Physical Education Association of Ireland Conference & Annual General Meeting, 2009
The Power of Physical Education
Towards Enhanced Citizenship and Self-Empowerment
2nd – 4th October, 2009-08-04
Fels Point Hotlel,
Tralee,
Co. Kerry
PEAI Conference 2009, hosted by the Institute of Technology, Tralee
Conference Programme and Speaker Details
Friday 2nd October, 2009:
7.00- 7.30 pm Registration
7.30 - 7.40 Welcome Address – Dr. Ann MacPhail, President
PEAI
Dr. Michael Hall, Head of Dept. Health & Leisure
Studies, ITT
7.40 – 8-00 Dr. Barney O’Reilly, Launch of KES Community of Practice DVD resources
8.00 – 9.00 Key Note: Professor Don Hellison,
University of Illinois, Chicago
Don Hellison is a professor in the Departments of Educational Psychology and Kinesiology at UIC. This role involves program development, delivery, and evaluation for underserved youth as well as the professional preparation of pre-service and in-service teachers and youth workers who work in these programs. These programs use taking responsibility as a framework for teaching physical activities in in-school and after-school programs. Since the broad goals of this approach - e.g., respect for the rights and feelings of others, self-motivation, cooperation, self-direction, and helping others (e.g., leadership) - are relevant for working with kids in many settings, workshops also have been requested by teachers and youth workers who do not work with physical activities. Processes and outcomes of this work are disseminated in publications, presentations, and workshops across the country and in several other countries.The TPSR Alliance, co-directed with Gloria Balague, is the center for these activities (tprs-alliance.org). Don spent 16 years doing this work on the west coast and has been at UIC for the past 20 years. He has been recognized for this work most recently (2008) by receiving the Gulick Medal, the most prestigious award given by the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. He has also been the recipient of the International Olympic Committee President’s Prize and five other national awards. His latest book is Teaching responsibility through physical activity, published in 2003 by Human Kinetics.
Saturday 3rd October, 2009:
8.30 – 9.00am Registration
9. 00 – 10.30 Professor Don Hellison – Master Workshop
10.45 – 11.15 EIPET: Making Adapted Physical Education
Easy – Pat Flanagan
Pat Flanagan is a member of the Kerry Senior Football Backroom team on a consultancy basis, previously the physical trainer, he is now in charge of the team’s weight programmes. Pat was in charge of the team’s fitness during their winning periods of 2004 and 2006, where the team enjoyed particular success. Pat, a Waterford native is a former Irish sprint champion; with Waterford Athletics club,he saw national and international success. He is a lecturer at the Institute of Technology, Tralee, & previous to this spent 12 years teaching PE in the PresentationSchool in Waterford. He has spear headed the development of Adapted Physical Activity (APA) as an academic subject in the Department of Health & Leisure Studies at ITT and there conceived the development of the CARA Centre, with the support of the Irish Sports Council, which provides guidance, support & training for APA provision throughout Ireland.
Pat will present on EIPET a new European Inclusive Physical Education Training resource pack, which has been developed to assist teachers with the inclusion of people with disabilities into mainstream education and continued physical education teacher training to deal with same.
11.15 – 12.15 Coffee & PEAI AGM
12.15 – 1.15 Parallel Sessions A
1. Diversity Challenges in Physical Education
Fiona McGovern, Paddy O’Reilly, John Creagh
Fiona McGovern always knew the career she wanted to follow, and entered ThomondCollege in September 1984, where she studied both PE and maths. Fiona was a keen athletic and avid outdoor activist. On graduation in 1988 she worked in London for a year then returned to take a PE and Maths post in Waterford in September 1989. In 1995 she undertook a Diploma in special education as she was involved in learning support in her school. Seeking a change in direction, in January 2002, she successfully applied for a job as a visiting teacher for Travellers, the position which she now occupies. This has broadened her experience of the teaching world and opened up to her the many different approaches that schools have, especially in differentiating material for those children with special needs.
In this session Fiona will give delegates a little insight into the life and background of Travellers from her experience with them and schools over the last seven years. In this way it may help other schools to differentiate how material and classes are delivered to young Travellers in our schools today.
