Monday, 17 September 2012

Answers to the 3 Questions

1. HPE–building  a certain citizen: In light of your experiences, images and conceptual knowledge, what type of citizen do you see possible within your teaching of HPE(refer toTinning & McCuaig and Dinan Thompson readings)?

The person I see when I think of myself as a teacher of HPE is quite a different person to the ones I saw initially in the Tinning article where everything seemed geared towards women working in the home and Men being the masculine "soldier" type of the early to middle part of the last century. This was when my Father was educated (beginning school in 1937)and this was what was expected of him as a man to fit a certain criteria and fulfill those life goals set by society at that time. This was in a time when war was a reality and the next was seen as just around the corner.
Now we worry about the Video game soft "generation Y". here we are informed of people who live online, meaning that technology has taken over from real human social contact or that they are using ever more "violent games [that] might be causing young people to become violent - and there is some evidence to support this. Studies have shown that violent games can:
  • increase physiological arousal (the 'fight or flight' response)
  • increase aggressive thoughts and emotions
  • increase aggressive behaviour
  • reduce helping behaviour (where people become less likely to help others)."
 (http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics, n.d)


These are the images that are coming from the media of the people we are breeding today, it is important that our students are well rounded and have a good mix of these technologies and an awareness of how they can benefit our lives and other aspects of their lives like family, play and sports that they need to know as a part of being a well rounded human being. 
The focus on creating the right type of citizen is a dangerous one, we can help the children to be all they can be and to learn and make the most of what they have, but when we actively try to shape a society that is when dangerous things can happen. here I am thinking of "oneparty" states like North Korea. having visited this country and seen first hand the level of governmental control they have over the people and the lack of rights that are apparent in this society and others around the world and historic examples like Nazi Germany and Mussolini's Italy.
We want and need to develop a society of well educated, well rounded individuals who strive to do their best and have an active life that includes Health and Physical education principles that have been instilled in them through quality education in our school systems.
governments have a different veiw of this and what the want from our teachin Tinning said that Governments are concerned with the health of our populations because an unhealthy population is a non-productive population and can cost many billions in health care and lost production.

So in conclusion we are wanting to create citizens that have the ability to think for themselves and make appropriate decisions anout their education and their bodies as HPE is concerned. To know moderation in all things and to be able to use technology in a way that does not take over their lives and have time for other activities, social and familyactivities and be a holistic being combining the mental, physical, spiritual and social.



2. Can you describe your emerging identity as a teacher of HPE (use your images to expand on this)?

My emerging identity as a teacher of HPE is one that can work with and motivate a variety of different types of students, having worked and instructed in HPE with several different groups including that of my peers and classes at practicum and placement and my voluntary work at Silverdale with an Autistic boy. I feel my identity is one of a caring and respectful teacher that is willing to get out and involved in activities with the students and members of the school. It is very important to me and being there to help them to feel safe and secure when experiencing new things is crucial to me me so they can achieve and not get discouraged and give up when trying something that may be considered new and put into the too-hard box. 
I see it as important to our mental growth at this stage to feel safe and secure in ourselves and our environment and for these new experience to be positive and something that is able to be built on as a skill and a way to teach effectively.
Being creative and having fun is super important in any curriculum area and especially here in an area where many children are nervous and outside of their comfort zones. Knowing that being the best and fastest is not as important as learning new skills and trying and beating your own personal goals.  
Gilbert & Trudel (2001) found that good coaches act like good teachers.They 

care about those over whom they have responsibility and constantly engage

 in reflection on what they do and how they do it. 
So in essence there are many aspect to my emerging identity as a teacher of 

HPE, having respect for the students and their different levels of ability as 

well as seeing them as holistic entities incorperating their physical, mental,

 social and spiritual sides. being reflective in what I do constantly and 

evolving as a teacher.
 
(Look at HPE Values Photos and captions for more information)


 
3. What are areas needing attention for you to become a quality teacher of HPE?


What I see as needing attention at present to become a more quality teacher of HPE is to be more in tune with the "H" aspect of this. I recently had the opportunity to help with the instruction of the "Keeping ourself safe" unit. This was quite difficult for myself to deal with being a male in the classroom and the topics that this can bring up (one was touching). I felt this was very uncomfortable to do and was not ready for the questions from the children and responses from the kids too. I was not leading this it was Constable Jo from the police in the class I was helping in but the responses and attitudes of some children were revealing to say the least. I need to be more prepared for situations like this that can occur in the Health curriculum.


A second area I see as needing attention is the area of coaching children in a sporting area, there is a big difference from being able to participate and compete in sporting activities to being able to coach them effectively. Having playing skills and knowledge of a sport does not help in being able to instruct and motivate a group or individuals to perform and improve their skills in a given area. 



References:
Gilbert, W., & Trudel, P. (2001). Learning to coach through experience: Reflection in model youth sport coaches. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 21, 16-34.


Child and Youth Health. South Australia retrieved from http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics, n.d)


Tinning, R & McCuaig, L (2006). Chapter 1: Making a certain Citizen:     Schooling   and HPE. In Teaching Health and Physical Education in Australian Schools. Prentice Hall. French's Forest. N.S.W. 

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