Pedagogical Aspects of Physical Education
Spring 2004

INSTRUCTOR ACCESS:

Dan Grube, Ph.D.
Office Phone: 227-3647
Email Address: dgrube@wcu.edu
Home Page: http://paws.wcu.edu/dgrube
Office Location: 107 Reid Gym
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday; 10:00-11:00am

COURSE INFORMATION:

PE 256-01; 2 credit hours; M/W/F @ 9:00-9:50am; 110 Reid Gym

TEXT AND MATERIALS:

Required Text

Rink, J.E.  (2002).  Teaching physical education for learning (4th ed.).  Boston,
    Massachusetts: McGraw-Hill.

Required Materials

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK:

    The professional education program at Western Carolina University is a community of learners based on knowledge, values, and experiences.  We teach our students to use their knowledge of both human development and their disciplines to effectively teach all pupils to solve problems. Appropriate values and dispositions are central to excellent teaching. We model collaborative, caring, and intellectually stimulating learning communities so our teacher education students will create environments for all their students that encourage curiosity, foster motivation, and promote achievement of rigorous state and professional standards.  We require our candidates to use state-of-the-art technology in their courses and in their field experiences.

    The Pedagogical Aspects of Physical Education course is a required course in the physical education concentration for teacher certification.  The purpose of this course is to develop knowledge related to the generic aspects of effective instruction as applied to physical education.  Upon completion of this course, students will understand those pedagogical practices appropriate to a physical education setting and will be able to make sound decisions regarding the teaching and learning of physical education content.
This course will provide a field-based experience in which the pre-service teacher will utilize the most current technology to assist in the delivery of instruction and the analysis of their instructional practices.  In this course, the pre-service teacher will have the opportunity to share and discuss the immense range of cultural differences within the public school setting.  This will be enhanced through class observations and field-based experiences.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1.    Value student learning as a primary purpose of teaching.
2.    Identify the implications of the requirements for learning a motor skill for instructional processes.
3.    Plan to teach a closed and an open skill to a small group of learners incorporating the following
       effective teaching behaviors:
           a. getting the attention of the learner
           b. choosing a way to communicate
           c. selecting and using learning cues
           d. improving the clarity of communication
           e. phrasing the content and organizational aspects of tasks
           f. giving teacher feedback
           g. teacher use of questions
           h. teacher positioning and movement
           i. developing the content and the games stages
           j. utilize instructional technology in the delivery and analysis of a lesson
           k. reflect in writing on the strengths and weaknesses of practiced lessons

EVALUATION:
 
Course Requirements
Lesson Planning & Teaching                25% 
Lesson Reflection                                25% 
Exams (3)                                           25%
Portfolio                                             10%
Quizzes/Homework Assignments            5%
Professional Development                      5%
Participation                                          5%
Total                                                 100%
Grading Scale
93-100     A                        73-76       C
90-92       A-                       70-72      C-
87-89       B+                      67-69       D+ 
83-86       B                        63-66       D
80-82       B-                       60-62       D-
77-79       C+                      59-below  F

COURSE REQUIREMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Teaching Labs (50 points)

        Lesson Planning and Teaching (25 points): Students will be required to submit a total of
        three-(3) lesson plans for teaching experiences.  All lessons planned and implemented will be
        evaluated with specific criteria based on the progression of content covered in the course.
        Professional dress is expected during all Teaching Labs.  Lessons planned and taught will be
        worth 25% of the final grade.

        Lesson Reflection (25 points): Students will be required to take part in laboratory experiences
        concurrent with this class in which they teach three-(3) lessons.  Labs will take place on
        Fridays during the time allocated for this class.  The first two lessons will be peer-teaching
        exercises, with the third lesson being a school-based teaching experience.  Following each
        lesson, students will be asked to reflect on the effectiveness of the instruction by responding
        to approximately ten-(10) guided reflection questions regarding different aspects of their
        pedagogical experience.  Each Teaching Lab will be audio-taped.  Lesson reflections are
        worth 25% of the final grade.

2. Exams (25 points): Students will be given three-(3) written examinations assessing their cognitive
    performance.  Exam 1 will be worth 5% of the final grade. Exam 2 will be worth 5% of the final
    grade. Exam 3 (the final exam) will be comprehensive of all material covered in class and thus
    worth 15% of the final grade. Exam 3 will be held on the final exam date (Wednesday, May 5
    from 8:30-11:00)  without exception.  All three-(3) examinations are worth a 25% of the final
    grade.

3. Professional Growth Portfolio (10 points): Students will be required to submit a portfolio that
    provides evidence of growth and change during the semester.  The portfolio provides evidence of
    understanding and application of various instructional methods and technologies and will be
    introduced during the semester.  The portfolio will include various examples of instructional
    development and professional growth.  The portfolio will be worth 10% of the final grade.

4. Quizzes/Homework Assignments (5 points): There will be a random number of quizzes and/or
    homework assignments throughout the semester.  The quizzes and assignments are worth 5% of
    the final grade.

5. Professional Involvement Activities (5 points): Students will be required to participate in a variety
    of self-selected professional activities.  Professional involvement will be worth 5% of the final
    grade.

6. Class Participation (5 points): Participation in all class activities is expected.  This includes class
    discussion and activity, cooperative learning activities, Teaching Labs, quizzes and other
    assignments.  Class participation is worth 5% of the final grade.

Attendance Policy.

The students are allowed two-(2) unexcused absences (cuts) from class.  An excused absence must first be cleared with the professor and typically will be granted in the instance of extended illness or death in the family, a religious holiday, or athletic or university related events.  Tardiness is unprofessional and will not be tolerated!   Students are responsible for the work on the days that they miss.
        Important Note: Missed due dates, tardiness to class, or unexcused absences that impede completion of peer teaching lessons,
           lesson reflections, exams, portfolio reviews, quizzes or assignments, and/or professional development activities will not be
           tolerated and therefore lose all credit.  Part of being a pre-professional educator is being responsible!
        Attendance/Tardiness Penalty: For each incident of tardiness to class, one-half of a point will be deducted from the
           participation grade.  Three-(3) points will be deducted from the final grade for each unexcused absence beyond two-(2).

Risk Awareness.

Students should be aware that some physical activity is expected as partial fulfillment of the requirements of the class.  The physical activity in this class includes the participation in practice physical education lessons taught by the instructor and peers enrolled in the class.  Students should make the instructor aware of any physical limitations that will limit participation in the class.  Students will be required to complete a Risk Awareness form at the beginning of the semester.

Accommodation of Students with Disabilities.

Western Carolina University makes every effort to provide appropriate accommodations for students with documented disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  To receive academic accommodations, students must be registered with the office of Student Support Services (contact Carol Mellen at 227-7127, Graham Bldg.).  The letter received from Student Support Services should be presented as documentation to the instructor as early in the semester as possible.


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