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It has been well established that the development of discipline in the gymnasium and the classroom is affected by factors related to proper management and instruction (Siedentop, 1991; Doyle, 1986). However, little research has been done to investigate discipline in relation to the overall teaching context by investigating the instructional and managerial systems together. / This study provided an in-depth investigation of one secondary physical education teacher's learning environment. The first two instructional units of the school year for each of two grade levels (25 and 22 lessons, respectively) were observed. The Rules, Routines and Expectations (RRE) instrument was used to investigate preventative management strategies, and teacher and student behaviours were analyzed with a modified Task Structure Observational System (TSS). Teacher interviews focused on her perceptions of discipline within the overall learning environment. / The results indicated that five rules, seven routines and three expectations were communicated to the students at the beginning of the school year. Engagement with the content dominated lesson episodes and applying tasks dominated the task types observed. Students' responses to instruction showed high percentages of congruence with the assigned tasks and high success rates. Very few instances of student misbehaviour were recorded except in one unit. Content selection, learners' skill level, management strategies and class dynamics were possible explanations for the students' misbehaviour. / Interviews indicated that the teacher felt that student discipline affected her program to some extent as she sometimes had to modify her expectations and objectives and devote time to management tasks. The interaction of the instructional and managerial systems was apparent.

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the teaching tasks used by disciplinary mastery (DM) and ecological integration (EI) oriented teachers. Specifically, this case study of four high school physical educators examined (a) the types of instructional tasks used, (b) the extent to which the instructional tasks were reflected in their teaching, and (c) the extent to which their articulated goals translated into action. Primary data sources involved the Value Orientation Inventory-2 (Ennis & Chen, 1993b), class observations (TSOBS; Jones, 1992), interviews with the teachers, and field notes that were analyzed using constant comparison. The most notable finding of this research was that EI teachers were just as likely as DM teachers to articulate learning goals consistent with their respective orientations and select teaching tasks that facilitated the implementation of their beliefs in their operational setting. The DM teachers shaped their programs to emphasize motor skill development and cognitive knowledge. This was confirmed by interview statements and the use of tasks that enabled them to exercise their value orientation in their teaching. The EI teachers structured their programs to address the inter-relatedness of the learner, content, and context by selecting specific tasks and teaching strategies that related to their value orientation. The persistence shown by all four teachers in terms of maintaining the strength of their beliefs as they made curricular, instructional, and evaluative decisions, is what determined the extent to which their value orientations were reflected in their teaching.

The purpose of this study was to compare health-related physical fitness of high school students in two schools that have different physical education programs. Argyle Academy has physical education 6 classes out of 7 days, and Riverside Park Academy has 3 classes out of 7 days. These two high schools are similar (e.g., size, geographical location, common feeder schools, and social economic status) and affiliated with the same school board. Students in the seventh, eighth, and tenth grade physical education classes were selected for testing in each school. Data from 102 students from Argyle Academy and 96 students from Riverside Park Academy were collected during an eight week period. Health-related physical fitness was assessed using the following test battery: sum of five skinfolds, waist to hip ratio, 20 m shuttle run, curl-ups, 90 degree push-ups, back saver sit and reach, and trunk lift. School group, gender, and grade comparisons were performed using a MANOVA procedure. The students from Argyle Academy demonstrated significantly better scores for the 20 m shuttle run and trunk lift, while those from Riverside Park Academy demonstrated significantly better scores for the curl-ups and 90 degree push-ups. There was no significant difference in the sum of five skinfolds, waist to hip ratio, and back saver sit and reach. This preliminary study has described and analyzed health-related physical fitness of students at two high schools. Recommendations for determining fitness levels of high school students are provided.

The purpose of this study was to enrich our understanding of gender equity issues in coeducational and single-sex physical education classes. Student and teacher perceptions were examined through interviews, written descriptions of critical incidents, field observations and document analysis. The participants included 65 students in coeducational grade eight classes, 84 students in single-sex grade nine classes, and the physical education teacher from a suburban high school. Through inductive analysis and constant comparison, themes emerged regarding the teacher's equity strategies, advantages and disadvantages of coeducational and single-sex classes, and students' roles in perpetuating and rejecting gender stereotypes. Aware of gender issues, the teacher generally maintained an equitable atmosphere, but he also played a role in perpetuating gender stereotypes. Students identified peer interaction, increased competition, and challenge as positive aspects of coeducational classes. Girls often favored the atmosphere of girls' classes, and high ability boys preferred the competition in boys' classes. Classes were seen as based on a male norm, and boys often dominated. Student beliefs and behaviors indicated that they both rejected and perpetuated gender stereotypes. Ability levels appeared to play an important role in student perceptions. This research illustrates the need for a continued emphasis on gender sensitive physical education programs to enhance both girls' and boys' experiences.

