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DISCUSSION PAPERS
SPRE Electronic Conference
on Professional Preparation
Welcome! On the following pages you will find several papers related
to the various topics of SPRE's e-mail discussions on professional preparation.
This introduction will give participants a brief overview of each paper.
The overviews are ordered in the same sequence as the papers themselves
(i.e., the first overview describes the first paper, etc.). This format
should help you identify, and find, which papers you wish to read.
The purpose of each paper is to provide information or raise issues and
questions that encourage discussion. We hope they will stimulate your thinking,
not only by what they say but also by what is not said. Some of the papers
were written especially for the discussions; for others, we used or adapted
previously written materials that seem particularly appropriate.
We have arranged the papers into groups according to the contents of
each:
THE PAPERS
Social Conditions, Service Delivery and so . . .
In this paper, THOMAS GOODALE (Human Service Programs, George Mason University) identifies several conditions in contemporary society that could or should impact delivery of leisure services, and therefore curricula. Dr. Goodale also suggests that we often encounter difficulties in recognizing or acknowledging these conditions, and presents some reasons why this is so.
Some Thoughts on the Current State of the Academy
In a paper adapted from her opening remarks at the 1996 department and program administrators meeting, MARILYN JENSEN (Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs; California State University, Long Beach) writes about some characteristics of universities and colleges that influence what educators do. Dr. Jensen's comments touch on students, technology, budget matters, public expectations, and other considerations.
Leadership to Meet the Demands of Today's Changing Needs
CHRISTOPHER JARVI (Director; Parks, Recreation and Community Services, City of Anaheim) gave the 1992 Bob Crawford Lecture at the NRPA Congress in Cincinnati. This paper is an abridged version of Mr. Jarvi's lecture. In it, he points to clear indications that the park and recreation profession is in crisis. He suggests various changing concepts of leadership that can move us forward in these times of change.
Employers' Expectations for Graduates
This paper was written for our discussions by GENIE ZAKRZEWSKI (Deputy Director; St. Louis County Parks and Recreation). In it Ms. Zakrezewski tells us what employers expect graduates to be able to do. She emphasizes the realities of working with the public in 1996, in communities that experience a multitude of problems. She points out that these problems are not atypical; they are commonplace and they have changed the ways graduates must function.
National Forest Recreation Resource Leadership: Competencies for the 21st Century
LYLE LAVERTY (Director of Recreation, Heritage and Wilderness Resources; USFS), also addresses the matter of skills and knowledge graduates must have; in this case, those who manage natural resources and outdoor recreation areas. Mr. Laverty identifies universal or foundational competencies and technical or functional competencies.
External Influences on Curricula
This paper again looks at skills and knowledges needed in the field; however, the focus here is on therapeutic recreation situations. MARCIA CARTER (Sport Sciences, Ashland University) and JEAN FOLKERTH (Health Sciences Program, Findley University) presented the paper originally at a Higher Education Curriculum Conference, in 1995, that was sponsored by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA). Dr. Carter and Dr. Folkerth discuss several factors which have implications for curricula.
Leisure Theory in the Curriculum: An Integrated Approach
A central research interest of MARY PARR (School of Exercise, Leisure and Sport, Kent State University) has been the relationship of theory to practice. Dr. Parr wrote this paper for our discussions, based on the research she has been doing. In it, she examines different approaches to viewing leisure theory and different ways of bridging the gap between theory and practice, so that the undergraduate curriculum is more reality-based.
The eighth paper lists the curriculum Standards used by the NRPA/AALR Council on Accreditation. Included are the 7.00 series (General Education), the 8.00 series (the general Professional Program), and the 9.00 series (for the approved options in Leisure Service Management, Therapeutic Recreation, Parks and Natural Resource Recreation, and Leisure Service Program Delivery).
In 1994, KARLA HENDERSON (Chair; Curriculum in Leisure Services and Recreation Administration; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) wrote an article for the Winter Issue of the SPRE Newsletter titled "A Challenge Before Us." In that paper, included here, Dr. Henderson raises questions about the appropriateness of curricular specializations as opposed to a generalist approach.
Educational Outcomes of Graduate Education
In this paper, RON HODGSON (Department of Recreation and Park Management; California State University, Chico) shares some of his thinking about the essential nature of graduate education. Dr. Hodgson's perceptions, growing out of his prior experiences as a Graduate Coordinator and advisor to both master's degree and doctoral candidates, focus on those characteristics that distinguish graduate programs from those at the undergraduate level.
Continuing Education in Parks and Recreation: Trends, Issues and Potential Solutions
This is adapted from an article by MICHAEL HUFFMAN and MEL HUMPHRIES (Bureau of Sport and Leisure Commerce, Memphis State University) that appeared originally in Volume 30, Number 3 (1993) of Trends magazine. In it, Dr. Huffman and Dr. Humphries present a concept of continuing education, and review several different approaches to providing it. The paper includes comments about CEU's.
Accreditation: Bean Counting or Substantive Analysis
PAT FARRELL (Leisure Studies Program; the Pennsylvania State University) in another article from the same issue of Trends, provides an overview of the accreditation process and raises questions about the appropriateness of certain aspects. Dr. Farrell suggests some possible modifications.
Professional Certification: Its Benefits and Problems
A third article updated from Trends, Volume 30, Number 3, deals with certification. In this one, NANCY GLADWELL (Department of Leisure Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro) and CHERYL BEELER, (Chair; Leisure Services and Studies, Florida State University), explain the current program administered by the National Certification Board Dr. Gladwell and Dr. Beeler also explore some of the problems associated with the program.
Considerations in the Use of Computer Technology as an Educational Tool
This final paper is an adaptation of an article JEFF HILL (Parks and Recreation Management, University of North Carolina at Wilmington) wrote for the most recent issue of Schole. Dr. Hill examines computer technology as differentiated from educational technology, and discusses various considerations in the use of technology in the educational process.
Of course, there is much more relevant literature than the 14 papers included here. We are aware, for example, of several articles in the current and other issues of SPRE's Schole, that are directly related; and there are many other sources. If you are aware of anything that has been published that seems especially appropriate, that you think will move the discussions along, we hope you will share it.