Paddy O’Reilly graduated with a BA in PE and Maths from Thomond College of Education in 1985. He has worked in Trinity Comprehensive, Ballymun, since 1989. Paddy has a keen interest in soccer and coached both Dundalk and Athlone U21s. He has been pursuing a Masters Degree in Sports Psychology, which centres on the study of home and away soccer performances, featuring Bray Wanderers, Longford & Newry. Paddy has an EUFA A Level 3 Soccer badge, is heavily involved in school club soccer links within the Ballymun area, and has been instrumental in the development of Ballymun Regeneration Limited Umbru Futsal Arena.
John Creagh is a Physical Education & Geography graduate from LiverpoolHopeUniversity, and he has a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from JohnMooresUniversity (2001). On returning to his native Tralee, he taught in MounthawkeSecondary School for a year, before taking up his current position in TraleeCommunity College. John now teaches PE & Geography, and also the Post Leaving Cert Course, FETAC Level 6 Sport and Recreation Studies. John is a stalwart member of John Mitchell’s GAA club, and also likes to get in a round of golf when spare time allows.
2. A Flourishing Future for Physical Education?
Joe Brunton
Joe Brunton graduated from Thomond College of Education in 1976, MontclairStateUniversity (New Jersey, USA; MA Hons: 1978) and the University of Limerick (MTech Hons: 2001).
He has taught PE among a variety of other subject areas at 2nd and 3rd level in a career spanning almost 35 years.
After joining the Institute of Technology (then the RTC) in Tralee in 1981 he took up teaching responsibilities initially in PE and the Health Science area. He was Course Director for the Certificate in Health Science from 1990 to 1992 and oversaw the transitioning of this programme to Health & Leisure Studies, in 1993. He acted subsequently as Course Director for the National Certificate in Health & Leisure Studies and then for the National Diploma in Health & Leisure Studies, from 1993 and 1998. He was a founding member and the inaugural chairman of the Recreation Educators Forum (REF) a position he held from 1995 to 1997.
Joe has published on a variety of topics ranging from topics in Leisure Tourism to Ergonomics. His main research interests, now and for over a decade, have been focussed on the emerging multi-disciplinary field of well-being and ‘human flourishing’ and the potential role that physical activity can play in this.
He has had a life long interest in a variety of sporting activities, but his main ‘claim to fame’, apart from playing soccer with Listowel Celtic and Kerryhead Rovers, was in an earlier life, playing in the League of Ireland with Dundalk FC and at Youth and Colleges International level. He now contents himself for past-times with reading, gardening, light jogging and trying to learn French.
Living near Causeway in North Kerry, Joe is married to his college sweetheart Eliz (also of the class of ’76) and is the father of three grown up children.
Joe’s presentation will outline recent theoretical developments on the topic of positive human well-being, in particular those contributions emanating from within the social sciences and especially positive psychology. A balanced and integrative bivariate model of health and its ‘well-being / human flourishing’ dimension will be presented, based on the WHO (1947) definition of health and other more recent theoretical work. The potentially substantive role that physical activity, exercise, leisure, sport and physical education can play in enhancing physical flourishing within this paradigmatic framework, along with some potential pitfalls, will be explored.
3. Adapted Physical Education
Niamh Daffy (CARA Centre) & Ed Niland (IWA)
Niamh Daffy isCoordinator of CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre. She is agraduate of the Institute of Technology Tralee, (Honours Degree in Health & Leisure Studies). During her years in college Niamh completed two placement related to the area of Adapted Physical Activity, one of these being the design and implementation of the first All Inclusive Summer Recreation Programme for individuals with disabilities in Anchorage, Alaska.After obtaining her degree, Niamh went on to work as Sports Coordinator in Enable Ireland Adult Services, Clareand subsequently worked as manager of the Enable Ireland Adult Services Clare.
In November 2007, Niamh took up position as coordinator of the CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre located at the ITT, where she now coordinates the work of the 21 Sports Inclusion Disability Officers and the CARA National Adapted Physical Activity Resource Centre.
