Education Commons^™

Experiential Learning: Using Virtual Simulation In An Online Rn-Bsn Program, Henny Breen, Melissa Jones

Faculty Publications

This article highlights the innovative experiential learning used by an online RN-BSN program through the use of simulation that takes place in an online classroom. Three experiential learning activities using a virtual community are described. These learning activities engage the students in thinking about social justice and health policy as well as teaching concepts that include community, leadership, influence, advocacy, networking, collaboration, and vulnerable populations. These concepts are critical to the learning needs of diploma and associate degree-prepared nurses who wish to continue their education to be better prepared to meet the complex needs of today’s health care environment.

Assessing Online Collaborative Discourse, Henny Breen

Faculty Publications

This qualitative study using transcript analysis was undertaken to clarify the value of Harasim’s Online Collaborative Learning Theory as a way to assess the collaborative process within nursing education. The theory incorporated three phases: (1) idea generating; (2) idea organizing; and (3) intellectual convergence. The transcripts of asynchronous discussions from a two-week module about disaster nursing using a virtual community were analyzed and formed the data for this study.

This study supports the use of Online Collaborative Learning Theory as a framework for assessing online collaborative discourse. Individual or group outcomes were required for the students to move through all …

Recognizing Campus Landscapes As Learning Spaces, Kathleen G. Scholl, Gowri Betrabet Gulwadi

Faculty Publications

American higher education institutions face unique twenty-first century changes and challenges in providing good, holistic learning spaces for the diverse and evolving needs of today’s college student. Continued enrollment growth, societal and technological changes, financial challenges, and a need for increased universal and open access create ever more diverse, changing and complex US university systems. In 2009, 20.4 million students were enrolled in 2- or 4-year colleges and universities. By 2019, enrollments are expected to rise 9% for students under age 25, and rise 23% for students over the age of 25 (Snyder & Dillow, 2011). Questions of where, when, …

Physical Education Major's Knowledge Of Appropriate Instructional Practices In Middle School Physical Education, David C. Barney, Robert Christenson, Frank Pleban

Faculty Publications

For many years students have been exposed to inappropriate instructional practices in physical education, resulting in bad experiences and inadequate learning. Introducing pre service physical education (PE) majors to Appropriate Instructional Practices (AIP) is a recommended method of preparation. Unfortunately, many PE majors have been exposed to inappropriate instructional practice; thus they perceive those practices as appropriate to use in their teaching. To determine PE majors' understanding of AIP, 313 PE majors (161 males & 152 females) from 7 different institutions participated in this study. Based on incorrect responses it was found that PE majors believed that organizing students in …

Simulated Learning In Musculoskeletal Assessment And Rehabilitation Education: Comparing The Effect Of A Simulation-Based Learning Activity With A Peer-Based Learning Activity, Mark Hecimovich, Simone Volet

Faculty Publications

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders and diseases are leading causes of pain, physical disability, and doctor visits throughout the world. Health professionals must be trained to assess, treat through rehabilitation and monitor patients with these disorders. Yet, due to overcrowded curricula, some health education programs struggle to accommodate more than minimal training in musculoskeletal conditions. Consequently, educators in these professions must consider how traditional instruction could be complemented effectively to enhance students’ preparation for the diverse musculoskeletal disorders and pathologies they may encounter. The purpose of this study was to explore the benefits that can be obtained from laboratory practice in musculoskeletal …

Development And Psychometric Evaluation Of Scales To Measure Professional Confidence In Manual Medicine: A Rasch Measurement Approach, Mark D. Hecimovich, Irene Styles, Simone E. Volet

Faculty Publications

Background: Health professionals in athletic training, chiropractic, osteopathy, and physiotherapy fields, require high-level knowledge and skills in their assessment and management of patients. This is important when communicating with patients and applying a range of manual procedures. Prior to embarking on professional practice, it is imperative to acquire optimal situation-specific levels of self-confidence for a beginner practitioner in these areas. In order to foster this professional self-confidence within the higher education context, it is necessary to have valid and reliable scales that can measure and track levels and how they change. This study reports on the development and psychometric analysis …

A 5-Year Review Of Aahperd Poster Presentations In The Area Of Sport Education, David C. Barney, Brad Strand

Faculty Publications

One desired outcome of k-12 physical education is that all students will have positive experiences during their classes. If students have positive experiences in physical education, they will physically likely be physically active throughout their lives (Barney & Strand, 2008). Unfortunately, for some students the physical education experience has been boring, unnecessary, a waste of time, or just not cool (Rice, 1988). One tool physical educators can manipulate to ensure that student's have positive experiences in physical education, is the curriculum. Barney and Deutsch (2009) found that the curriculum used in a middle school program played a major role in …

