Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance

IF YOU ARE A PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER OR ENROLLED IN A PHYSICAL EDUCATION GRADUATE PROGRAM, YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE A SURVEY

In response to the nation’s current childhood obesity epidemic, there is a sound rationale for investigating how Physical Education (PE) teachers may be taking action steps to effectively respond to the nation’s childhood obesity epidemic. Through my doctoral dissertation research at Teachers College, Columbia University, there is an opportunity for PE teachers to participate in an online, anonymous, confidential survey. The research investigates how PE teachers would rate themselves as teachers with regard to their knowledge, ability/skill, as well as their education and training/preparation; whether they perceive any barriers to being an effective PE teacher; and, how they would rate themselves and their schools for taking action steps to address the childhood obesity epidemic. Your participation in this research will contribute to efforts to improve the education and training of PE teachers, and improve strategies for effectively addressing the nation’s childhood obesity epidemic.

LINK TO SURVEY
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TeachPE

THIS STUDY’S IRB PROTOCOL NUMBER IS 13-102

• The Research Group on Disparities in Health within the Department of Health and Behavior Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University, in New York, New York is studying what role physical education teachers may play in responding to the obesity epidemic.

• You are being asked to fill out a survey.

• Participation is limited to the first 200 physical education teachers, or physical education graduate students currently teaching as part of their training.

• After 200 people complete the survey, the computer program will automatically close the survey and send out bar–coded gift certificates for use at www.amazon.com to three randomly chosen e-mail accounts ($300, $200 or $100) without in any way linking your identity to the survey results.

• Please go to the link below (www.surveymonkey.com/s/TeachPE) to view the informed consent, learn about your rights as a participant and proceed to the survey.

• We also invite you to e-mail, text message, or tweet other physical education teachers you know to:

 
“Go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/TeachPE
and take the survey for a chance to win a $300, $200, or $100 prize. THANK YOU!”

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!

Kristie Lynch, M.S., M.Ed., Doctoral Candidate, Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Pre-Doctoral Fellow, Research Group on Disparities in Health, Teachers College, Columbia University, Box 114, 525 W. 120th Street, New York, NY 10027; kll2106@columbia.edu

BARBARA C. WALLACE, Ph.D., Director, Research Group on Disparities in Health, Professor of Health Education, Clinical Psychologist, Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, Box 114, 525 W. 120th Street, New York, NY 10027; Bcw3@columbia.edu; Study Contact Number:  267-269-7411