Facilities

The UT Tyler Department of Health and Kinesiology is located in the Jean Lancaster Academic Wing of the Louise Herrington Patriot Center, a 127,312-square-foot academic and recreational facility.

State of the Art

There are many styles of lecture rooms throughout the Department of Health and Kinesiology. From our main lecture hall that seats 75 students to our 12-14 student graduate seminar room, our department has rooms for every teaching situation. All the rooms use state-of-the-art technology, which provides the best learning opportunities available for our students.

Engaging and Interactive Teaching

With an average class size of 30 students, we are able to provide a very engaging and interactive teaching and learning environment. Student engagement and active learning are an integral part of our faculty's teaching philosophies. From PowerPoint lectures to interactive television, our Faculty enthusiastically embrace the technological world in which we live.

Unique Ways to Learn

Faculty continually strive to provide the students with unique and effective ways to learn. Most recently we have started to use Elluminate software that provides an opportunity to record the entire lecture to be played back later by students at home or even during a run on their Ipod. We look forward to you taking a look for yourself during a schedule tour of our department.

Computer Laboratory for Students

The Department of Health and Kinesiology's computer laboratory consists of an instructor's station and 18 computers with a networked laser printer for student use. The computers are pre-installed with all software H & K students are required to use for their classes as well as connected to the Internet for ease of access to Blackboard, email, library and other Internet resources.

The Biomechanics Laboratory is dedicated to conducting projects and demonstrations with exercise, clinical relevance, athletics and educational purpose. Research projects are developed through collaborations with health and kinesiology faculty and clinicians. Educational programs are focused on how application of biomechanical principles can be used in exercise prescription, injury rehabilitation, athletic performance and physical education.

Equipment/Software

• Kistler Force Plate
• Biopac EMG Acquisition System
• Peak Motus 8 2D Motion Capture System
• DartFish
• LabVIEW

Analyses

• Electromyography (EMG)
• Kinetics: Force Analysis
• Kinematics: Motion Analysis
• Sport Performance

Applications

• Kinematic and Kinetic Analyses of Golf, Baseball, Tennis and Softball Swings
• Kinematic and Kinetic Analyses of Basketball Shooting, Soccer Kicking, and Gymnastics
• Muscle synergy and firing rates during sporting activities using EMG
• Gait/Motion Analysis related to rehabilitation and sport performance

The Motor Learning/Control Laboratory provides excellent teaching and learning opportunities for our students. This state-of-the-art teaching/research laboratory provides our students with hands on educational experiences related to the fields of physical and occupational therapy, athletic training, sport performance and physical education. The laboratory also provides an excellent environment to foster our Faculty and student research interests.

Equipment/Software

• State-of-the-art Computer Systems
• E-Prime Programming Software
• Custom Response Boxes
• Auto Scoring Mirror Tracer
• Grooved Pegboard Test
• Wii Gaming System/Wii Fit Board
• Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test
• Roeder Manipulative Aptitude Test
• Two Arm Coordination Test
• Photoelectric Rotary Pursuit

Analyses

• Balance Testing
• Dual Task Motor Performance
• Dexterity Testing
• Reaction Time
• Practice Schedules and Skill Acquisition
• Transfer of Skill using the Wii

Applications

• The effects of exercise and age on balance
• Using the Wii Fit to investigate balance training and rehabilitation
• Investigating the effects of nicotine on the information processing system
• The effects of cell phone use and text messaging on motor performance
• The role of the Wii on transfer of skill in physical education