Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School

Education

Advisor

David Weintraub

Abstract

Cardiovascular fitness levels in physical education have decreased for males and females in an inner-city high school, with female cardiovascular fitness decreasing the most. Cardiovascular fitness is important because participating in cardio exercises decreases health issues such as obesity and cardio problems. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore the views of teachers regarding low cardiovascular fitness among adolescent females in physical education and how a professional development could help teachers to address the problem. Bandura’s social learning theory was used as the study’s conceptual framework. Semistructured and open-ended interview questions were used to collect data from 6 veteran PE teachers to address the research questions regarding teachers’ experiences in promoting cardiovascular exercises, levels of participation in cardiovascular exercises, and perceptions of professional development to help ameliorate the problem. Participant responses to the open-ended interview questions were analyzed by coding common words to create categories to develop themes. Qualitative findings revealed that participants started to notice low cardiovascular endurance in 9th grade, that professional development was not geared towards improving female adolescent activities nor assisting PE teachers in how to model these. A professional development, via the proposed project, was developed that will provide activities that can be used by both new and seasoned physical education teachers. Social change will occur in that implementation of the ideas shared in project may lead to a healthier and physically active lifestyle when students reach adulthood.

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