This class strives to challenge student’s perception of what is “normal” through disability-related simulation (wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, sled hockey, wheelchair rugby, hand-cycling, wheelchair softball, sitting volleyball, and a host of other adapted sports), peer discussion, guest lectures, observation, and self-reflection.
Purpose
The purpose of SES 338 is to provide various practitioners with strategies for serving diverse populations in a variety of movement settings (e.g., public school programs, extended day programs, and community youth sports and recreation programs). Two primary emphases are (1) including all learners in a single setting, and (2) helping learners to take more responsibility for their well-being and to be more sensitive and responsive to the well-being of others.
Course Content
Content in this course includes: understanding, recognizing, and accepting individual differences; including diverse learners in physical activity and leisure pursuits; understanding relevant legislation; designing appropriate learning environments (i.e., activity and equipment design, and instructional alternatives); and, combining service and learning.
Service Learning
Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities (National Service Learning Clearinghouse, 2012).
Through community-based service learning, students are offered opportunities to develop a positive disposition toward community involvement and helping others. Examples of these opportunities include officiating and managing various events for the Weld County Special Olympics, volunteering as (ski) instructors at the National Sport Center for the Disabled (NSCD) in Winter Park, Colorado, participating in the Greeley Parklands Survey, and volunteering as counselors at Camp Abilities (Alaska and Oregon).
