American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - AAHPERD

Issue: February 2008

Strangers in a Strange Land: Using an Activity Course to Teach an Alternative Curriculum Model
David Walsh

Abstract:
Physical education teacher education (PETE) programs usually offer activity courses to help preservice teachers develop effective pedagogical skills.  Such courses aim to teach in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains.  It has long been assumed that the affective domain develops automatically as a result of instruction in the other two domains, which is why preservice teachers are rarely offered specific strategies or guidelines for implementing it.  This article describes how to integrate an activity course for preservice teachers with the “taking personal and social responsibility” (TPSR) model, which addresses the underrepresented affective domain.  The purpose of TPRS is to help youths take personal and social responsibility for their own well-being, as well as for the well-being of others. This model is best taught through three “developmental stages,” which are described in the article.

Article category: Professional preparation