Why Teach Pe? Factors That Affect Students' Decisions To Teach Physical Education Revisited, Patrick Mcgaha, David C. Barney

Faculty Publications

Many times a child will be asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" The answers are varied, yet their responses usually reflect what their parents' employment may be. For this study, factors were investigated that have an effect on college students' decisions to become physical educators. For this study it was found that former physical education and coaches were the most influential people affecting college students' decision to become physical education teachers, not parents. It was also found that many of these college students were actively involved in high school athletics, thus also affecting their decision …

A Comparison Of Middle School Students Steps Per Minute (Spm) In Five Physical Education Curriculum Units Utilizing Pedometers: An Overall Contribution To Attaining The Recommended Step Counts Per Day In Children, David C. Barney, Francis T. Pleban, Jenny Pleban, Justin Dekupier

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to compare pedometer steps per minute from five different curriculum units (basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, pickle ball, and fitness activities) in middle school physical education classes as they relate to contributing to the recommended 12,000 to 16,000 steps per day for healthy children. Two hundred and thirty-two male and female middle school students participated in this study, 115 males and 117 females, respectively. Steps per minute were measured with pedometers in five curriculum units in middle school physical education classes; over 36 minutes of activity time. Overall, physical education classroom activities such as basketball, …

Virtual Collaboration In The Online Educational Setting: A Concept Analysis, Henny Breen

Faculty Publications

This study was designed to explore the concept of virtual collaboration within the context of an online learning environment in an academic setting. Rodgers’ method of evolutionary concept analysis was used to provide a contextual view of the concept to identify attributes, antecedents, and consequences of virtual collaboration. Commonly used terms to describe virtual collaboration are collaborative and cooperative learning, group work, group interaction, group learning and teamwork. A constructivist pedagogy, group-based process with a shared purpose, support and web-based technology are required for virtual collaboration to take place. Consequences of virtual collaboration are higher order thinking and learning to …

Tracing The Evolution Of Chiropractic Students’ Confidence In Clinical And Patient Communication Skills During A Clinical Internship: A Multi-Methods Study, Mark Hecimovich, Simone Volet

Faculty Publications

Background: Anecdotal evidence points to variations in individual students’ evolving confidence in clinical and patient communication skills during a clinical internship. A better understanding of the specific aspects of internships that contribute to increasing or decreasing confidence is needed to best support students during the clinical component of their study.

Methods: A multi-method approach, combining two large-scale surveys with 269 students and three in-depth individual interviews with a sub-sample of 29 students, was used to investigate the evolution of change in student confidence during a 10-month long internship. Change in levels of confidence in patient communication and clinical skills was …

Creating And Maintaining A Positive Environment For Students In Middle School Physical Education, David C. Barney, Robert S. Christenson

Faculty Publications

The aim of this scholarly work was to identify the components that have a direct impact on the positive atmosphere surrounding the teaching-learning process in middle school physical education. As students are the main focus for instruction, the physical education teacher has the primary responsibility for crafting and preserving the best environment to encourage successful participation for middle school learners. The findings of this work indicate that there are jive major teacher-controlled factors that have been identified, with ten sub-sets of those areas that play a key role in the teaching and learning of physical education in Oklahoma.

Attitudes And Perceptions Of Elementary Classroom Teachers Use Of Physical Education Time For Planning, David Barney

Faculty Publications

An elementary classroom teacher (ECT) has a busy day. The teachers teach their class, prepare class materials, and may supervise the lunchroom or the playground at recess time (Daily Physical Activity in School, 2005), attend meetings with parents and perform a number of other responsibilities. For this reason planning time is a very important component for the ECT. Planning time for the ECT is usually taken when students are in elementary physical education. This study investigated how elementary physical education can assist the ECT in their planning time. In this study 219 ECT from three states and 18 different schools …

General Attitudes Of Middle School Students Towards Physical Education, David C. Barney, Robert Christenson

Faculty Publications

Attitudes are formed by beliefs and experiences a person has had in their life (Silverman & Subramanian, 1999). This principle applies to middle school students' attitudes in physical education. The purpose of this study was to determine middle school students' attitudes towards physical education. For this study 227 middle school students in the Midwest of the United States were surveyed, then 28 students were interviewed regarding the attitudes towards physical education. It was found that middle school students tend to have positive attitudes towards physical education more specifically, the student felt that physical education is important their education and that …

An Instructional Pyramid: Expanding Coach Wooden's "Pyramid Of Success" To Guide P.E.T.E. Professionals, Robert Christenson, David C. Barney

