TEACHING BIOMECHANICS FOR CONCEPTUAL LEARNING

Abstract

Biomechanics education is a vital component of kinesiology and physical education undergraduate coursework. However, little research exists regarding effective teaching strategies for biomechanics. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to evaluate various teaching methods utilizing the Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) framework over eight courses of undergraduate biomechanics and included 283 students. Students pre- and post-performance on the Biomechanics Concept Inventory (BCI) were used to evaluate student learning. The results indicated significantly higher learning gains and better conceptual understanding in the JiTT course, relative to No JiTT and a modified version of the JiTT. These results suggest JiTT may be an effective method for engaging undergraduate students and promoting learning in biomechanics courses.