Dr. Carolyn Masterson

Assoc. Professor,  Dr. Carolyn Masterson

(Montclair State University, USA)

Physical Fitness From Research to Practice

Dr. Carolyn Masterson is an Associate Professor at Montclair State University and the Coordinator for the Post Baccalaureate and Masters in Teaching Program. She obtained her Doctorate of Education at Columbia University Teachers College in Curriculum and Teaching. Her research and presentations focus on the coordinated approach to health and wellness in schools and more specifically the integration of physical fitness education into K-12 school districts. Many presentations and research have taken her throughout the United States, China and Singapore. She has written several scholarly and professional articles on the development and teaching of teaching of physical fitness curricula. She has co-authored a fitness book with Project Adventure, Inc. called Achieving Fitness and Adventure Activities and developed chapters on fitness in books co-authored with the  American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and the National Association for Physical Education and Sport. In addition, she has chaired several national committees including the Physical Best Committee for the National Association for Physical Education and Physical Education. She also held several national, district and state offices including President of the New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NJHPERD).Finally, she has received several awards throughout her professional career including the Honor Award from NJAHPERD, NJAHPERD Teacher of the Year Award (Higher Education and Elementary PE) and the NAACP, Image Award at Montclair State University.

Workshop

There is a great deal of research being done on children who are overweigh and/or obese (CDC, 2002). In fact, the problem is at epidemic levels and is leading to short and long term health consequences. The seriousness of this problem has caused our USA State Governments to dictate laws that enforce school district to coordinate their approach to health and wellness. School administrators and faculty alike, are investigating strategies to improve student knowledge and practices in order to improve their participation in physical activity, physical fitness levels and nutritional practices.

This workshop will provide opportunities for participants to actively participate in several physical fitness education curriculums and physical fitness assessments that USA schools use to coordinate their approach to health and wellness. Participants will perform several activities that enable students to become more physically active in PE and learn physical fitness concepts and nutrition practices. This workshop clearly aligns with the exercise and wellness themes of this Conference. These strategies help students to learn new concepts about physical fitness and nutrition as well as to enable them to self-assess fitness levels.