Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Behavioral Approaches and Interventions in Physical Education

This podcast featured an interview lead by Dr. Amanda Young and her Master students from California State University, Long Beach, where they interview educators in the APE field about working with students with behavioral issues. Specifically, one guest works as an APE specialist for charter schools in California, and the one teaches PE at an alternative school for special education in Vermont. The group goes into common definitions and misconceptions in the APE community, such as the population of students that these educators serve. After outlining the different types of support in place at the alternative school in Vermont, such as different types of classroom clinicians working with the teachers, the guests then reflect on the transition process from public school into these more specialized types of programs that collaborate as a close knit community. At this program, the end goal is to get the students able to return to their public school with a behavior plan that allows for independence as well as inclusion. Strategies that these schools use are proactive behavior management, strong communication between teachers, and creating a safe space for students to have what they need. The ability to implement this comes from the ability to be vulnerable and not being afraid to embarrass yourself as a teacher. While these programs might be unique in what they can offer to students, things like the language used to teach students self advocacy can be applied in many settings to help children understand their emotions better. A piece of advice that was given from the teacher’s perspective was to get to know the student, to try and truly understand them as a person. When a student feels like a teacher cares, everyone benefits. This can be found in the community based programs at the Vermont based school, such as basketball, soccer, and gymnastics camp. At the end of the day, flexibility, connection, communication are key to the success of APE programs. 

Here is a website one of the students on this podcast developed around Approaches to Behavior Management. 

Here is the rough transcript. 


Wednesday, February 28, 2024

February 2024 NCPEID Collaborative APE Doctoral Programs

The podcast episode featuring professors from various universities discussing PhD programs in Adapted Physical Education (APE). Dr. Andrew Pitchford from Oregon State University started by highlighting the importance of their interdisciplinary connections between the adapted physical activity program and other departments, such as the Psychological Science Program and the global health department. Oregon State’s program has five faculty members that can use their unique backgrounds to advise their graduate students. Other things that Oregon State has to offer students is their adaptive exercise clinic, community outreach, and fellowship opportunities through the federal government. Next, members of the University of South Carolina spoke about their program, mentioning that a strength of their program is their core group of faculty with specific interests in adapted physical education and activity. The program is organized into four types of experiences: knowledge, teaching, scholarship and service. Students have the opportunity to teach courses independently, successfully complete their dissertation, and co-author research manuscripts among other things. Then, Nicole Kirk from the University of Georgia spoke on their PhD program that features a focus in adapted physical education. The program also houses a sport instruction research lab that works on lifespan physical activity among other topics. Another important aspect of their work is community outreach, which is accomplished by hosting events such as field days with kids from all over the state of Georgia. Coursework is offered in the areas of APA, PE, and parasport training. Finally, a representative of the University of Illinois spoke on their PhD program for Adapted Physical Activity. They are featured within the pedagogy and physical activity program, with a focus in pedagogical kinesiology. The Kinesiology Lab is the centerpiece of their curriculum, which allows students to study PE workforce development, experiences of children with and without disabilities in physical education, and social and emotional learning of all children. 

PhD programs highlighted

- Oregon State

- University of South Carolina

- University of Georgia

- University of Illinois

NCPEID is the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities. They play a major role in shaping the direction of adapted physical education and adapted physical activity, as well building and promoting APE & APA programs and serviceshttps://www.ncpeid.org/ 

See a rough transcript of this conversation here.


Tuesday, February 6, 2024

January 2024: NCPEID Collaborative APE Master Programs

The podcast episode featuring educators from various universities discussing graduate programs in Adapted Physical Education (APE) continues with an exploration of challenges and opportunities facing these programs. Hosted by Dr. Melissa Bittner (California State University, Long Beach) this episode features an insightful discussion with representatives from four outstanding APE graduate programs across the United States. Dr. Ali Bryan kicks things off, representing the University of South Carolina's 100% online program. With a focus on flexibility and practical application, USC's program stands out for its emphasis on developmental perspectives and hands-on experience. Next up, Dr. Amanda Young sheds light on California State University, Long Beach's Master's program. Boasting tracks tailored for both general and adapted PE teachers, CSULB's curriculum emphasizes behavior management, collaboration, and cutting-edge instructional design. Dr. Brock McMullen represents University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse, which has a long history of developing strong APE professionals. Lastly, Dr. Amaury Samalot-Rivera provides an overview of the innovative APE MS program at SUNY Brockport University. 

