunities, and resources
to achieve their highest level of academic achievement. Our programs, activities, and services support the
educational objectives of the faculty and College by emphasizing personal and practical skill development so
students become engaged, informed, and confident learners. To help you succeed in your courses, our academic
success programs provide a range of support including individual tutoring, structured study groups, academic
skills workshops, and supplemental peer-led instruction programs.  Additional assistance is provided in
our Writing Center, Speaking Center and Math Resource Center. See also Online Resources for Student Success. 
 Student Disability Services: Student Disability Services is an office within Academic Affairs, which coordinates
accommodations for undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities. We view disability as an important
aspect of diversity and are committed to providing equal opportunity and meaningful access for all students. We
partner with students, faculty, and staff to provide accessible environments and academic accommodations. Click
here to register.
 Title IX: North Central College faculty are committed to the safety and well-being of our students, and we are
available to discuss any concerns. Faculty are legally obligated to share information disclosed to them about sexual
assault, dating/domestic violence, stalking, and or sexual or gender-based harassment with the Title IX
Coordinator to help ensure the safety, welfare and academic success of our students. The Title IX Coordinator,
 Rebecca Gordon, can be contacted directly at rgordon@noctrl.edu, or by calling (630) 637-5340, to make a report,
file a complaint, or obtain further information on your rights, options, and available resources. More information,
the policy, resources, and an online reporting form can be accessed from the Title IX webpage. For confidential
reporting, and information about resources and options, contact the Dyson Wellness Center advocate, Jessica
Vasquez, at 630-637-5113. Anonymous reports can be made by calling the Campus Conduct Hotline at (866) 943-
5787.
 In the event of an emergency, please call the Department of Campus Safety at 630-637-5911 and/or 911. Students
may also submit an Early Alert referral if you or another member of our campus community needs assistance.
 If you have witnessed or experienced a bias-related incident, please use the Bias Incident Report form in order to
file a report. Any act of intolerance, regardless of severity, can be reported. Once submitted, your report will be
reviewed by the North Central College Bias Incident Response Team.
 Technical Assistance: If you are encountering difficulties with your NCC email, password, network, wireless,
printing, Blackboard, or Box cloud storage, consult Instructional Technology website or contact the Help Desk at
helpdesk@noctrl.edu or 630-637-5440.