Professor's program helps students help themselves
Kim Hanley, Liberty Taylor
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: The Scene
All people, including ETSU students, have 'issues', related to physical, emotional and/or spiritual health. But how can these issues be handled?
One ETSU professor empathizes and offers students a way to cope with life's realities now and in the future.
"Since joining the ETSU community four years ago, I have had, through formal research and teaching, the opportunity to realize students' needs and concerns," said Dr. Masoud Ghaffari, professor in the College of Nursing. "They need relief from stress as well as more time for self-care, social interaction and personal reflection."
Ghaffari gave his students the option of earning extra credit points, in the pathophysiology course he teaches, by participating in an exercise program that would help them improve their health while also learning about systems of the human body. Points are awarded to students who participated in physical activity at the Basler Center for Physical Activity (CPA), in at least three 30-minute sessions a week for 12 weeks (consistency being more important than intensity), and to write a short essay describing the effects of exercise after each weekly session related to information discussed in class.
Mark Blevins, RN, a former student of Ghaffari's and a recent graduate of ETSU, College of Nursing, applauds Ghaffari's efforts in designing and implementing the Exercise Project for nursing students. "He went beyond the classroom teaching to help us reduce stress, promote health, and gave us an opportunity to learn 'hands on' the effect physical activity has on the body: physically, mentally and emotionally."
President Eisenhower in 1956 once stated: "Our young people must be physically, mentally, and spiritually prepared for American citizenship." Meanwhile, daily participation in high school physical education classes dropped from 42 percent in 1991 to 29 percent in 1999, according to the Department of Health and Human Services report. Physical inactivity and poor diet are catching up with tobacco as the leading cause of preventable death in America.
One ETSU professor empathizes and offers students a way to cope with life's realities now and in the future.
"Since joining the ETSU community four years ago, I have had, through formal research and teaching, the opportunity to realize students' needs and concerns," said Dr. Masoud Ghaffari, professor in the College of Nursing. "They need relief from stress as well as more time for self-care, social interaction and personal reflection."
Ghaffari gave his students the option of earning extra credit points, in the pathophysiology course he teaches, by participating in an exercise program that would help them improve their health while also learning about systems of the human body. Points are awarded to students who participated in physical activity at the Basler Center for Physical Activity (CPA), in at least three 30-minute sessions a week for 12 weeks (consistency being more important than intensity), and to write a short essay describing the effects of exercise after each weekly session related to information discussed in class.
Mark Blevins, RN, a former student of Ghaffari's and a recent graduate of ETSU, College of Nursing, applauds Ghaffari's efforts in designing and implementing the Exercise Project for nursing students. "He went beyond the classroom teaching to help us reduce stress, promote health, and gave us an opportunity to learn 'hands on' the effect physical activity has on the body: physically, mentally and emotionally."
President Eisenhower in 1956 once stated: "Our young people must be physically, mentally, and spiritually prepared for American citizenship." Meanwhile, daily participation in high school physical education classes dropped from 42 percent in 1991 to 29 percent in 1999, according to the Department of Health and Human Services report. Physical inactivity and poor diet are catching up with tobacco as the leading cause of preventable death in America.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Cathy Jo Damoth
posted 4/30/07 @ 10:58 AM CST
This is a really good program, but we need to have more information. A follow up article would be great!! I would like to see more instructors use this kind of program to help their students. (Continued…)
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