The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of kindergarten teachers concerning the skills that demonstrate the five components of readiness as organized by the National Education Goals Panel (NEGP) and to identify which skills kindergarten teachers believe are most important for students to be successful. In November 2023, 136…

Medical laboratory technicians (MLT's) are healthcare practitioners who play crucial roles in assisting physicians with diagnosing and monitoring illnesses. MLT's require complex training which historically has taken place in person. The COVID-19 pandemic increased awareness of a national lab technician shortage. To address the deficit, alternate…

This dissertation aimed to answer whether motor skills can be taught online and if the learning outcomes are similar to in-person learning. Considering the popularity of online learning, increasing our understanding of its outcomes is well warranted. Furthermore, evidence of the effectiveness of online instruction is very much in discussion.…

Advances in the use of technology in the classroom have not changed the fact that handwriting remains a primary occupation of students throughout their educational careers. A recent study stated that "up to 27% of children in elementary school are reported to have handwriting problems" (Steinhart et al., 2021, p.2). Despite this fact,…

This dissertation describes a research program focused on investigating learning strategies that could prevent individuals from showing inferior motor performance when performing under psychological pressure, a phenomenon known as "choking under pressure." Choking has been studied from the perspective of different theories. Each theory…

Background: Autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy are prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders. Autistic individuals or individuals with cerebral palsy often struggle with sensory processing that further impacts movement execution. Immersive virtual reality (VR) is a promising assessment and intervention modality to promote motor learning in…

Learning novel physical motor skills can be frustrating for some students. A lack of clear feedback further exacerbates the problem for students' skill development. This study examined the benefits of using video recording as augmented feedback to inform motor skill development in an applied gymnastics course at a service academy. The primary aim…

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a tennis serve intervention on motor skill performance and motor skill procedural knowledge of novice middle school student-athletes who were unprepared for interscholastic competition. The intervention package introduced mobile device technology within Mosston and Ashworth's (2002)…

The overarm throw is a difficult multi-limb task because the overarm throw requires synchronized dexterity of the entire body. Research has determined that the inability to throw hinders children's participation in physical activities. The dynamic systems theory, which describes the interactions and processes that manipulate development, framed…

Occupational therapists work with special education and general education students in public school settings to address the students' ability to fully participate in the educational environment. While existing literature focuses on the role of the occupational therapist in school-based practice, as well as teachers' perceptions of that role, there…

Kinder Tools was developed as a Response to Intervention approach (RTI) to help students in kindergarten improve and develop their fine motor and visual motor perceptual skills within the first three months of entering kindergarten. Some students enter kindergarten ready to learn, while other students struggle with skill development and learning…

Simulation based training (SBT) has allowed for improvement of clinical skills by providing practical experience of performing surgical procedures without the risk of harming patients. Performance assessment of learners during SBT has proved to be effective in improving psycho-motor skills, encouraging active learning and in-turn increasing…

This study examines the use of mastery motivational climate in an inclusive physical education setting. Mastery motivational climates (MMC) are grounded in achievement goal theory and the TARGET principles. Research has found mastery motivational climates to be effective for children with disabilities' skill acquisition. The purpose of this study…

It is widely accepted that fundamental motor skills (FMS) are considered the building blocks for successful participation in sports and physical activity for children, adolescents, and adults (Haywood & Getchell, 2014), and that individuals must be able to master these skill patterns before they can engage in more complex movement patterns,…

Surgery as a profession requires significant training to improve both clinical decision making and psychomotor proficiency. In the medical knowledge domain, tools have been developed, validated, and accepted for evaluation of surgeons' competencies. However, assessment of the psychomotor skills still relies on the Halstedian model of…