Learning Objectives

Physical Education

The Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation offers an extensive program designed to prepare students for careers in the field of physical education. The program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education with an emphasis available in Teaching, Exercise Science, and Pre-Physical Therapy. Coursework and applicable experiences are oriented toward encouraging lifetime participation in the physical education field and allowing students to achieve and maintain a high level of personal fitness.

Physical education teachers are trained to understand physical education content and disciplinary concepts related to the development of a physically educated person. They are trained to understand how individuals learn and develop and can provide opportunities that support their physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. They are trained to understand how individuals differ in their approaches to learning and create appropriate instruction adapted to these differences. Physical education teachers are trained how to use an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a safe learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning and self-motivation. They will learn how to use knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal and media communication techniques to enhance learning engagement in physical activity settings. Physical education teachers plan and implement a variety of developmentally appropriate instructional strategies to develop physically educated individuals, based on state and national (NASPE K-12) standards. They understand and use assessment to foster physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of students in physical activity. They are reflective practitioners who evaluate the effects of their actions on others (e.g., students parent/guardians, fellow professionals) and seek opportunities to grow professionally. They are trained to use information technology to enhance learning and to enhance personal and professional productivity. They foster relationships with colleagues, parents/guardians, and community agencies to support students growth and well-being.

Graduates with a B. S. degree in the Physical Education major with a teaching emphasis will be able to:

identify critical elements of motor skill performance and combine motor skills into appropriate sequences for the purpose of improving learning.
demonstrate competent motor skill performance in a variety of physical activities
describe performance concepts and strategies related to skillful movement and physical activity
describe and apply biophysical (anatomical, physiological, and biomechanical) and social-psychological concepts to skillful movement, physical activity and fitness
understand and debate current physical education/activity issues and laws based on historical, philosophical and sociological perspectives
demonstrate knowledge of approved state and national content standards and local program goals
monitor individual and group performance in order to design safe instruction that meets student developmental needs in the physical, cognitive and social/emotional domains
understand the biological, psychological, sociological, experiential and environmental factors that influence developmental readiness to learn and refine movement skills
identify, select and implement appropriate learning/practice opportunities based on understanding the student, the learning environment and the task
identify, select and implement appropriate instruction that is sensitive to students' strengths/weaknesses, multiple needs, learning styles, and prior experience
use appropriate services and resources to meet diverse learning needs
use managerial routines that create smoothly functioning learning experiences and environments
organize, allocate and manage resources
use a variety of developmentally appropriate practices to motivate students to participate in physical activity in and out of the school
use strategies to help students demonstrate responsible, personal and social behaviors that promote positive relationships and a productive learning environment
develop an effective behavior management plan
describe and demonstrate effective communication skills
communicate managerial and instructional information in variety of ways
communicate in ways that demonstrate sensitivity to all students
describe and implement strategies to enhance communication among students in physical activity settings
identify, develop, and implement appropriate program and instruction goals
develop long- and short-term plans that are linked to both program and instructional goals and student needs
select and implement instruction strategies based on selected content, student needs, and safety issues to facilitate learning in the physical activity setting
design and implement learning experiences that are safe, appropriate, relevant and based on principles of effective instruction
apply disciplinary and pedagogical knowledge in developing and implementing effective learning environments and experiences
provide learning experiences that allow students to integrate knowledge and skills from multiple subject areas
select and implement appropriate teaching resources and curriculum materials
use effective demonstrations and explanations to link physical activity concepts to appropriate learning experiences
develop and use appropriate instructional cues and prompts to facilitate competent motor skill performance
develop a repertoire of direct and indirect instructional formats to facilitate student learning
identify key components of various types or assessment, describe their appropriate and inappropriate use, and address issues of validity, reliability, and bias
use a variety of appropriate authentic and traditional assessment techniques to asses student understanding and performance, provide feedback and communicate student progress
involve student in self and peer assessment
interpret and use learning and performance data to make informed curricular and/or instructional decisions
use a reflective cycle involving description of teaching, justification of teaching performance, critique of the teaching performance, the setting of teaching goals and implementation of change
use available resources to develop as a reflective professional
construct a plan for continued professional growth based on the assessment of personal teaching performance
demonstrate knowledge of current technologies and their application in physical education
design, develop and implement student learning activities that integrate information technology
use technologies to communicate, network, locate resources and enhance continuing professional development
identify strategies to become an advocate in the school and community to promote a variety of physical activity opportunities
actively participate in the professional physical education community and within the broader education field
identify and actively seek community resources to enhance physical activity opportunities
pursue productive relationships with parents/guardians and school colleagues to support student growth and well-being

