Pedagogy

Focus Area Overview

The Pedagogy focus area emphasizes integration of theory, research, and practice to advance teaching and learning in physical education, with the broader aim of shaping supportive and forward-looking environments for students, teachers, and teacher educators.

Career Paths

• Coach at K-12 School or College
• Director of Youth Camps or Sport Programs
• University Faculty in Physical Education Teacher Education/Kinesiology
• Doctoral Student in Physical Education Teacher Education/Kinesiology

Faculty Mentors

Jingwen Liu

(Associate Professor, Ph.D.)

Youngjoon Kim

(Assistant Professor, Ph.D.)

Highlight Research Topic Areas

Jingwen Liu – Teacher preparation; teacher identity development; physical education teaching and learning

Youngjoon Kim – Physical education teacher motivation; teachers’ psychological functioning at work; need-supportive teaching; assessment for learning

Course Requirements

All official graduate study plans must include:

• KNES 508 – Statistical Methods in Kinesiology
• KNES 510 – Research Methods in Kinesiology
• Two 500-level advanced courses, including:
  • KNES 558 - Advanced Study in Teaching Human Movement (required)
  • Plus one of the following:
    • KNES 551 - Advanced Study in Physiology of Exercise
    • KNES 561 - Advanced Study in Biomechanics
    • KNES 580 - Advanced Study in Sport and Exercise Psychology

Research Lab

Teacher Identity and Motivation (TIM): The TIM laboratory focuses on high-quality disciplinary research related to teacher identity and motivation in physical education contexts and how these psychological constructs influence the way educators teach and work in schools and ultimately student motivation and learning outcomes.

Successful Case

Ana Carolina Alves is currently a doctoral student in Physical Education Teacher Education at Georgia State University.