by Lauren McGuire, Student Public Relations Writer
Nine Cedarville University physical education teacher candidates jumped right into real-world teaching experience while also benefiting the local homeschool community.
Dr. David “Pete” Peterson, assistant professor of kinesiology, has revised one of the physical education courses called “Net Games” to allow Multi-Age Health/Physical Education (MAHPE) majors to work with middle school aged students as early as their freshman year. Net Games is a physical education class that introduces MAHPE students and homeschool students between the ages of 13-15 (grades 7-9) to volleyball, badminton and pickleball.
— Jennifer Davis
“I was very excited to have this opportunity for my older children,” said Jennifer Davis, a Cedarville homeschool mom of two children in the program. “My children have really enjoyed the class and meeting other homeschool students and the college students.”
The class met throughout fall semester. “The opportunity to teach as a first-semester freshman has extreme importance and has given me insight into hands-on teaching,” Cora Gray, a freshman MAHPE student, said. “This opportunity has prepared me for the future through gaining an understanding of how a real gymnasium and students react to my lesson plans.”
“I wanted to best prepare our teacher candidates and give them as much experience working with students as soon as possible,” Peterson said.
The homeschool students learn about three sports with four class periods dedicated to learning about each sport. At the end of the semester, the homeschool students will also participate in a fitness evaluation to see how well Cedarville students have helped develop their overall physical fitness levels throughout the semester.
“What we are really trying to promote and encourage is the importance of lifelong physical activity,” Peterson said.
A similar modification will be made to Invasion Games in the spring semester. In this class MAHPE majors and homeschool students will be introduced to the sports of basketball, soccer and lacrosse.
“Team sports build teamwork, social interaction skills, working well with others and being a team player,” Peterson said.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,380 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including the Bachelor of Arts in Health and Physical Education, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and high student engagement ranking. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.