Aerobic exercise to music. Students will be provided with an opportunity to strengthen their cardiovascular system, decrease body fat, and tone and firm muscles. This course is designed to increase energy, mental clarity, and health as a part of one’s lifestyle. Activity segment will incorporate high, light, and low impact movements while working on the floor, bench, slide, and on occasion, a circuit. Three-quarters of the workout consists of a warm-up, a 30-45 minute aerobic workout, followed by a cool-down. The last quarter of the workout will be spent toning and strengthening different parts of the body, followed by a stretch segment at the end. In addition to aerobic workouts, the student will receive information on how to improve health and fitness.

The purpose of this course is to gain cardiovascular endurance, improved body composition, increased flexibility, increased muscular endurance and increased muscular strength while learning how to do aerobics. By actively participating in an aerobics class, the student can develop a habit of exercising and learn how live a healthier life.

• To provide students with an experience and knowledge of aerobic dance.
• For students to learn the principles of healthy eating, exercise and lifestyle choices.
• To motivate students to lead a healthier life, one that includes regular aerobic exercise.
Department Objectives:
• To learn the rules, fundamentals, skills, and strategies of aerobics.
• To learn how to correctly execute required skills and techniques as well as to use the equipment/facilities safely.
• To understand how Kinesiology relates to a healthy individual lifestyle.

Fitness Through Aerobics, Sixth Edition, by Jan Galen Bishop

Activity: This class is an activity and participation course, therefore approximately one hour of every class will be spent exercising, and 50 percent of the student’s grade will come from attendance. Varying fitness levels can be accommodated in this class as students will pace themselves through heart rate checks and perceived levels of exertion. Instructor will demonstrate different levels for working out and students can choose the level that will suit his or her needs. Level One = Beginners; Level Two=Intermediate; Level Three=Advanced.
Content: Ten to fifteen minutes of every class will be spent in learning about the principles of living a healthy and fulfilling life. This portion will include lecture, discussion, learning games, video, and handouts.

• All students will complete health form prior to participating in class. Those students who require modification of any specific activity or exercise need to inform the instructor as soon as possible.
• Cell phones, food, gum, and soft drinks are not allowed in classrooms/workout areas; bottled water is allowed.
• Proper workout shoes and clothing are required.
• Regular attendance and participation REQUIRED. (Attendance constitutes 50% of student's grade.)
• Reading the textbook and all class handouts.
• Seeing one video and filling out the question sheet about it.
• Students must take both written exams which will come from material given in class discussions, health videos, handouts and the textbook. Students should get notes when missing a class, as not all the discussion material will be in the handouts and textbook.

50% - Attendance (50 possible points)
All students are expected to attend classes. Attendance grade based on the following: Each absence deducts 5%. 2 absences = A, 3-4 absences = B, 5-6 absences = C, 7-8 absences = D; more than 8 absences =F
Three tardies constitute an absence. Student is responsible for informing the instructor when arriving late as to avoid an absence. You can make up 2 absences by attending another aerobics class and getting a teacher's signature.
10% - Participation (10 possible points)
Participation grade is based on verbal participation during lecture, as well as effort and attitude during exercise segment. This includes not talking during the discussion and the stretch and participation during group activities.
10% - Skills Test (10 possible points)
Given the fifth class of the semester.
A student will be given two different skills test over the semester. Improvement demonstrated in four of the five areas = an A (20 pts), three areas = B (15pts), two areas = C (10pts), one area = D (5 pts).
20% - Midterm and Final Exam (20 possible points)
If you miss the test you lose five points for each day that passes between test date and date test is taken. Tests are made up in the testing lab, but must be made up within two weeks of test date.
10% - Assignments: (10 possible points)
You lose 1 point every class that passes after turning in assignment. No homework assignment will be accepted after a 2 week time period.

Withdrawal: It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from a course. Instructors are allowed to withdraw students but students must not rely on their instructor to withdraw them if they wish to withdraw.

