Using Journal Articles of Sport to Introduce Scientific Literacy in a Physics Course

Recently, we have begun implementing sport journal assignments into undergraduate courses to introduce scientific literature and allow students to form relevant, real-world connections to physics material. Biomechanics journals, which study the body's mechanical aspects through physics, provide articles that gravitate towards the physics of sport and exercise. Though biomechanics is roughly a "new" science, the blending of science and technology is ever-expanding as athletes can benefit through sports medicine, training techniques, and equipment design1. This means that there are a variety of journal articles available creating a perfect opportunity for students to explore biomechanic topics. Further, these typically call on basic physics principles including motion and forces of both translational and rotational motion, facilitating integration into an undergraduate general physics course. In this article, how biomechanics journals have been introduced throughout the semester of an undergraduate physics course and implementation. Additionally, student feedback was used to assess the effectiveness and overall impact on how the course is received.