Physical Education Teacher Education Program
About PETE
Historically, the physical education teacher education (PETE) program at ASU is recognized as one of the premier programs in the NC and the southeast. Year in and year out, the program graduates more physical educators than any other program, public or private, in North Carolina. In a typical academic year, there are approximately 120 majors moving through our program.
There are six faculty in the physical education program, with all but one who ha a doctorate in physical education or related curriculum area. All but one of the faculty possess recent and relevant experience teaching in the public schools. The PETE faculty recognize that students are consumers and deserve the best possible experiences in order to be fully prepared as beginning teachers. With this mentality, the faculty produce instructional experiences designed to support teaching in physical education. Often, course experiences are modified based on feedback received during instructions. Also, students are provided opportunities to evaluate course and instructor performance at the end of each semester. Our faculty are sensitive as well as responsive to these evaluations.
The ASU PETE program is a highly structured program in which courses and experiences received at earlier points in the program support those experiences found later in the program. The Program is divided into five segments called ProBlocks. The ProBlocks are a scaffolding of courses in which the courses in earlier ProBlocks supports those in later ProBlocks. In the program, students can expect a wide range of instructional experiences. Students complete requirements individually and cooperatively in the various classes. These experiences may range from exploring the Internet to identify materials, practices, and skills related to pedagogy in physical education. Students receive experiences in developing content knowledge related to performance of motor skills and sports skills, receive experiences in lesson delivery and assessment and the use of various forms of instructional technology. A significant part of the program includes experiences in which they practice skills in a preschool setting, home school setting (on campus), the public schools and the Basic Instruction Program on campus.
PETE majors are encouraged to be active in the Physical Education Majors Club. The majors’ club provides our majors with opportunities for leadership as ProBlock representatives or officers in the club. Participants in the majors’ club participate in intramural sports, social functions prior to basketball and football games, homecoming events, professional meetings such as the North Carolina Association of Athletics, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, physical activity initiatives on campus and in the community, and the end-of-year Physical Education Majors’ Awards Dinner.
The PETE program at ASU is a dynamic teacher preparation program which is evolving to stay current with health and social issues pertinent to teaching physical education. Our program is an accredited program adhering to and affiliated with NCATE requirements for teaching and the NASPE Beginning Teacher Standards.
