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The intent of this study was two-fold. The first purpose was to apply Van Manen's model to specific strategies (i.e., written assignments) and supervisory practices (i.e., interviews) to examine levels of reflectivity demonstrated and if there were any changes in the reflectivity of student teachers throughout a student teaching period. The second purpose was to assess the applicability of Van Manen's model to a preservice physical education setting. Five physical education majors enrolled in a student teaching experience volunteered to participate. Five weekly web-based written assignments were selected and analyzed using Van Manen's model of reflection. In addition, two interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and subjected to thematic analysis techniques. Using Naturalistic Inquiry as a method of analysis suggests that utilizing supervisory approaches, written assignments, and reflective teaching can foster important changes in reflectivity levels which encourage reflective thinking in physical education student teachers. Increased levels of sophistication among the participants as the semester progressed were noted and may be attributed to a developmental effect similar to Fuller's Concerns Theory. The results also support Pultorak's (1993) assertion that students can increase reflective thinking when fostered and encouraged in preservice programs. This study combines available resources (i.e., technology, supervisors) with Van Manen's model to assess reflectivity levels in a physical education setting. Findings indicate that Van Manen's model can be used objectively in a physical education setting and can be utilized in applying a quantitative measure to qualitative responses.

E-Learning in Physical Education

The following thesis was written at the suggestion of Dr.A.S.Lamb, Director of the Department of Physical Education. McGill University. The object was :- (a) The securing of definite data regardarig the Academic Standing of Athletes and non-athletes throughout their whole college career. (b) The comparison of the Academic grade percentages of the Athletic and Non-athletic groups. [...]

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<p> The continual decline in health and wellness and the potential impact on society, including the economic, social, physical, and emotional perspectives is a concern for health professionals. Specifically, there are concerns about the lifestyle habits as individuals' transition through the lifespan from childhood to late adulthood. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of high school varsity athletic participation on physical activity and wellness in the adult life stages: young, middle, and late. The researcher hypothesized that individuals that participated in high school varsity athletics would report higher levels of physical activity and higher wellness scores (social, physical, and emotional) in the adult life stages than individuals that did not participate in high school varsity athletics. </p><p> The researcher recruited, through electronic e-mail, 564 college alumni (69.1% female) to participate in the exploratory study. Participants completed the Godin Leisure-time Exercise Questionnaire and the Perceived Wellness Survey. Participants were then grouped by past high school athletic participation status (59.2% varsity athletes) and by adult life stage. </p><p> An ANOVA indicated significant differences between groups in all areas. Athletes in young adulthood showed the greatest differences in strenuous physical activity (p&lt;.001) when compared to non-athletes. Athletes in late adulthood showed the greatest differences in moderate physical activity (p&lt;.01) when compared to non-athletes. Non-athletes in young adulthood showed the greatest negative differences in emotional wellness (p&lt;.05) when compared to all groups. Additionally, the greatest differences in total wellness was between athletes (p&lt;.001) and non-athletes in young adulthood. Finally, athletes in young adulthood reported the greatest differences in total physical activity (p&lt;.05), physical wellness (p&lt;.05), and social wellness (p&lt;.05) when compared to other groups. </p><p> The findings from the study provide strong evidence that high school varsity participation can help individuals develop healthy habits that are carried into adulthood. The study provides a strong foundation for future research in physical activity, wellness, and sport behavior. In conclusion, school administrators and health professionals should consider providing more opportunities for more adolescents to participate in structured athletic programs to develop healthy habits that become lifelong behaviors.</p>

The early identification of talented individuals is considered increasingly important across many performance domains. Traditional concepts of talent have primarily emphasized genetically driven variables, proclaiming that exceptional abilities are the result of favourable genes matched to the required performance domain. Consequently, an oversimplified concept of sporting talent exists where the focus has typically been on discrete, one-dimensional measures at unstable periods in the athlete’s development. Talent identification processes adopted by several countries around the world have evolved from this oversimplified concept of talent and are unlikely to reflect adequately how talent emerges in sport. In fact, retrospective interviews with successful athletes emphasized that a range of factors impact success within sport and these are not solely governed by genetic determinants of performance. In particular, athletes highlighted the crucial role that psychology can have on the ability of an individual to translate potential to performance. It is concluded that TI models need to place a greater emphasis on the development of potentially talented performers rather than early identification. In this thesis, the concept of talent is revised as a complex, dynamical system in which future behaviours emerge from an interaction of key determinants such as psychobehavioural characteristics, motor abilities, and physical characteristics. A generic model of talent identification and development (TID) that addresses these issues, and resources that enable its practical application, is proposed. Initial findings from this pilot study are discussed and implications for further work are provided.

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