Melissa Parker, Ph.D.

Melissa Parker, Ph.D.Education

  • 1984 Ph.D., The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
  • 1979 M.A., The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
  • 1974 B.S., University of North Carolina – Greensboro, Greensboro, NC

Professional Experience

  • 1983 – 1987 Assistant Professor of Physical Education,University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
  • 1987 - 1998 Professor, Health and Physical Education, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
  • 1998 - Present Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO

Teaching Areas

  • SES 210 – Developmentally Appropriate Elementary Activities
  • SES 266 – Introduction to Physical Education as a Profession
  • SES 340 – Instructional Planning and Design
  • SES 440 – Developing Pedagogical Skills in Elementary Physical Education
  • SES 614 – Analysis of Teaching
  • SES 680 – Perspectives in Physical Education and Sport
  • SES 640 – Curriculum in Physical Education
  • SES 695 - Service Learning and Underserved Youth
  • Student teaching seminar

Research

  • Preparing teachers to teach physical education for learning
  • Teacher professional development
  • Service learning, physical activity, and underserved youth
  • The preparation of teacher educators
  • Personal and social responsibility

Selected Publications

Galvan, C. & Parker, M. (2011).  Service-learning in physical education teacher education: Findings of the road less traveled.  Journal of Experiential Education.

Matos, Z., Batista, P., Parker, M., Patton, K., & Machado, M. (2011). Cooperating teachers’ perceptions of participation in a community of practice. In Proceedings of AIESEP Congress 2010, A Coruña, Spain.

Parker, M., Sutherland, S., Sinclair, C & Ward, P. (2011).  Participant responses to ‘Curriculum of PETE doctoral programs”. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education.

Ward, P., Parker, M. Sutherland, S. & Sinclair, C. (2011).  An examination of the curriculum of physical education teacher education doctoral programs.  Journal of Teaching in Physical Education.

GocKarp, G., Woods, M., Ward, P., Parker, M., Boyce, B. A., Rikard, G. L. Sinclair, C., & Sutherland, S. (2011) Recommendations for doctoral programming in Kinesiology and for the PETE profession .  Journal of Teaching in Physical Education.

Graham, G., Holt/Hale, S. & Parker, M.  Children Moving: A Reflective Approach to Teaching Physical
Education (8th ed.).St. Louis, MO: McGraw-Hill, 2010.

Parker, M., & Patton, K. (2010). The conditions of creating and maintaining a community of practice with physical education teachers. In A. MacPhail, & A. Young, (Eds.). Promoting physical education across schools and communities: Physical Education, Physical Activity, & Youth Sport (PE PAYS) 4th Research Forum (pp.58-64), Limerick, Ireland.

Parker, M. & Patton, K., Madden, M., & Sinclair, C. (2010). The development and maintenance of a community of practice through the process of curriculum development. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 29(4), 337-357.

Stiehl, J. & Parker, M. Outdoor Education. In Tannehill, D. & Lund, J. (Eds.). Standards based curriculum development (2nd ed.). Boston: Jones & Bartlett. 2010, pg. 247-269.

Parker, M. & Stiehl, J. Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility. In Tannehill, D. & Lund, J. (Eds.). Standards based curriculum development (2nd ed.). Boston: Jones & Bartlett. 2010, pg. 163-191.

Parker, M. & Sinclair, C. (2010). Making teacher work samples work for you. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 81(1),36-39.

Hansen, K. & Parker, M. (2009). Rock climbing: An experience in responsibility. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 80(2), 17-23.

Stiehl, J. & Parker, M. (2007). Outcomes in adventure. In Project Adventure (Eds.). Adventure based programming and education. Dubuque, IA: Kendall-Hunt.

