Friday, April 1, 2011
Exhibit Hall Poster Area 2 (Convention Center)
Dhitinut Ratnapradipa, Thomas Parry, Alicia Wodika and Stephen Brown, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
This study used a questionnaire format to assess the knowledge, behaviors and attitudes of Physical Education Teacher Candidates on a number of environmental health issues. Specifically, what do Physical Education Teacher Candidates understand about environmental health issues? Also, how do the Physical Education Teacher Candidates perceive the role of physical education in addressing some of these issues? The education of pre-service physical educators on environmental health issues may not be as thorough as previously thought. It is often the assumption that because these two academic fields are so closely linked that pre-service physical education teachers gain sufficient knowledge on health related topics through their major course schedule, and thus only require limited course work in the health education field. However, pre-service physical educators understanding of environmental health issues, such as asthma, and how it can be addressed in a physical education setting may be limited. By understanding the knowledge and attitudes of physical education pre-service teachers on environmental health topics, appropriate methods of dissemination can be developed to ensure relevant information is gained and interventions or correct practices can be established.
Method Approximately 240 participants (across from Fall and Spring semesters) were drawn from the Physical Education Teacher Candidates subject pool in the Department of Kinesiology. Participants were asked to complete an online of 64 item environmental health survey. This study will use a free online survey, surveygizmo.com, and use SPSS version 17.0 to for analysis.
Analysis/Results Based on result, and data obtained from this study will serve to generate an improved platform for faculty to assist Physical Education Candidates in the area of environmental health.
Conclusions
By understanding the knowledge and attitudes of physical education pre-service teachers on environmental health topics, appropriate methods of dissemination can be developed to ensure relevant information is gained and interventions or correct practices can be established.
