Brian Culp

Promoting Successful Aging Through Competitive Sports Participation: Insights From Older Adults

In this study we explored the experience of competing in the Senior Games and the resultant contributions to the successful aging of older adults. We used in-depth interviews with older adults who participated in the National Senior Games. Analysis of the data produced five central themes: (a) perseverance, (b) career development and significant effort, (c) personal and social benefits, (d) unique ethos, and (e) identification as a senior athlete. We found that participating in the Senior Games as a form of serious leisure enhanced the well-being of older adults and could be utilized as a means by which to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Classroom management for Diverse Populations

evident that our global society has become more diverse. In order to keep up with the changes in society and the numerous experiences that are brought to educational classes by students, physical educators need to know how to meet the needs of their students. This article, therefore, discusses issues that educators should remember when instructing students from different cultural backgrounds. The scope of this article does not allow for a detailed description of every

Experiential Learning in Kinesiology: A Student Perspective.

Overview. Service learning is a form of experiential learning that pairs academic educational experiences and community organizations to promote training, civic engagement, and meaningful service by students to their community. Kinesiology programs have moved toward increasing experiential and service learning options in health promotion for their students, but few have evaluated the student perceptions of these programs. Purpose. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a qualitative evaluation of a service learning course for kinesiology majors located in a low-income urban area. Method. Ten recent graduates of a department of kinesiology were enrolled in focus groups, stratified by gender, facilitated by a graduate research assistant not affiliated with their school. Focus group discussions were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed for themes. Results. Nine themes were identified: (1) personal and professional experience, (2) decision to participate, (3) location decision, (4) self-efficacy, (5) perceptions of program members, (6) social interaction, (7) personal and program communication, (8) physical facilities, and (9) program outcomes. Students positively evaluated the learning experience as valuable to their personal and professional development; noted changes in their perceptions of low-income communities and increases to self-efficacy and skill acquisition from the beginning to the end of the course; and observed significant needs and improvements in physical, emotional, and social outcomes of community members. Conclusions. This study demonstrated multiple and varied benefits of a service learning program for kinesiology students. Ongoing evaluation of service learning programs in health promotion is needed to enhance student and community outcomes.

Promoting Effective Physical Education for Migrant and Military Youth

This article aims to outline the profiles of two unique populations impacted by residential mobility and provide recommendations for how we can help to meet their needs through physical education.

Demonstrating Successful Undergraduate Research Experiences across the Disciplines: The Physical Education Teacher Education Perspective

This article describes the faculty-sponsored approach to undergraduate research (UGR) at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. In this approach, individual or small groups of faculty organize or sponsor the research and recruit undergraduate students to get involved. This approach to UGR is opportunistic in that university faculty members take advantage of the resources and support available on campus to recruit and compensate undergraduate students to assist them with the research projects they are conducting for their own line of inquiry.