Brustad, R. & Parker, M. (2005). Enhancing positive youth development through sport and physical activity. Psychologia, 39, 75-93

Invited Keynotes

Parker, M. (2011). World Sport Achievements: Physical Literacy and Physical Education.  International Sport Seminar III. Ministry of Education. University of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Parker, M. (2011).  Physical Education Teacher Education: It’s More than Just Courses. University of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Parker, M.  (2007). Achieving physical literacy: Making the reality a dream.  Physical Activity Roundtable, Province of Saskatchewan, Regina, SK.

Selected Presentations

2011, Parker, M., Sinclair, C., Patton, K., & Morse, J. Responsibility: It’s Taught; Not Caught.  Workshop presented at the Congress of the International Association of Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP), Limerick, Ireland.

2011, Madden, M., Parker, M., & Smith, M. Factors effecting curriculum implementation: One teacher’s perception. Presentation at the Congress of the International Association of Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP), Limerick, Ireland.

2011, Patton, K., Parker, M., & Pratt, E.  ‘Teaching without telling’: Facilitators’ professional development strategies. Presentation at the Congress of the International Association of Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP), Limerick, Ireland.

2011, Parker, M., Sinclair, C., & Patton, K. Looking in the mirror: Teachers’ images and reflections of change. Poster presented at the Congress of the International Association of Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP), Limerick, Ireland.

2011, Seabra, A., Mendonça, D., Seabra, A., Maia, J., Parker, M., &  Fonseca, A. Psychosocial correlates of physical activity in Portuguese schoolchildren aged 8 to 10 years. Presentation at American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting,Anaheim, CA.

2011, Patton, K., & Parker, M. Children’s’ views of and meanings assigned to physical activity. Presentation at the annual American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Convention, San Diego, CA.

2011, Templin, T., Castelli, D. M., Parker, M., Patton, K., & McCaughtry, N. Implementing a PEP Grant: Promoting sustained reform and teacher development. Presentation at the annual American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Convention, San Diego, CA.

2011, Neutzling, M., Parker, M., & Pratt, E. Conceptions of learning to teach through a constructivist environment. Presentation at the annual American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Convention, San Diego, CA.

2011, Ward, S., Perez, M., Henschel-Pellet, H., & Parker, M. Forecasting the Storm: Participants’ Perspectives throughout a Positive Youth-Development Program. Presentation at the annual American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Convention, San Diego, CA.

2011, Boyce, A., Judd, M., GocKarp, G., Parker, M., Rickard, L., Sinclair, C., Sutherland, S., van der Mars, H., Ward, P., & Woods, M.A.  Doctoral PETE Programs: The Preparation of Quality Teachers Educators. Presentation at the annual American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Convention, San Diego, CA.

2010. Parker, M., & Patton, K. Hearing teachers’ voices; giving teachers’ voice: The work of facilitators in continuing professional development. Presentation at the Congress of the International Association of Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP), A Coruña, Spain.

2010. Patton, K., Parker, M. & Neutzling, M. ‘I Don’t Go into school unless I have tennis shoes on’: The role of the facilitator in professional development. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.

2010. Seabra, A., Barreiros, A., Seabra, A., Parker, M., & Fonseca. A. Attraction to Physical Activity of Portuguese Children, Differences by Gender and BMI. Paper presented at the 3rd International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health, Toronto, ON

2009. Ward, P., Parker, M., Sinclair, C. & Sutherland, S. A discussion of the content of PETE doctoral programs. Paper presented at the Physical Education Teacher Conference. Myrtle Beach, SC.

2009. Parker, M., Sinclair, C., Smith, M. & Patton, K.  The use of dispositions in the development of physical education teachers: What? How? When? Paper presented at the Physical Education Teacher Conference. Myrtle Beach, SC.

2009. Patton, K., Parker, M. & Madden, M. Understanding the Role of Reciprocal Interactions in a Community of Practice.  Situated Learning, Reflective Practice and Knowledge Construction in Physical Education (AIESEP) International Seminar. Besancon, France.

2009. Parker, M., Patton, K., Madden, M. & Sinclair, C. The Development and Maintenance of a Community of Practice through the Process of Curriculum Development. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA.

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