016 Resistance Training and Running Economy

Sustaining health is one of WSU’s identified societal grand challenges. Though some rates are improving, overall, we live in an age where physical activity is too low.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 1 in 5 American adults meet desired physical activity. Less than 3 in 10 high school students get at least 60 minutes each day. Americans living in the South are less likely to be physically active than those in the West.

Some physical activity is better than no physical activity. But by combining scientific research with physical activity, we know how to make that exercise we DO do even more effective.

The College of Education’s sport science program is top-notch. Two undergraduate students earning their kinesiology degree have researched how resistance training can help people become better runners by improving something called “Running Economy.” They explain.

015 Improving Critical Thinking Tests

Critical thinking is an essential skill for students to develop through their formal and informal education. The measurement of these skills is a challenge, especially with younger students. Several critical thinking assessments exist, yet their validity is in question. Educational Psychology doctoral student Latisha Sternod talks about her research in this arena, and gives implications for practice and future research.

014 Getting to Know You: Kiley Maag

Sports are part of our culture. We might remember playingbaseball or soccer as a kid. Perhaps we played some pick-upbasketball after schools. Or a nice flag football game in the briskautumn weather.

Working in sports can be a little different then you think.Until you’re in the trenches, many don’t even know all thecomplexities of the industry. WSU’s College of Education has atop-notch sport management program, which examines professional,college, and not-for-profit sports leagues and organizations in ourcountry, and globally. It is on the forefront of various sportsresearch, especially global research, and research about Title IXand gender-equity in sport.

For most students, it’s practitioner-based, meaning they learnwhat they need to work in the field. In a competitive landscape,that work often needs to begin while the students are in school,either as an internship or practicum.

We caught up with Kiley Maag, an intern with the HoustonRockies. At the time of this recording, the Houston Rockets were inthe first round of the playoffs against the Golden State Warriors.The Rockets would end up losing the series and be knocked out ofthe playoffs. We talk to Kiley about her internship, and what shehopes for in the future.

013 Improving the ELL Experience

English Language Learners are people learning English in addition to their native language. The Washington State University College of Education has a robust ELL program.

The No Child Left Behind Act, as well as subsequent legislation, demanded educational success of all children, throughout the entire curriculum. Thus, children aren’t merely pulled aside and put in English as a Second Language classes, but rather, the teachers make curriculum accessible to ELL students by planning for accommodations throughout the content.

There are certainly challenges with this. Primary among these is the growing number of ELL students in Washington public schools. It CANNOT be overlooked. At the same time, there aren’t enough school counseling or other services to meet the demand. We caught up with two College of Education professors during WSU’s academic showcase, and asked them to talk about their research, which aims to solve the problem, thus advancing opportunity and equity for all our state’s children.

012 Responding to School Shootings

There have been almost 300 school shootings since Columbine, and the rate is increasing. When a school goes through something like this, how do the victims cope and recover?

We spoke with doctoral candidate Patricia Maarhuis at the 2016 Academic Showcase about ways that schools, teachers, students, and communities can bounce back from devastation.

011 Globalization Conference overview

The past few years has seen increased awareness of racism and bigotry in our country. Of course racism has always been present, but today many are noticing a number of disturbing trends and incidents. Our national dialogue has increased on issues of institutional racism, a spike in blatant actions by some police against people who are culturally- or linguistically-diverse, and indifference or apathy, by many, toward racism and bigotry.

How do educators fit into this? One WSU Vancouver professor, Katherine Rodela, cites “the continual need for culturally and linguistically diverse student, family, and community leadership and voice in education practice and policy”?

One way our college helps advance opportunity and equity, is by engaging in activities that help advance social justice.

One of these is the international globalization, diversity, and education conference.

We caught up AG Rud, distinguished professor of cultural studies and social thought in education, who chaired this year’s globalization conference.

010 The Roadtrip to Better Classroom Assessment

Chad Gotch is an educational psychologist working to bridge the gap between the test-makers and the test-takers. We talk with him about the educational video he’s working on to accomplish that, the importance of classroom assessment, and how we can improve students’ learning abilities.

009 Alhadeff Future Teachers of Color Conference

Every year, the Alhadeff Future Teachers of Color hosts a conference where experts in educational diversity and social justice speak. Cheyenne Cortesi is an AFTOC ambassador, and talks about the group, the conference, the importance of diversity in education, and why she herself wanted to be a teacher.

007 Getting to Know You: Elias Whitefoot

Elias Whitefoot is not only a kinesiology student, he’s one of the WSU College of Education’s student ambassadors. He also comes from a long line of Cougs (fourth generation). We talk to him about why he chose his degree, what he plans to do next, and some personal stuff, as well.

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