Purdue HK faculty receive teaching innovation award to create new learning opportunities with innovative motion capture technology

Written By: Rebecca Hoffa, rhoffa@purdue.edu

(From left to right) Satyajit Ambike, Jeffery Haddad and Shirley Rietdyk.

Satyajit Ambike, Shirley Rietdyk and Jeffery Haddad, faculty in the Purdue University Department of Health and Kinesiology (HK), are the 2025 recipients of the Patsy J. Mellott Teaching Innovation Award. Established by College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) alumna Patsy Mellott, the award supports HHS faculty who demonstrate their excellence and leadership as teachers by proposing significant innovations to enhance the quality of HHS education programs.

Because of the importance of hands-on learning in preparing for the technologies used in the workforce, Ambike, Rietdyk and Haddad’s plan will apply the award funds toward costs associated with purchasing portable motion capture technology for students to use in the foundational HK 26300 (Biomechanical Foundations of Motor Skills) course. Previously, cost and expertise constraints of research-grade motion capture systems prevented experiential learning with these technologies for undergraduate students. Instead, faculty were limited to using online labs or observation-only options in their courses. However, advancements in technology, portability and accessibility create new strategic opportunities for HK, the faculty team noted in their proposed plan.

Ambike, Rietdyk and Haddad plan to purchase eight wearable inertial measurement units, a basic motorized treadmill for gait analysis and three smartphone-compatible tripods. They also plan to create standardized protocols, instruction manuals, assessment rubrics and instructional videos for implementing these technologies in the classroom. The portable equipment will be able to be checked out by any HK faculty member to be used in the classroom or community settings.

By offering accessible hands-on motion capture training for all kinesiology students, the department will be able to provide undergraduates with a competitive advantage in graduate school and clinical competencies that are often lacking at peer institutions. This will position Purdue’s Department of Health and Kinesiology as an innovator and leader in biomechanics education.

The team will measure students’ outcomes and success through pre- and post-knowledge assessments as well as a competency quiz at the end of the semester. The team plans to make the resources and a workshop training opportunity available to all HK faculty after their initial pilot testing in summer 2026.

The Patsy J. Mellott Teaching Innovation Award provides up to $3,000 for one year to an individual or small group of HHS faculty for a wide variety of innovative projects, including but not limited to the design of new courses, the development of new models for teaching existing courses, the creation of new curricula, and the purchase of equipment to enrich students’ learning in a course or set of courses.

For more information, please contact Ambike, Rietdyk, Haddad or Alexander Francis, associate dean for undergraduate education.

• Satyajit Ambike, associate professor, Department of Health and Kinesiology, sambike@purdue.edu
• Shirley Rietdyk, professor, Department of Health and Kinesiology, srietdyk@purdue.edu
• Jeffrey Haddad, associate professor, Department of Health and Kinesiology, jmhaddad@purdue.edu
• Alexander Francis, associate dean for undergraduate education, College of Health and Human Sciences, francisa@purdue.edu

View past recipients:

2024 Patsy J. Mellott Teaching Innovation Award Recipients

2023 Patsy J. Mellott Teaching Innovation Award Recipients

2022 Patsy J. Mellott Teaching Innovation Award Recipients