BiographyJennie Petersen, MSc., PhD Candidate is currently completing her PhD at Brock University and returned to graduate school after working as a practitioner for several years in recreation, sport and community development. Using action research, her doctoral research is focused on investigating the pedagogical and programmatic factors that influence youth physical literacy development in a recreation context. In the final phase of her PhD research, Jennie is working together with YMCAs to support staff training on program design, physical literacy and game-centered approaches, including Teaching Games for Understanding. Jennie is also a Sessional Instructor at Mount Royal University in Calgary, AB teaching undergraduate students, Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU). She has previously worked for YMCA Calgary, Commonwealth Games Canada, Alberta Health Services, The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee and The City of Calgary. Jennie’s key interests include working to raise critical thinking in students through pedagogical design and supporting the integration of best available evidence into practice on what keeps children, youth and adults engaged in sport and physical activity over the long-term. Whether it’s working overseas to in international development through sport, supporting the development of physical literacy training for recreation practitioners, coaching rugby or teaching her niece how to ride a bike, Jennie has always been passionate about supporting others with finding a love for sport and physical activity.
Goals I have for my country
I view this opportunity to represent Canada on the TGfU IAB as a tremendous opportunity to expand the use of TGfU within my country. Primarily in Canada, it is the education and research sectors that are the driving forces behind TGfU. Through the connections I have within the sport and recreation sector, I will focus on expanding the implementation of TGfU into the recreation sport context. Additionally, in my teaching role at the post-secondary level, I will aim to support the integration of TGfU into coaching/ teacher training courses at the undergraduate level.
My goals as a member of the TGfU IAB include: 1) Advocate for the use of TGfU and game-centered pedagogies as it relates to children and youth learning sports and games in both the recreational sport and educational context in Canada. 2) Support the development of TGFU resources that are intended for recreational sport instructors. This includes the development and expansion of resources that are useful and relevant for them. 3) Work to connect with other post-secondary instructors to collaborate on teacher education programs and courses that provide education and training for undergraduate students on TGfU. This includes identifying opportunities where we can collaborate together to advance TGfU across post-secondary physical education training programs in Canada. 4) Support continued research on TGfU and its implementation, as well as collaborations between the research, education, recreation and sport communities in Canada to help advance and integrate the best available evidence available within sport and physical activity. |
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