Faculty

Heather Crowe

Clinical Assistant Professor
Physical Education/Teacher Education Internship and Student Teaching Supervisor
Kinesiology (M.S.) Program Coordinator

Education and Certification

• Ph.D.: Ohio State University
• M.Ed.: University of New Orleans
• B.S.: Frostburg State University

Teaching Interests

• KNES 355 Psychology of Sport
• KNES 480 Seminar in Student Teaching
• KNES 325 Secondary Methods of Physical Education
• KNES 392 & 394- Supervision of Student Teachers

Research and Professional Interest

• My research focuses on issues associated with the promotion of physical activity and motor skill development in children.  I am especially concerned with individuals who are under-served by current school programs.  The theoretical framework I draw upon is the dynamical system theory.  This theory examines the inter-connected and dynamic nature of motor skill acquisition suggesting that the interaction of multiple subsystems from the task, environment and child work together in order to facilitate and/or constrain motor development.  The intent of this line of work is to develop and implement motor skill and activity programs in schools and communities in order to facilitate optimal development of under-served populations of children.  Using the dynamical systems theory to guide methodological decisions, a “goodness of fit” is developed between the child’s characteristics, the community context, and the proposed intervention in order to promote positive developmental, life-long change.
• This line of work has shown that young children who come from environments that have few opportunities for physical activity demonstrate substantial delays in fundamental motor skill development.  Individuals, and especially females, who are under-served often grow up in communities where there are significant barriers physical activity.  Since physical activity levels tend to track into adulthood, early multicomponent motor skill intervention is essential.

Recent Publications

Articles:

• Goodway, J.D., Robinson, L., & Crowe, H (in press).  Gender Differences in Fundamental Motor Skill Development in Preschoolers from Two Geographical Regions who are Disadvantaged.  Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport.
• Goodway, J. D, Crowe, H., & Ward, P. (2003). Effects of motor skill instruction on fundamental motor skill development of Hispanic preschool children who are at risk of developmental delay. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 20(3), 298-314.

Abstracts:

• Crowe, H. & Goodway, J. D. (2004).  Gender differences in object control skill development of young urban children.  Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 75 (1), (Supplement), 45.
• Crowe, H.,  Goodway, J. D., & Ward, P. (2003). Learning to Kick.  Effects of untrained assistants versus student choice on preschoolers in physical education.   Association for Behavior Analysis, San Fransisco CA (abstract #108).

Certifications

• Physical Best Specialist
• Initial Programs Lead Reviewer and Auditor for NASPE/NCATE