糖心Vlog

Three Georgia Southern faculty have partnered with Bulloch County鈥檚 Transitions Learner Center (TLC) to offer an optional physical activities program for 16 middle and high school students. Christina Gipson, Ph.D., assistant professor of sport management in the School of Health and Kinesiology, Bridget Melton, Ed.D., associate professor of physical activity in the School of Health and Kinesiology, Dawn Tysinger, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Leadership, Technology and Human Development, and first-year psychology graduate student, Laura Veasey spent this past spring implementing the physical activity program. Students in the Exercise Science course at the University were given the opportunity to observe and assist with the first half of the program as well. The TLC is an alternative school in Bulloch County that currently serves the general education needs of students, who have been referred to the program and need a more non-traditional learning environment. With no access to a gym, the group held the physical activity program four times a week in the school cafeteria. Although resources were limited, the program received funding from the School of Health and Kinesiology in the College of Human Sciences, and Tysinger donated the protocols needed for the research. 鈥淭he school had minimal physical activity equipment,鈥� noted Gipson. 鈥淭ony Pritchard, Ph.D., program coordinator for the School of Health and Kinesiology鈥檚 Graduate Physical Education program, and CrossFit Boro helped supply equipment for the participants.鈥� Before the physical activity program was implemented, students attended school from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with little to no physical activity. 鈥淒ue to students being strictly on the computer for their classes, there was very limited opportunity for movement,鈥� said Renee Perry, TLC school counselor. 鈥淭he program encouraged students to become active and try new activities.鈥� With the guidance of Gipson, Melton and Tysinger, Veasey developed the curriculum and workouts for the students. 鈥淚 attempted to make the workouts fun for the students,鈥� said Veasey. 鈥淪tudents are required to wear a uniform of khaki pants and white shirts while attending TLC, and on the days I demonstrated the activity I dressed to match the students.鈥� Activities were designed based on the student鈥檚 age and skill level. Each activity included rules that encouraged participation of every student. Students were required to attend the physical activity program in the same structure as their general class structure and were only provided the opportunity to participate if they were in good-standing. Perry expressed the students鈥� excitement over getting to attend 鈥淧E鈥� several times a week. Perry recalled one student in particular who benefited from the physical activity program after having an unsuccessful start at the TLC. 鈥淒uring the student鈥檚 first time participating in the physical activity program, the student really got into the running and circuit training and would exceed the requests of the instructor,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he student expressed liking to exercise, and we began to see a difference in the student鈥檚 classroom behavior. The student was proud of his skills in physical activity.鈥� 糖心Vlog, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 118 degree programs serving 20,673 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered and hands-on approach to education. Visit .