(12/4/2009) Arlington, TX – This morning I meet with the Texas College/University Administrators to provide them with an update on the Virtual PE Administrator. As a part of this meeting, we were provided with a higher ed report from Dr. Mel Finkenberg (Interim Dean, Stephen F. Austin State University). As it turns out, Mel was the Department Chair of the college (Cal State LA) where I did my undergraduate work. He seems to get very involved no matter where he is. For a kid growing up in Brooklyn, NY – he has been from coast to coast!
Again, more and more folks are interested in our new Virtual PE Administrator physical educati0n assessment and tracking program. Here’s an example of the folks in Texas who have signed-up to use VPE with their student majors:
- Dolly Lambdin, University of Texas at Austin
- Mel Finkenberg, SFASU
- Pug Parris, McMurry University
- Toby Rogers, Lubbock Christian University
- Jim Todd, Wayland Baptist University
- Mike Daniel and Judy Bloomquist, Texas A & M, Kingsville
- Patricia Sherblom, University of Texas of the Permian Basin
- Roger Grant, Sul Ross State University, and
- Norris Russell, Oklahoma Baptist University
Artie’s Quest: As I often tell folks… I’m 59 years old. Both of my parents died before the age of 75, so I figure I have about 15 or so years left to help move PE to where it needs to be:
My personal and professional lifetime goal is to work with a state – just one state – in hopes that before I die I will be able to see a statewide implementation of a K-12 standards-based assessment for physical education. How long will we allow students to get an “A” for just dressing out and participating in class?
PS: I also learned that there is a school district in Texas (Hint: “AISD”) that does not allow students to get anything other than an “A” in PE. In other words, it is against school policy to grade and assess students in PE – everyone just gets an “A.” Amazing!!!!
Artie Kamiya's Updates 