Collaboration and Adapted Physical Education

Article #4 (Consultation): Teaching Collaboration and Consultation Skills to  Pre-service Adapted Physical Education Teachers

Article info: Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance

Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information:

http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ujrd20   Rebecca Lytle a , Barky Lavay b , Nancy Robinson c & Carol Huettig.

The intention of this article is to determine what Adapted Physical Education specialists need in order to work effectively with other professionals.   It is directed towards strengthening the collaboration and consultation skills of pre-service APE teachers.   The APE teacher should not be viewed as “The expert” but should be equal to others in which the APE teacher collaborates with.  In order to be an effective collaborator, you must be able to Reflect on your own personal practice, be open and receptive and value ideas from others, share responsibility, share resources, share an equal power, and understand that you are equally accountable for the outcomes of the collaborative team.  The class that took part in this study took part in mock IEP’s with parents explaining the grief process of having a child with a disability.  Introductory assignments included collaboration Web site, professional teacher interview, a case study and assessment report assignment.  After giving various assignments to pre service APE teachers it is found that the first thing an APE teacher needs to have in order to be an effective collaborator in the APE field is to be knowledgeable of their own field.   They must also be understanding and respectful to other team member’s thoughts and opinion.  Many people will have different training and backgrounds that must be communicated and processed.   The conclusion is that university programs must find and develop assignments and activities that help pre-service APE teachers become great collaborators. 

Article #5 (Consultation):   Planning and Documenting Consultation in Adapted Physical Education. 

Article Information: From the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.   Martin E. Block a , Shirley Brodeur a & William Brady a

a Adapted physical education, in the kinesiology program, University of Virginia,

Charlottesville, VA, 22904

Published online: 11 Mar 2013.

This article explains that the role of Adapted Physical Education teachers has change over the years.  It states that in the 80’s APE teachers were primarily responsible for direct service in special schools or in self contained classes within public schools.  Inclusion has played a huge role in today’s education which has increased the need for collaboration skills among teachers.  The consulting assistance includes providing information about specific activities, behavioral and instructional strategies, the IEP plan, how to assess students with disabilities, and how to be an advocate for such students.  The purpose of this article is to present information and forms that can be used by APE specialists when developing a consulting plan and when documenting on going consultation.  The first step when coming up with a consultation plan is to outline basic information about the process such as who when and where consultation will involve. OT’s and PT’s should be involved even if it is limited.   You should also document consultation by having a consultation log or the date/time, communication style, Issues/problems, and a plan for implementation.  There must also be a mechanism to ensure that solutions to problems that have been discussed are implemented in a timely fashion.  The best times to meet are right after or right before the GPE teacher works with the student.   Specialists need to explain that there role is not to work with the student directly but to help teachers provide appropriate physical education services to the student with consult services.   You should outline the various ways that they can provide information including face to face meetings, regular mail and email, observation followed by direct feedback and demonstrations.   In order to be effective, APE consultation needs to consist of more than just chance meetings and occasional conversations.  It should be well planned and documented, and also needs to be carried out.  Overall this was a very easy to read article that provided many resources to utilize as an APE teacher and also emphasized the “make sure it is carried out” aspect fo the consultation process which I believe is essential in order to ensure the consultation method is an effective designated instructional special education service.   

Article #6 (Consultation):  The Effects of Consultation on Individualized Education Program Outcomes for Children with Autism. 

Article information: Volume 32 Number 4, September 2010 286-301Lisa A. Ruble, Nancy J. Dalrymple, and John H. McGrew Journal of Early Intervention, Volume 32 Number 4, September 2010 286-301

This article had to do with the effects of consultation in the physical education settings.  The purpose of the article was to analyze the effects of consultation using a collaborative model.  A Parent-teacher and four additional consultations with the GE teacher occurred throughout the course of a school year.  The results were promising that the collaborative and consultation models are effective in developing a better educational experience for students with special needs.