Faculty Publications

What in the teaching-learning process can PETE (Physical Education Teacher Education) faculty identify as being effective and a critical part of this multifaceted practice? Which of the physical activity learning experiences best serves the student? Finally, how does a future-professional physical education teacher, who is inexperienced and intimidated by their first job circumstances, wade through all the information and responsibilities to perform up to expectations? As described by Veal (2011), "Teachers operate in an intensely complicated and demanding world. They face 30 or more students at once – each one different from the other, demanding individualized attention and treatment. Teachers …

The Influence Of Teacher-Initiated Reminders On The Attainment Of Students' Aerobic Fitness Goals, Ross Chakrain, Jennifer J. Waldron

Faculty Publications

Goal setting in the physical education classroom can be a successful technique to enhance motivation, increase effort, and improve performance. A critical component of effective goal setting is providing feedback. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine the influence of teacher-initiated reminders of the goal on the attainment of self-set aerobic goals in physical education classes. This study was quasi-experimental in nature and used a nonrandomized pretest-posttest, control group design to carry out the procedures. Participants were from two fifth grade classes: one class was designated the experimental group (n = 15) and the other was the …

Using Pedometers In Physical Education Teacher Education (Pete) Programs, Robert Christenson, David C. Barney

Faculty Publications

Pedometers have been found to be a valuable teaching tool in physical education class at almost every level of education (Scruggs, Beveridge, Eisenman, Watson, Shultz & Ransdell, 2003). While there are a variety of different pedometer styles, shapes and sizes, the information that can be compiled from each can be just as different. The basic pedometer can measure steps taken, distance, time a person is in activity, calories burned and a few other fundamental measures. In addition, some pedometers record heart rate, have time-of-day displays, are weather resistant, have alternate metric capabilities and provide easy-to-read displays. There has been a …

Cooperating Teacher's Expectations For Student Teachers During The Student Teaching Experience In Physical Education, Robert Christenson, David C. Barney

Faculty Publications

The student teaching experience is important. The student teacher wants to be successful during their student teaching experience. Part of working successfully with the cooperating teacher can greatly impact a student teacher's success. The purpose of this study was to investigate school based cooperative teachers' experiences with student teachers for the purpose of better preparing physical education teacher education majors for their student teaching. For this study 100 experienced physical educators were surveyed to find out what student teachers should expect to do to be successful when student teaching. One of the main findings from this study was for student …

Oklahoma Elementary Classroom Teachers' Attitudes And Perspectives Of Elementary Physical Education, David C. Barney, Sarah Ehrlich

Faculty Publications

Physical education is an academic discipline that has not been given the respect it deserves both in the school setting and among the general public. As a result of the lack of respect physical education has in the educational community, it is one of the first content areas to be eliminated.

Physical educators need to gain support so they can demonstrate to administrators and parents the value of physical education on a student's overall education. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to obtain and better understand Oklahoma elementary classroom teachers' attitudes and perceptions towards elementary physical education, and thus …

Our Top 12 "Key Instructional Elements" That Help To Build An Excellent Lesson And High Quality Physical Education Program, Robert S. Christenson, David C. Barney

Faculty Publications

One of the most fundamental issues in teaching, arguably the biggest, is discovering the most effective lesson elements for each group of learners. This includes a solid curriculum, performance objectives, age-appropriate pedagogical ingredients, ability-level activities and assessments focused on measuring learning to create a great lesson. When these elements are blended artistically with a variety of classroom management skills, necessary equipment, instructional support resources, behavior management rules and high expectations in a nurturing environment, the teacher has created the best possible learning atmosphere for each individual student.

Below, the authors have identified twelve important instructional elements for teachers to incorporate …

The Effect Of Middle School Physical Education Curriculum On Student Attitudes, David C. Barney, Joe Deutsch

Faculty Publications

Middle school physical education can serve as an important tool in shaping students opinions and behaviors regarding lifelong physical activity. The curriculum in middle school physical education is one component that can positively or negatively affect a student's attitude toward physical activity throughout their life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the middle school physical education curriculum and its effect on middle school students' attitudes and perceptions towards their physical education class. It was found that middle school students do like the curriculum they participate in, mainly consisting of team sports.

The Spectrum Of Teaching Styles: Style F – Guided-Discovery, Robert S. Christenson, David C. Barney

Faculty Publications

The Guided Discovery Style (F) of teaching is a highly developed trial-and-error process that is organized by the teacher to lead, by questions or challenging tasks, the student-learner to discover a predetermined correct answer (performance response, concept application, strategy resolution or the impact of a rule on play). The teacher serves as an instructional guide by presenting a series of questions, problems and challenges that channel the student-learner to a desired performance solution. Each instructional episode is based on the prior response and readiness to move to the next challenge.

