Brad Strand, professor of health, nutrition and exercise sciences, presented “Physical Education Majors and K-12 Teachers: Knowledge and Use of Appropriate Instructional Strategies” at the central district association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance annual convention on March 13 in Rochester, Minn. Angela Senne and Vicky Bender, both former graduate students, also were presenters.
“In this presentation we discussed the differences in knowledge and use of appropriate instructional strategies by K-12 physical education teachers compared to that of physical education majors,” Strand said. “As is expected, K-12 teachers are more knowledgeable regarding instructional strategies than are physical education majors.”
In regard to how often the instructional strategies are used, Strand said significant differences were found between what was reported by teachers compared to what was reported by physical education majors of their K-12 teachers. “K-12 teachers are less likely to indicate they use inappropriate practices compared to what the physical education majors reported about their teachers,” he said.
Strand presented a research poster at the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance annual convention that was held March 30-April 4. He worked on the poster with Jim Egeberg, former doctoral student.
Titled “Wellness Promotion on College and University Campuses,” the poster focused on health-related fitness and fitness education courses offered on college and university campuses in a nine-state region. Strand and Egeberg made comparisons between two-year and four-year institutions and explored trends and patterns regarding general education wellness courses.
Strand, Senne and Kristen Saxon, former graduate student, will present research posters at the National Association for Sport and Physical Education Teacher Education Conference on Oct. 8-10 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The poster by Saxon and Strand is titled “A Snapshot of Doctoral Physical Education Teacher Education Programs in the United States.” This presentation provides descriptive information about the 24 Physical Education Teacher Education programs offered across the United States. The presenters will share information regarding curriculum, assistantships, program requirements, teaching experiences and research expectations of the various graduate programs.
The poster by Senne and Strand is titled “The Influence of High School Teachers on Appropriate Practices Knowledge of Physical Education Teacher Education Majors.” This poster will present evidence of the strong influence that public school teachers have on the knowledge base and beliefs regarding teaching practices of physical education majors. Strand says the challenge for teacher preparation programs is to, in many instances, alter or change the preconceived beliefs that students bring into specific teacher education programs.