As the discussion unfolds, the panelists address the critical need for recruitment to fill program seats. They emphasize the importance of raising awareness about APE programs and the profession itself to attract more students. Additionally, the transition to online learning emerges as a significant development, offering greater accessibility and flexibility for working professionals seeking advanced degrees. While online programs present new opportunities for engagement and outreach, they also require careful consideration of funding and resources to support students effectively.

Throughout the episode, listeners gain valuable insights into coursework, signature assignments, practicum experiences, and more. From innovative projects tackling behavior management to the integration of technology and universal design principles, each program offers a unique approach to preparing educators for the diverse challenges of Adapted PE.

NCPEID is the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities. They play a major role in shaping the direction of adapted physical education and adapted physical activity, as well building and promoting APE & APA programs and serviceshttps://www.ncpeid.org/ 

See a rough transcript of this conversation here.

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Parents' Views and Perspectives on the Importance of Adapted Physical Education

In this episode of What's New in Adapted Physical Education we have special guest hosts podcast Dr. Brock McMullen and Dr. Garth Tymeson (UW-Lacrosse) who interview three parents - Marlis, Pam, and Andrea - about their experiences with adapted physical education for their children with disabilities. Each parent represents children at different ages and places within the APE and special education process. Specifically in this conversation, they discuss how APE and physical activity provide enables social participation with non-disabled peers, the quantifications they look for in an APE teacher, and their constant need to advocate for APE to their schools. Further in the podcast, they discuss several different organizations and associations that can be used to effectively advocate for APE services. See rough transcript here. 

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

December 2023 NCPEID Collaborative: Working with Paraprofessionals in APE

Listen in on the December NCPEID APE Collaborative focused on working with paraprofessionals in APE. This episode features guests Dr. Seo Lee (University of Wisconsin Superior), Ginny Reid (Orange County Department of Education), and Wendy Arteaga (Orange County Department of Education). In this podcast they address the challenges faced by paraprofessionals in the field of APE, such as limited resources, varying levels of training, and the need for effective communication. Our guests also offer real-life scenarios and offer practical solutions to empower paraprofessionals in overcoming these challenges.

NCPEID is the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities. They play a major role in shaping the direction of adapted physical education and adapted physical activity, as well building and promoting APE & APA programs and services. https://www.ncpeid.org/ See the rough transcript here

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Fit Families: Providing Information and Skills to Parents of Children with Disabilities

In this podcast, we discuss the Fit Families program, an initiative focused on empowering parents of children with disabilities. Drs. Luis Columna and Laura Prieto (@LaAlma_Prieto) from the University of Wisconsin Madison share insights. Fit Families originated as a program for visually impaired children but expanded to include those with autism. Fit Families provides parents of children with disabilities expert-driven workshops that cover sensory-motor activities, communication, and aquatics. The program has positively impacted parents' awareness, advocacy skills, and children's self-confidence and motor skills. The panelists highlight community engagement, effective communication, and ongoing research as crucial to providing a lasting impact of these families and their physical activity (and overall quality of life). The program aims to expand, with a focus on reaching Latino communities. Barriers like funding and language are also discussed, emphasizing the need for tailored programs for diverse communities. See a rough transcript of the podcast episode here.

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

October NCPEID Collaborative: "What I learned in my first year of teaching"

 Listen in on the October NCPEID APE Collaborative focused on young teachers and professors experiences in their first year on the job. his episode feature re-occurring guests Dr. Samantha Ross (West Virginia University), Dr. Layne Case (California State University, Chico), Elsie Gutierrez (LA Unified Schools), and Ivan Reyes-Acosta (LA Unified Schools). In this panel discussion, they share insights on tackling tasks, being patient, staying true to oneself, building connections, and the importance of having fun in teaching APE. They also highlight the challenges of setting schedules, the significance of mentorship, and the support provided through mentoring programs for first-year APE teachers.

NCPEID is the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities. They play a major role in shaping the direction of adapted physical education and adapted physical activity, as well building and promoting APE & APA programs and services. https://www.ncpeid.org/ See the rough transcript here