This spring, Adam Rosenbery, M.S. ’21, had the remarkable opportunity to represent the School of Kinesiology and Recreation by presenting his research 2024 Association Internationale des Écoles Supérieures d’Éducation Physique (AIESEP) World Congress at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland. Rosenbery’s thesis centered on implementing Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) in a lower elementary physical education setting, exploring how structured programming can foster responsibility-based character traits in young students.
Rosenbery’s academic journey began when he transitioned from teaching middle to lower-level elementary physical education (PE). This change made him aware that a different approach would be necessary in the new environment. “Upon evaluating my teaching methods and practices, I identified deficiencies in addressing the affective domain within the curriculum,” he said.
In order to expand his knowledge, Rosenbery decided to enroll in the Physical Education Pedagogy master’s degree offered at Illinois State. The coursework allowed him to explore different instructional models and reflect on his values regarding program priorities. This exploration guided him towards responsibility-based education, particularly through the lens of TPSR. “Once I discovered TPSR, I immersed myself in research and the professional community,” he shared. “TPSR seeks to develop participant responsibility-based character traits through structured programming in an activity-based setting.”
Rosenbery’s research involved a six-week intervention integrating TPSR into an existing PE program, focusing primarily on respect and cooperation. The research process was intense but manageable, thanks to preparation and support from his thesis committee. “Engaging in research, particularly action research, contributed to my professional development,” he noted. “Through this process, I learned the value of post-lesson reflection through journaling, which improved my lesson planning and instructional strategies.”
Despite the hurdles, Rosenbery’s findings were insightful. “Moving from theory to practice was more difficult than anticipated,” he reflected. “Being a veteran teacher and well-studied on the TPSR instructional model, I felt confident moving from plan to practice, yet I was met with unexpected challenges regarding model implementation.” Thankfully, collaborating with his thesis committee, Drs. Jones, Eberline, and Henninger, was a rewarding experience for Rosenbery. He appreciated each member’s unique professional perspective and considered them to be “critical friends” throughout the process of data collection. Their guidance and encouragement were pivotal in his research journey, ultimately leading to his presentation at the 2024 AIESEP World Congress.
Initially, presenting at the conference was daunting for Rosenbery. “I felt out of place,” he admitted. “While I had prior experience presenting at state and regional conferences, attending a research-focused conference left me feeling somewhat uneasy.” However, after several days of listening to other presentations and meeting new people, Rosenbery began to feel more at ease. “With the guidance of Drs. Jones, Eberline, and Henninger, I was thoroughly prepared for my presentation, which went smoothly.”
The most memorable part of the conference for Rosenbery was meeting Dr. Ashley Casey, whose research greatly influenced his own. “Having the opportunity to discuss the origins of my research topic and future endeavors with Drs. Casey and Jones was the perfect way to culminate my experience in Finland.” Rosenbery considered this to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and the most rewarding experience in his career.
Rosenbery is currently teaching Health Education at Monticello Middle School in Monticello, where he is able to put these methods into practice to improve the lives of his students.