Graduates with a B. S. degree in the Physical Education major with an exercise science or pre-physical therapy emphasis will have a knowledge of:

basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills
basic but comprehensive overview of the structure and function of the systems of the human body to include all the systems of the body
detailed study of the skeletal and muscular systems to include identification of the origin, insertion, and action of the major muscles
advanced application of muscle mechanics and physiology to sport and human movement patterns to include the analysis of kinematics and kinetics, linear and angular kinematics and kinetics, loads and injuries of joints and movement in a fluid medium
wellness topics and physical fitness concepts to include the health-related components of fitness, fitness assessment, and basic exercise program design
the energy systems, the cardiorespiratory system and the neuromuscular system and how these systems respond and adapt to exercise
advanced exercise physiology topics to include body composition, endocrine/hormonal response to exercise, environmental physiology, exercise & aging and gender differences
practice using commonly used field and laboratory testing devices for the purpose of fitness assessment, clinical analysis, collection of research data and the improvement of sport performance
chemistry and molecular biology as it relates to exercise
the six fundamental nutrients -- carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, water -- and their role/importance in exercise, as well as ergogenic aids and supplementation, weight gain/loss/maintenance, eating disorders, nutritional fads and consumer nutrition/food labeling
the anatomy of the heart and electrical conduction system in detail
submaximal and maximal exercise tests using a variety of testing apparatus
organizing, analyzing and presenting data with basic descriptive and inferential statistics
basics of conducting research
practical experience in the specialization area in which the student anticipates a career
the extent to which physical inactivity is a public health problem and a major contributing factor to certain diseases
the health-related components of fitness, demonstrated knowledge of how they are assessed and recognize personal strengths/weaknesses relative to these components following a fitness appraisal
basic fitness and exercise training principles as well as the benefits of exercise
artificial respiration and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
various emergency situations
proper anatomical terminology associated with body structures, directional location and movement
skeletal and joint structures and demonstrated knowledge of their function in human movement
the movement function of muscles including their origin, insertion and action
structures, in addition to the skeletal and muscular systems, that are vital to human movement such as the nervous system
joint movement and recognize which muscles are involved and what their specific roles are in complex human movements
basic biomechanical concepts to include anatomical lever systems, stability and laws of motion
kinetics and kinematics and explain the ways in which they are related
and be able to solve quantitative problems involving vector quantities
the biomechanics of bone growth and development as well as joint articulations
the biomechanics of the upper extremity, lower extremity, spine and pelvis as related to internal and external forces
and purpose of a variety of biomechanical research equipment
the risks associated with biomechanical stress, extrinsic forces and physical demands inherent in the performance of motor skills common to various sports
and be able to apply biomechanical principles to a broad range of movement activities
physical fitness tests and proficiency in using field and commercial fitness testing equipment
the relationship of exercise physiology to the broader "sports medicine" field
bioenergetics, recognizing the different metabolic systems, their interaction, regulation and how they apply to exercise
the physiological and metabolic processes that facilitate exercise recovery
the concepts involved in measuring energy, work and power
the structure, function, mechanics and control of the cardiorespiratory system
the structure, function, mechanics and control of the neuromuscular system
what a hormone is and demonstrate an understanding of the significance of specific hormones with respect to exercise
why and how flexibility is related to health and athletic performance
the methods of body composition assessment, recognize healthy values for body fat and what impact body composition has on athletic performance
the differences in the physiological response to exercise as one progresses through the life span
the physiological adaptations that occur with exercise training
differences in physiology between men and women that impact exercise performance
methods of heat transfer in the body and the physiological adjustments that occur during exercise in extreme temperatures and identify strategies to reduce thermal injury
the gas laws, acclimatization and how performance is affected by exercise at extreme altitudes
thermodynamic principles and demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of metabolism
basic concepts and kinetics of enzymes
mobilization, utilization and regulation of substrates at rest and exercise and the corresponding role of skeletal muscle, the liver and adipose tissue
pathways of biosynthesis and their role in metabolism
basic nutrition concepts
dietary misconceptions and fads and the impact they can have on health and physical performance
human bioenergetics and metabolism
the function of carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals, and water and electrolytes and their role in athletic performance
factors affecting body composition and the methods of determining body fat
the effect of a variety of ergogenic aids, dietary supplements, and nontraditional dietary practices on human physical performance
nutritional profiles of an athlete and make appropriate recommendations
the electro physiology of the heart
strategies for health screening/risk stratification and identify contraindications to exercise testing
various stress test protocols
interpretation of results of an exercise test and design an exercise prescription appropriate for the client's capacity and goals
the scientific process
and be able to read, synthesize and critique exercise science and sports medicine literature
and demonstrate competence in research, library and computer skills
and conduct a "mini" research project and write a data based report about the project
research in an oral/poster format
statistical analysis
and integrate the knowledge obtained through classroom and laboratory experiences into an independent work setting
and synthesize the pros and cons of an internship experience

The graduate should also be able to:

calibrate commonly used testing apparatus
prepare a laboratory for testing and take basic pre-test measurements
identify contraindications to exercise testing and make appropriate risk stratification based on health screening information
palpate resting and exercise heart rate
assess resting and exercise blood pressure using manual sphygmomanometry
conduct a variety of submaximal tests that estimate aerobic capacity, using tests and exercise modes appropriate for the client
estimate energy expenditure, workload, and oxygen consumption by mathematical calculation of metabolic prediction equations
prepare a client for a 12-lead EDG and record a resting and exercise 12-lead ECG
read and systematically interpret and ECG to identify rate, rhythm, axis, blocks and injury
conduct a maximal graded exercise test using a protocol and exercise mode appropriate for the client
detect the ventilation threshold and use established criteria to determine if maximal oxygen consumption was achieved
conduct commonly used test of static and dynamic muscular strength
assess flexibility using a variety of commonly used tools, such as a goniometer and sit-and-reach box
assess body composition by means of skinfold measurements or hydrostatic weighting
conduct commonly used tests of anaerobic and explosive power, such as the Wingate test and the vertical jump test