The Spectrum Of Teaching Styles: Style D – The Self-Check Style, Robert S. Christenson, David C. Barney

Faculty Publications

Muska Mosston (1964) created, and Mosston and Ashworth (1994) revised the Spectrum of Teaching Styles in an effort to identify several of the more profound instructional episodes in the teaching-learning process. While developed with physical education as a focal point, the eleven teaching styles included in the teaching spectrum are based upon the countless instructional decisions that are made prior to (PRE-IMPACT), during (IMPACT) and following an instructional episode (POST IMPACT). Based upon who is making the decisions, styles A to E are grouped into a first cluster representing reproduction styles. Styles F to K represent a discovery style of …

The Teaching-Learning Process: A Set Of Instructional Strategies And Tactics Through Analysis Of Mosston's "Spectrum Of Teaching Styles", Robert S. Christenson, David C. Barney

Faculty Publications

This analysis of teaching is comprised of a series of articles that are intended to introduce the reader or provide for a refocusing for those familiar to Mosston's eleven styles along the spectrum of teaching styles. Mosston developed them as a result of his work at Pennsylvania's Temple University and East Stroudsburg University and then at Rutgers University and the Center on Teaching. Since the first publication of Teaching Physical Education, which introduced The Spectrum of Teaching Styles, Mosston demonstrated his love for the teaching-learning process in physical education by challenging other professionals to expand their instructional repertoires in an …

The Spectrum Of Teaching Styles: Style E – The Inclusion Style, Robert S. Christenson, David C. Barney

Faculty Publications

One of the greatest challenges physical educators face in the classroom is getting all students to be actively participating in an activity. In this continued series of Mosston's "Spectrum of Teaching Styles," the "Inclusion Style" (Style E) helps the teacher with the idea of getting and keeping all students actively involved (See Figure 2) as it offers the opportunity for each individual to choose their own challenge. Mosston's "Inclusion Style" has at its very core the intent to give all students equal opportunity to participate while allowing decisions to be made that adjust the challenge by modifying the conditions.

The Teaching/Learning Process Through Mosston's "Spectrum Of Teaching Styles: The Reciprocal Style", David C. Barney, Robert S. Christenson

Faculty Publications

Mosston (1994) created the Spectrum of Teaching Styles to identify the various alternatives that exist to design as well as present instructional episodes. As there are most likely as many ways to define the styles of teaching as there are learners, Mosston's original seven teaching styles have evolved into eleven. As identified by Mosston, each of the styles is differentiated by the decisions that are made by teacher or learner. The sequence of decisions that are made by either the teacher of learner during each of the three specified phases of instruction, before (pre-impact), during (impact) or after (post-impact) helps …

Physical Education Majors Team Teaching In An Early Field Experience In A Junior High School Setting, David C. Barney, Robert Christenson

Faculty Publications

The early field experience (EFE) has been considered a valuable and important component of a physical education major's education (Curtner-Smith, 1993). For this study 26 pre-service teachers (PST) (physical education majors) team taught (13 teams) in an EFE in a local junior high school. During their EFE each team taught 2 lessons in the school. From this study it was found that during the PST lessons the junior high students were active in the class activities, that the PST should have used louder voices when teaching, that the PST should have had a back-up plan for their lessons, that music …

It's A Blessing, Douglas E. Abrams

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Teacher Self-Appraisal Checklist For Physical Educators To Assess Instructional Performance, Robert S. Christenson, David C. Barney

Faculty Publications

Many of the instructional challenges physical education teachers are confronted with today are very different from even those of our recent past. Advances in educational practices have found different ways to reach students, respond to their activity needs, and provide more interesting, effective, safe, as well as, novel ways to approach the teaching-learning process. Exploration into "Best Practices", instructional methods, and teaching effectiveness over the past three decades has brought about numerous changes that have focused on enhancing the quality of the teaching-learning experience in physical education. Student assessment, teaching effectiveness and instructional accountability are just a few of the …

Do High School Students Know What Practices Are Appropriate In Physical Education, David C. Barney, Brad Strand

Faculty Publications

The NASPE Appropriate Practices for High School Physical Education document was published for the purpose of "addressing key aspects of instructional strategies and practices that are essential to delivery of quality physical education to adolescents and young adults" [pg. 3]. The purpose of this study was to investigate high school student's knowledge of appropriate practices in high school physical education. Three hundred and sixty-nine high school students were surveyed regarding appropriate practices in high school physical education. It was found that picking teams in class was appropriate, that dressing out for class and attendance is a part of their grade …