Alternative Environment Physical Education

Curriculum guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course code
SPSC 5396
Descriptive
Alternative Environment Physical Education
Department
Sport Science
Faculty
Science and Technology
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
201810
PLAR
Yes
Semester length
2 weeks
Max class size
25
Contact hours
Classroom: 12 hours Practical/Lab: 18 hours
Method(s) of instruction
Lab
Seminar
Learning activities
  • Lecture
  • Discussion groups
  • Practical application
  • Field observation and/or video observation
Course description
In this innovative and practical course students will participate in, plan, and implement a variety of alternative environment land and aquatic based activities appropriate to elementary school children. Content areas include: risk management issues, organizational factors, orienteering, aquatic activities, and classroom-based activities.
Course content
  1. Outdoor and alternative environment settings
    • aquatic settings
    • land-based Settings
      • natural
      • park
      • urban
    • seasonal considerations
    • school-based alternatives
      • indoor
      • outdoor
  2. Risk management
    • risk analysis
    • standard of care
    • supervision
    • risk transfer/waivers
    • volunteers
  3. Lesson and unit planning for outdoor and alternative environment settings
    • safety considerations
    • transportation planning
    • learning outcomes
    • equipment needs
    • planned activities
    • assessment and evaluation strategies
  4. Practical topic selection will depend on instructor experience, student experience, and availability of resources. The following is a partial list of possible alternative environment activities wherein students will participate as teachers and students with aim of implementing the knowledge and skills of effective outdoor education in a safe and exciting context.
    • Land-based
      • hiking
      • backpacking
      • rock climbing
      • camping
      • orienteering
      • skateboarding
      • rollerblading
      • cycling
      • snowshoeing
      • skiing
      • horseback riding
    • Water-based
      • canoeing
      • rowing
      • kayaking
      • sailing
      • windsurfing
      • waterskiing
      • rafting
    • Aquatic
      • water adjustment
      • survival techniques
      • stroke development
      • skills application
      • snorkeling
      • water games
      • diving
      • synchronized swimming
      • underwater games
Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

  1. Design an outdoor activity lesson including the following components:
    • risk management and safety considerations
    • learning outcomes
    • equipment needs
    • planned activities
    • assessment and evaluation considerations.
  2. Analyze an outdoor or alternative environment plan with regard to:
    • risk management and safety considerations
    • learning outcomes
    • equipment needs
    • planned activities
    • assessment and evaluation options.
  3. Demonstrate satisfactory supervisory skills during outdoor and alternative environment activities
  4. Identify a number of relevant outdoor and alternative environment locations and organizational resources available for the relevant age group of teacher���s students.
Means of assessment

The selection of evaluation tools for this course is based on:

  1. Adherence to college evaluation policy regarding number and weighing of evaluations, for example a course of three credits or more should have at least three separate evaluations.
  2. A developmental approach to evaluation that is sequenced and progressive.
  3. Evaluation is used as a teaching tool for both students and instructors.
  4. Commitment to student participation in evaluation through such processes as self and peer evaluation, and program/ instructor evaluation.

The following is presented as an example assessment format for this course:

Practice teaching ��� mini lesson(s) 30%
Outdoor and aquatic teaching resource binder 30%
Risk management quiz 20%
Preparation and participation 20%

 

Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided on the Instructor's Course Outline, which is available to students at the beginning of each semester.

Which prerequisite