Vol. 38, No. 18

3-4-2004
By: Randy Gammage

Physical activity takes center stage

The College of Education has teamed up with the Columbus Public Schools to put some PEP back into physical education for grades K-12 and help fight a national obesity crisis.
Two consecutive Physical Education for Progress (PEP) grants awarded through the U.S. Department of Education have provided more than $500,000 over three years, and have increased the quality of PE in the CPS by providing professional development opportunities and much-needed equipment.
“The grant is focused on increasing the activity level of children in physical education classes, and to do that you really have to address the professional development of physical education teachers,” said Mary O’Sullivan, associate dean for the College of Education, professor of sport and exercise education, and co-author of the first grant.
During the first PEP grant, 24 Columbus teachers participated in professional development workshops held at Pomerene Hall and various CPS facilities. The series of workshops examined various curriculum models, and taught teachers to develop exciting contemporary programs to encourage kids to want to get involved and take responsibility for their physical activity levels.
“We selected those teachers that would not only be willing to commit to the purposes of the grant, but would step up as future leaders of physical education in the Columbus schools and provide leadership to other physical education teachers in the district,” O’Sullivan said.
The PEP grants have allowed those schools involved to provide state-of-the-art professional development for their physical education teachers and to purchase equipment, such as digital cameras and palm pilots, that assist teachers in student assessments, said Diane Barnes, teacher coordinator of health and physical education for Columbus Public Schools.
Each class member received a pedometer, a device that can be strapped onto a belt that records total physical activity during a period of time. Students learn to map and chart their activity — such as the number of steps taken during a week — in terms of miles covered.
“It has changed the fitness level tremendously,” Barnes said. “Not only are the kids excited about physical education, but they also are learning math as well.”
Barnes oversees approximately 150 physical education and 50 health teachers with CPS. When she assumed her current role four years ago, she was faced with the challenge of increasing professional development opportunities among teachers while working with a very limited budget. Barnes said she had previously teamed up with Ohio State faculty while a teacher at Windsor Elementary School, so turned to O’Sullivan for assistance. The two of them collaborated on the PEP grant application and the rest is history.
Receiving the grant was somewhat of a coup for the district, O’Sullivan said, because it was the first grant of its kind in the nation to provide direct support for PE to school districts, and one of only 18 awarded nationwide. She said the collaboration supports the commitment to outreach and engagement made by President Karen Holbrook and the College of Education, creates research opportunities for doctoral students, and helps improve the curriculum in the college’s teacher education program for physical education candidates.
The first grant, C-PEP concluded in spring 2003, while a second grant, PEP STARS (Supporting Teachers in Achieving Results with Students), was secured in October 2003. Phillip Ward, associate professor of sport and exercise education, and Tim Barrett, assistant professor of sport and exercise education, both with the School of Physical Activity and Educational Services, are co-directors of the second grant.
Tools being used with PEP STARS include professional development workshops; a Web site where lesson plans and resources from workshops can be posted; and monthly PEP Talks — opportunities for teachers to meet informally to talk about professional issues in physical education, Ward said.
With the nation in the midst of a massive obesity crisis, as declared by the Surgeon General, Ward said physical education teachers in K-12 are in a position to make an important contribution to society right now by contributing their piece of the puzzle toward increasing children’s physical activity.
“Our main goal is to help teachers offer a physical education program that is motivating enough that it might inspire children to pursue physical activity outside of the gymnasium,” Ward said.
The grants have helped form a deep alliance between Ohio State and Columbus school teachers.
“Our teachers do not feel intimidated to pick up the phone and call someone at Ohio State for help,” Barnes said. “They are all on the same playing field now where they all feel like they have something to contribute.”
It also has allowed Columbus teachers to take their increased knowledge and apply it to after-school programs at Columbus’ inner city schools — and beyond, Barnes said. Additionally, five of the C-PEP teachers are presenting a half-day symposium, “The Impact of a PEP Grant on PE in Urban Schools,” at the National Convention for the Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in New Orleans this spring with O’Sullivan.
For details on the PEP grants, visit the Web at http://education.osu.edu/paes/pep, or contact O’Sullivan at osullivan.1@osu.edu, Ward at ward.116@osu.edu or Barrett at barrett.570@osu.edu.

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