Unit rationale, description and aim
A fundamental understanding of nutrition is essential for practitioners in food, exercise and health-related industries. In this unit, students will develop an understanding of key documents that inform dietary recommendations including: the Australian Dietary Guidelines and the Nutrient Reference Values; explore macronutrients and how they are absorbed; gain an understanding of vitamins and minerals and how they work to maintain good health; and be introduced to dietary assessment methods and analysis. The concepts of hydration, exercise nutrition (including for training, competition and recovery, supplements, and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport), fad diets, Indigenous diets and the relationship between diet and disease are also explored.
Students will develop skills in reading, interpreting, and communicating scientific literature that contribute to the evidence base that shapes nutrition practice and recommendations. By combining the skills developed throughout the unit, students will be able to conduct basic dietary analysis using industry-standard software (FoodWorks™) and make evidence-based recommendations to improve the overall health of general and athletic populations.
The aim of this unit is to help students build a strong nutrition foundation from which they can develop knowledge, and skills that are relevant to professional practice in food, nutrition and exercise.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unitLearning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Identify the role of energy balance, the Australia...
Learning Outcome 01
Describe the nutritive and non-nutritive component...
Learning Outcome 02
Analyse evidence that supports nutritional practic...
Learning Outcome 03
Critique information collected using different die...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
- Food composition and function
- Physiology of digestion and absorption
- Energy metabolism, energy balance, and hydration
- Nutrient reference values and dietary guidelines for healthy eating
- Sports nutrition strategies
- Undernutrition and overnutrition in health and exercise
- Nutritional supplements, ergogenic aids, and evidence-based approaches to diet/nutrition information, and fad diets
- Methods of dietary assessment and evaluation
- Scope of practice and referral pathways for inappropriate dietary behaviours
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders traditional diets and Indigenous food guide
Assessment strategy and rationale
In order to best enable students to achieve unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes, standards-based assessment is utilised, consistent with University assessment requirements. To complete this unit, students need to obtain an aggregate mark of equal to or greater than 50%. A range of assessment strategies are used in ways that support the developmental sequence of the learning and teaching strategy. The three phases of the strategy are reflected by integration of three appropriate assessment tasks. Each task is designed to build the skills necessary for working towards the final assessment task.
A written task early in semester requires students to present newly acquired knowledge and develop their ability to communicate reasoning and understanding through a review of the literature.
The second assessment task will provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to interpret dietary guidelines and make food-based recommendations, as well as written communication skills.
The final assessment task provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate the depth and breadth of their understanding of the unit content and demonstrate critical thinking in the analysis and interpretation of dietary data using written communication skills.
The assessment tasks will allow unit coordinators to assess students’ demonstration of the learning outcomes and attainment of graduate attributes.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1 - Written Assessment: Invest...
Assessment Task 1 - Written Assessment:
Investigate a topical issue related to key nutrition principles.
Enables students to communicate reasoning and demonstrate application of knowledge and skills developed in the unit.
25%
Assessment Task 2 - Written Assessment Interpret...
Assessment Task 2 - Written Assessment
Interpretation and utilisation of dietary guidelines to make food-based recommendations.
Enables students to apply key unit learning as well as demonstrate their written communication skills.
25%
Assessment Task 3 - Written Assessment Dietary a...
Assessment Task 3 - Written Assessment
Dietary analysis enabling students to assess and interpret individual dietary habits using appropriate nutrition software.
Enables students to demonstrate application of knowledge and skills developed in the unit. Enables students to demonstrate oral communication skills.
50%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
To support the learning experience of students in ways that are the most engaging, the approach to learning and teaching is via active learning where students are supported through the provision of learning resources and class activities (either in physical or virtual classrooms) to take responsibility for their individual learning. Active learning opportunities provide students with opportunities to practice and apply their learning in situations similar to their future professions. Activities encourage students to bring their own examples to demonstrate understanding, application and engage constructively with their peers. Students receive regular and timely feedback on their learning, which includes information on their progress. The use of the Learning Management System (LMS) is integral to the delivery of the learning and teaching strategy. Students are expected to participate in the activities provided either in class or online and to be able to extend their learning through working alongside other students and undertaking individual research and activities.
NUTZ101 is delivered in different modes. Students will only study in one of these modes. The modes are:
- Campus attendance mode during secondary school holidays, with a small number of online classes prior to and/or after the intensive campus-based classes;
- Online mode during a normal university semester period, with classes delivered weekly and typically one night per week.