Background: Coaches and physical educators must obtain valid data relating to the contribution of each of their players in order to assess their level of performance in team sport competition. This information must also be collected and used in real game situations to be more valid. Developed initially for a physical education class context, the…

The average elementary or secondary school physical education program has several elements or aspects which should be critically examined. School gym classes rely on routine and uninteresting activities which do not incorporate innovations in motor activities and movement experiences. However, programs designed to meet the needs of special…

Physical education teachers needed to reach a consensus among themselves as to the direction and scope of elementary school physical education, and they needed to work with other groups to produce a document that could be used as a resource to educate others about the importance of elementary school physical education. "Essentials of a Quality…

This study examined to what degree the existing curricula, teaching practices, and assessments in 15 elementary physical education programs were aligned with the National Standards for Physical Education (NASPE, 1995) in the USA. Fifteen elementary physical education teachers voluntarily participated in this study. Data were gathered through…

Children who do not develop a foundation of basic motor skills are less likely to participate in regular physical activity. An excellent way of teaching basic motor skills, as well as health-related fitness, is through gymnastics. Many young teachers, however, think that teaching gymnastics is too challenging and do not know how to incorporate it…

This book, on the theme of the current status of physical education in colleges and universities and its problems and potentials, includes papers in the following categories: (1) Physical Education and Higher Education: Missions and Potential; (2) Physical Education: Is it Central to the Mission of Higher Education? (3) Social Science and Physical…

Regular evaluation of programs should be structured so that useful data is collected to help determine the effectiveness of the process and the product. Discussed are purposes and uses of an evaluation, effectiveness measures, and program factors and products to evaluate. (MT)

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is now a cornerstone of education policy in the UK and elsewhere. If policy aspirations translate successfully into practice, then (funded) CPD opportunities will abound and teachers will be 'developed' in a logical and structured way from the moment they enter the profession until retirement. As a result…

In an earlier paper some of the conceptual and curriculum coherence challenges of linking practically based experiential learning with authentic attainment in high-stakes examination awards in physical education were analysed (Thorburn, 2007). Problems often existed for students in deriving subject knowledge understanding from tasks where there…

Academic departments in kinesiology and physical education have historically struggled with the important issue of interdisciplinary collaboration in the areas of teaching, research, and service. The resultant lack of coherence can prove problematic as undergraduates attempt to complete the often difficult transition from student to professional…

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe how one US Midwestern university implements quality principles, based on the value added premise in a teacher preparation program that yields accountability, teacher education standards attainment and ultimately improvement of teacher candidates and overall programs. Design/methodology/approach:…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, research indicates that today's children are not getting enough physical activity. One solution to this problem is to integrate other subjects into physical education. This article describes a successful physical education program for Pre-K children implemented at the Sheboygan Area…

This study measured the physical fitness, levels of creative thinking, and attitudes about physical education in second graders enrolled in physical education programs with different curricular focus: (1) aerobic fitness; (2) movement education; and (3) standard classroom teacher taught curriculum. Seventy-seven children and five teachers…

The purpose of the statements in this pamphlet is to assist school personnel and community leaders in determining focus and direction as they develop programs of physical education for elementary school children. An underlying principle in all of the statements is that physical education is an integral part of the total educational program. To…

A combination of traditional and movement exploration teaching methods may be most beneficial in teaching physical education activities to elementary school children, the choice of method depending on the type of activity to be taught, the facilities and equipment available, and the expertise of the teacher in the two methods. (MB)