Niamh in her spare time also likes to volunteer and has volunteered in Camp Abilities, New York, a multi sports camp for children with visual impairments. Her most recent venture will be to Calvert Trust in the Lake District to volunteer in an organisation which enables people with disabilitiesto achieve their potential through outdoor adventure activities in the countryside.
Ed Niland, Irish Wheelchair Association- Sport
Ed is a sport scientist who graduated from University of Limerick in 2005. He has been working with the Irish Wheelchair Association-Sport in the role of Coach & Technical Education officer. As well as developing IWA-Sport’s Coach & Instructor education programme in partnership with the Irish Sports Council’s Coaching Ireland, we are also developing a number of strategic projects on Talent Identification, Transfer & Confirmation, Volunteer & Athlete recruitment & retainment. The IWA is continuing to develop resources for our Best Start: Inclusive Schools project, which aims to improve inclusive teaching practices so that more children with a disability in both primary & secondary levels can participate in their Physical Education classes, and that more children with a disability can take part successfully and confidently in sport and physical activity for life.
Ed is heavily involved in Orienteering as an athlete, coach & tutor up to World Championships level and he enjoys most sports which involve a good dose of adrenaline.
All students regardless of ability need to participate in physical activity for lifelong health. Niamh and Ed will facilitate teachers in inclusive practices to encourage access and participation in Physical Education for all, in both primary and secondary environments, where these lifelong habits are formed. The workshop will cover a variety of practical activities that can be completed within an inclusive environment using available and accessible equipment to enhance participation within sessions. Furthermore, these practical activities will provide a pathway for application beyond the PE setting.
4. Best Practice in Primary School Physical Education
Kathleen Fitzgerald, Maire Ni Laidhn
Kathleen Fitzgeraldgraduated from ThomondCollege, with PE and Irish, in 1978. She spent 10 years teaching PE in LoretoSecondary School, in Cavan, before returning to Kerry. Kathleen then focused her attention on primary school PE, before she moved into the area of Special needs teaching in St. Frances Special School, Beaufort, 2 years ago. She is a both a Go For Life, and an NCEF tutor. Kathleen has given a lot of service to Kerry Juvenile athletics, as well as being a keen runner and orienteering participant. She now coaches with the Kerry Stars, Killarney Special Olympics team, and in her recreation time enjoys jogging and wind surfing.
Maire Ni LAidhn
Maire Ni Laidhn graduated as a primary school teacher, from MaryImmaculateCollege, in 1986. On graduating she took up a position in CastlegregoryNationalSchool, where she worked for 5 years, before heading to teach in the Middle East for 9 years. While there she taught in an InternationalSchool, which embraced both British & US primary curricula. Maire returned to her native Tralee in 2000, firstly to Gael Scoil Mhic Easmain for a year, and then to the PresentationPrimary School, where she currently teaches the senior classes and takes PE classes. A former International Basketball player, playing at senior level for Ireland from 1983 – 91, Maire puts her skills to great use coaching the Presentation Senior Girls Basketball team & co-ordinating the Tralee girls basketball town league. When in the middle East her sporting interests included netball and rugby, while in Tralee she is also involved with Austin Stacks GAA Club, and introduced ladies Gaelic football to her school in 2001.
1.15 – 2.15 Lunch
2.15 – 3.30 Parallel Sessions B
- Adventure Games – Leave No Trace
Tomás Aylward
Tomás Aylward lectures in the Health and Leisure Dept. at I.T.Tralee. He coordinates the outdoor education programmes for Health Leisure and PE Studies students. A graduate in Education from NUIG, he is a passionate enthusiast of learningout of doors. Tomás has completed a number of wilderness journeys and xpeditions in Europe, N. America, Asia and Africa. In 2009 he led a student expedition from ITTralee north of the Arctic Circle in Norway and Finland. Tomás is a mentor and assessor for accredited practitioners of the Institute of Outdoor Learning (APIOL) and a Leave No Trace ‘Master Educator’. His main research interest is using outdoor experiences as a catalyst for reflection.
