Inside Education 414, Stefan Ward on Physical Education & Positive Youth Development (29-3-21)

Inside Education - a podcast for educators interested in teaching

Presented and produced by Seán Delaney.

On this week's podcast I am joined by Professor Stefan Ward from Central Washington University who is currently a Fulbright Scholar in Dublin City University Institute of Education. Among the topics we discuss are:

• His interest in positive youth development
• How he became involved in Project Fun Direction and why it is important for young girls
• What is physical literacy and how is it developed?
• Physical education in schools in the United States
• Why games such as Dodge Ball and relay races need to be removed from PE class
• Specialist physical educators in the United States
• The Irish physical education curriculum
• What an effective PE lesson looks like (Moderate to vigorous activity; differentiated instruction; choice; reflection time)
• Assessment in PE (physical, cognitive, affective)
• Teaching physical education with minimal equipment (including planning for activities that require minimal equipment such as hiking, soccer).
• Skill themes in primary and post-primary PE classes
• Reducing risk of physical injury in PE class
• Modifying games
• Teaching physical education in all weathers or with limited facilities
• Generic and sport-specific strategies for differentiating a physical education lesson, such as tennis: cooperative practice, modify game to make goal easier, award points for attempts, use different equipment – e.g. foam ball, different racquet, give choices for students to be successful at different levels.
• Duties associated with his university role in the United States
• Shape America
• Positive Youth Development – self-determination theory (relatedness, competence and autonomy)
• Bringing Student PE teachers to volunteer in sports camps abroad in Guam and in Ireland
• Selecting candidates for a physical education teaching programme
• Impactful teacher: Tom Martinek
• Missy Parker
• Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility
• Book: Youth Development and Physical Activity