Incomplete: An incomplete (I) will be granted to a student in rare circumstances. Generally, to receive a grade of I, a student must have completed all examinations and assignments to date, be passing, and have personal circumstances that prevent course completion that occur after the deadline to withdraw with a grade of W.

Austin Community College policies for Academic Freedom, Scholastic Dishonesty, Student Discipline, and Students with Disabilities are as follows:

Scholastic Dishonesty Acts prohibited by the College for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework” (Student Handbook, 2002-2003, p. 32). Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an F in the course and/or expulsion from this institution.

Academic Freedom: Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class. In any classroom situation that includes discussion and critical thinking, there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. These differences enhance the learning experience and create an atmosphere where students and instructors alike will be encouraged to think and learn. On sensitive and volatile topics, students may sometimes disagree not only with each other but also with the instructor. It is expected that faculty and students will respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions. Students may achieve their course goals by more than one method.

Student Discipline: Classroom behavior should support and enhance learning. Behavior that disrupts the learning process will be dealt with appropriately, which may include having the student leave class for the rest of that day. In serious cases, disruptive behavior may lead to a student being withdrawn from the class. ACC's policy on student discipline can be found in the Student Handbook, 2002-2003, p. 32.

OSD (Office of Students with Disabilities) Statement: Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester” (Student Handbook, 2002-2003, p. 14).

Please Read One Chapter per week

Week One: Syllabus, Target Heart Rate Zone; What is aerobics? Benefits of Aerobics; Wellness. Worksheet 1 due second class.
Week Two: Being successful in exercise, Individual Differences in Exercise. The Cardiovascular System.
Week Three: First skills test, fifth class, Smart formula for setting and achieving goals; Clothing and Equipment. Worksheet 4 due.
Week Four: Components and Principles of Fitness.
Week Five: The Aerobic Target Zone; Why fatness is a cycle. Overweight versus Overfat. Diet Merry Go Round. How to Read a label and get Fat Percentage; What's Good about Fat? Are all Fats alike? How to Measure Fat.
Week Six: Setting Goals and Reaching Your Dream; Finding motivation, Choosing an activity, Measuring progress.
Week Seven: Posture; Warm Up and Cool Down; Flexibility.
Week Eight: Video, "Make the Connection” - Room 1104 in the Library, turn in answer sheet next class.
Week Nine: Review for Midterm; Midterm.
Week Ten: Rhythmic Aerobics: Variations and Styles. Body Toning through Resistance; Diseases affected by lifestyle. Worksheet 15 due.
Week Eleven: Weights, Bands and Resistance.
Week Twelve: Nutrition and Weight Control; Worksheet 16 & 17 due.
Week Thirteen: Prevention and Care; R.I.C.E. Formula.
Week Fourteen: Now that your fit . . . A lifetime of Aerobics.
Week Fifteen: Final Exam Review, Oral Reports (Oral reports are optional)
Week Sixteen: Final Exam & Skills test.

Exercise Tips

• Always warm up and stretch before working out.
• Breathe . . . especially when fatigued.
• Pace yourself, making adjustments when necessary. When getting short of breath, take out the "bounce", do footwork with no use of arms or walk in place.
• Don't stop! Keep moving during the aerobic portion of the class.
• Keep knees unlocked during stretches, or during any jumping.
• Report any feelings of sickness or faintness to the instructor.
• If you leave early take time to stretch before stopping.

Tips for being Successful in this Class:

• Get support when needed. Call me when you’re having doubts, trouble attending, trouble getting work done, etc.
• Use Discipline: Make yourself come even when tired, busy, cranky, or have incredible doubts about going – especially for the first 6 weeks. When you get yourself there, it’s amazing how your energy will pick up.
• Extra Credit: If you find yourself needing a little help with your grade, do a 3-5 minute oral report on health or go to the library and request and review the video, Diet for a New America or Supersize Me.