Online
- Discussion Groups
- Lecture
- Inquiry-based
Practical Applications
Field Observation
1. Scope of practice and research (curricular and extra-curricular)
1.1. Physical activity
1.2. Physical education
1.3. Health education
1.4. School movement and health culture
2. Reflective Professional Practice
2.1. Reflection on practice
2.2. Reflection on the other's research
2.3. Reflection in action (reflexivity)
3. Professional Research Modes
3.1. Inquiry into practice
3.2. Action research
3.3. Participatory action research
4. Preparing for Professional Research
4.1. Ethical considerations
4.1.1. Informed consent
4.1.2. Power over
4.1.3. Right of removal
4.1.4. Third party contact
4.1.5. Low human impact
4.1.6. Professional codes of conduct
4.1.7. Record keeping and security
4.2. Consulting the literature
4.2.1. Informing your practice
4.2.2. Informing your “action” and research
4.2.3. Situating your work in a community of practice/researchers
4.2.4. Technical aspects:
4.2.4.1. Academic search engines
4.2.4.2. Using seminal or richly threaded work
4.2.4.3. Identifying gaps and opportunities
4.3. Writing your plan
4.3.1. Visualize your future: Who, what, where, when, how
4.3.2. Academic writing standards
4.3.2.1. Formatting and convention (American Psychological Association)
4.3.2.2. Synthesizing others' work
4.3.2.3. Academic vs. personal/reflective writing
4.4. Methodologies
4.4.1. Methods of intervention (direct and indirect)
4.4.2. Methods of observation
4.4.2.1. Tools – observations, video, measures, self and peer assessment
4.4.2.2. Objectivity and bias in measurement collection
4.4.3. Triangulation
4.4.4. Participant voice/positioning considerations
5. Analyzing findings
5.1. Entry level qualitative methods
5.1.1. Identifying units of meaning
5.1.2. Identifying and organizing themes and findings
5.2. Descriptive quantitative measures
5.2.1. Presentation
5.2.2. Working within statistical limitations
6. Presenting research
6.1. Summarizing findings
6.2. Written report formats
6.3. Poster format
6.4. Use of video and imagery
6.5. Identifying appropriate venues for dissemination and shaping messaging
6.5.1. Colleagues
6.5.2. Parents
6.5.3. Students
6.5.4. Conferences
6.5.5. Publication
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Outline a professionally-based action research process,
- Demonstrate compliance with ethical research standards,
- Design and implement a physical or health education action research project or inquiry,
- Demonstrate critical reflection on personal professional practice, and
- Demonstrate critical reflection on the outcomes of the research project.
Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation may include the following:
Peer-teaching & group engagement | 0-20% |
Unit assignments | 10-40% |
Research/Inquiry Proposal | 15-30% |
Research/Inquiry Final | 20-40% |
Total | 100% |
Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials .
- A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided on the Instructor's Course Outline. Course outlines are available to students at the beginning of each semester.
- Students will require internet access to participate in this course.