- Leaving Cert Applied Dance
Sharon Phelan
Sharon Phelan performed internationally as a full-time professional dancer with Siamsa Tíre. She has a degree in Physical Education, an MA in Cultural Studies and her PhD focuses on dance in Ireland from cultural and educational perspectives. Currently, she is interested in Creative Practice in social care contexts and she is contributing chapters to a book based in this area. She is also researching a book based on the cultural history of Irish dance.
During her time as dance animateur and education officer with the Department of Education, Sharon published and disseminated Dance-in-Education packages and in 1999 she was commissioned by the NCCA to complete the Leaving Certificate Applied Dance Programme. The modules were a turning point, as this was the first time Physical Education teachers viewed dance as examinable and standalone. Sharon will present on the modules at the Conference: her session will focus on ways through which Physical Education teachers can use dance, as a tool of social inclusion and cultural understanding.
3. Leading Learning through Collaborative Reflective
Mentoring
Geraldine Mooney Simmie is a lecturer in Education and Professional Studies at the University of Limerick. She is Course Director for the ‘Leading Learning in School Communities Graduate Certificate in Educational Mentoring’ at UL. Her recent paper ‘Teacher Design Teams: building capacity for innovation, learning and curriculum implementation’ has just been published in ‘Irish Educational Studies’. Geraldine is involved in the Ubuntu Network, which focuses on Teacher Education for Sustainable Development and has spearheaded a project through this network which seeks to Build an Appreciation of DE/ESD among Teaching Practice Tutors – University of Limerick. Geraldine is a regular presenter at Educational Development Conferences
4. Futsal
Derek O’Neill, Gerard Dunne
Derek O’Neill is currently the National Futsal Coordinator with the F.A.I. Previously, Derek held the position of National Coordinator for the FAI Summer Soccer Schools, a programme which has grown to become the premier soccer schools programme in the country.
Derek is a former League of Ireland player who over a career spanning sixteen years played with clubs such as Shamrock Rovers, St. Patrick’s Athletic, Bray Wanderers, Drogheda United and Waterford United. Derek also played professionally in the Australian National Soccer League with Wollongong Wolves FC. At representative level, Derek played for the FAI National League team in 1996 against England.
As well as playing professionally, Derek has also coached in the League of Ireland and had two spells as first team coach of premier league club, LongfordTown during a season which included the club playing in the UEFA Cup. Derek is a UEFA A licensed football coach and also holds a Diploma in Sports Management from University College Dublin.
Derek was the first person to introduce the sport of Futsal to Ireland in 1999 and has since worked on behalf of the FAI to develop the sport at all levels throughout Ireland. Derek is currently the Head Coach of the Republic of Ireland Futsal team who competed for the first time in the UEFA Championship qualifiers last February 2009.
Derek is committed to developing the sport of Futsal in Ireland, particularly among school children as he believes the game has proven potential to accelerate the development of technical and mental skills required to succeed in football. However, he also believes it’s a game which promotes more active involvement, is great fun and has a natural pedagogical influence with younger players, thus reducing the need for frequent coach intervention in order for a child to improve his or her level of ability.
Gerard Dunne is the National Coordinator for Schools, Colleges and Universities with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). Previously, Gerard held the position within the Association of Regional Development Officer for South Midlands.Gerard has produced two strategic development plans for the FAI- a Schools Development plan (2007-2010) and a Third level Football Development Plan (2008-10) which also has the backing from the Irish Football Association (Northern Ireland). Gerard was the Men’s World University Games Football Assistant Manager in Belgrade 2009 and has worked as Coach with the Women’s U19 and Senior International Squads from 2002 to 2008.He has also worked as a video analyst with Irish International squads. He is a UEFA A licensed football coach, a Coaching Ireland Tutor and is currently studying a Masters in Sports Management from UCD.
Gerard is committed to developing the sport of Futsal in Ireland. A major aim of both strategic plans is to get more players playing the game in schools and at third level. The Buntús programme in Primary Schools now has Futsal as a core part of the programme as it includes Futsal balls equipment. Like Derek he believes the game has proven potential to accelerate the development of technical and mental skills required to succeed in football. He also believes it’s a game which promotes more active involvement, is great fun and allows the teachers to let the children play without the need to have specialist coaching qualifications.