The role of preventative management strategies in the development of discipline in the gymnasium and the classroom has been well established (Doyle, 1986; Siedentop, 1991). However, little research has specifically investigated the complete range of discipline techniques used by teachers to prevent misbehavior and to regulate it after its occurrence. / This study described the discipline techniques used by secondary physical education teachers and compared them to Henkel's (1991) Physical Education Pupil Inventory (PEPCI) developed for elementary teachers. Eight high school physical educators were observed for four lessons each and were interviewed following the observations. Discipline techniques observed and presented in interviews were analyzed by deduction into Henkel's PEPCI categories. The techniques that did not fit into Henkel's categories were inductively analyzed to identify any new categories emerging from the observation or interview data. / The results revealed that secondary physical education teachers used a repertoire of 32 discipline techniques including 21 techniques from Henkel's (1991) PEPCI. The only PEPCI technique that was not employed by secondary teachers was "physically reprimanding". The discipline techniques were divided into three major classifications: anticipatory, tutoring, and punitive (Henkel, 1991).

As teachers and society become more comfortable with various technologies, it is likely that technology will be implemented in all areas of the educational curriculum as well as physical education. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which individual physical education teachers in public schools were using technology as a tool for their students' education. Individuals who were currently teaching physical education in public schools in Indiana completed the Computer Usage Survey on the web (N = 400). To determine types of technology used, potential uses for technology, difference in the implementation of technology by gender and teaching experience, usage of the Internet, and physical educators' attitudes toward technology, statistics including descriptive statistics, Chi-square (X ), and One-way ANOVA were used (p < .05). The results of this study show that physical educators were more likely to use PC computers (both desktop and laptop) over Apple computers. Participant responses demonstrated a high usage of hardware devices such as Printers, hard drives, and CD drives, however, 5.25 floppy drives, external hard drives, Hand-held computers (i.e. Pocket PC or Companion PC), Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and smart boards were rarely used by physical educators. A significant positive relationship resulted between use of technology at school and at home. Significant differences were observed between male and female physical educators in types of technology used and purposes for using technology. Use of technology was significantly lower in the experienced physical educators group. Most of the physical educators use the Internet and they usually use it for research and teaching/assessment ideas. Physical educators in Indiana believed that technology has an important role and can enhance their teaching with implementation of technology. The findings of the present study demonstrated that use of technology among physical educators in Indiana has been changed dramatically within 10 years; however, the result emphasized importance of technology training programs for pre-service and in-service physical educators. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an intentional, formal peer education program on the performance of psychomotor skills of 22 undergraduate students enrolled in an upper extremity assessment course. Using a randomized pretest-posttest control group design, student performance on a practical exam of psychomotor skills related to the orthopedic assessment of the wrist and hand was evaluated. Both the peer teacher and Approved Clinical Instructor (ACI) groups received an instructor-led introduction and practice of psychomotor skills in the traditional laboratory classroom setting. Participants in the peer teachers groups attended two one-hour review sessions over the course of two weeks that were staffed by upper division peer teachers, while participants in the ACI group attended similar sessions that were staffed by an ACI. There were no differences between the groups on the pretest scores as indicated by a t-test (p>.05). A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant difference (p<.05) in the scores of participants of both groups on all tasks from the pretest to the posttest. ANOVA measures indicated no significant differences (p>.05) between the groups on any of the posttest tasks related to wrist and hand assessment. The Athletic Training Peer Education Assessment Survey revealed that most (n=8, 66.7%) of the students in the peer teachers group indicated that they felt less anxious when performing laboratory skills in the presence of peer teachers as compared to performing them in front of the classroom instructor, and most (n=7, 58.3%) felt more self-confident when practicing laboratory skills with a peer teacher. Over half (n=8, 66.7%) of the students also responded that being taught laboratory skills by peer teachers increased their interaction and collaboration with other students more than being taught by the classroom instructor. Peer education appears to be a valid teaching-learning method that may be incorporated into an athletic training education program as a means to foster the learning and performing of athletic training psychomotor skills, encourage collaboration among students, and decrease anxiety of novice learners. / Department of Educational Leadership

This study examined the effects of plyometrics on running economy, performance, and Achilles tendon properties in female distance runners. Seventeen University athletes matched by running economy were randomly assigned to an experimental group that received supplementary plyometrics training (n=9) or a control group that performed run-training only (n=8). Subject attrition led to a final sample of twelve runners (6 experimental, 6 controls). Measurements were made pre-post an 8-week training period. Running economy was measured as oxygen consumption at three submaximal speeds, performance as time to run 3000 meters, and Achilles tendon properties were estimated via ultrasound during ramp, quasi-isometric plantar flexion to maximum on an isokinetic dynamometer. No significant differences were found between the two groups after eight weeks because of poor subject compliance and excessive variability in ultrasound measurements. The results are inconclusive as to the effect of supplementary plyometric training on running economy, performance and Achilles tendon properties.

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