Biography: Dr. Miller is an Associate Professor in her fifth year as a member of the Physical and Health Education Staff. Dr. Miller’s experiences include teaching professional theory, elementary methods, professional activity courses and student teaching supervision at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She has been instrumental with bringing to the program the use of digital video technology as a tool for teacher candidates’ systematic observation and cycle reflection of their teaching. Dr. Miller chaired the College of Education’s Conceptual Framework Committee in preparation for its recent national re-accreditation. Dr. Miller was the program coordinator for the M.Ed. in Physical Education Curriculum and Instruction Program. For two years, she has been an out-of-region supervisor of Slippery Rock University student teachers in partnership with the Wake County Public School System in Raleigh, North Carolina. A recipient of various grants and other procured funding to support her research and pedagogy, she is a two time recipient of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers (2004,2005) as well as receiving the Outstanding Alumni Academy Award from Western Michigan University (2003), SRU Alpha Xi Delta Apple Polishing Award (2009), the PSAHPERD Professional Honor Award (2009) and PSAHPERD Appreciation Award (2009). Dr. Miller is chair of the PSAHPERD Early Childhood Committee. Prior to teaching in higher education, Dr. Miller was an elementary adapted physical education teacher at the D.T. Watson Institute’s Education Center, located in Sewickley, PA.
Research Interests: Dr. Miller’s action research centers upon Service Learning. Most recently she has conducted various studies that examine a Three-fold phenomenon: first, how service learning has influenced a physical education pre-service teacher candidate’s call to vocation (to teach), second, to examine the influence differently-able children have on each other’s socialization patterns in large-scale movement environments, and what influence pre-service teacher candidates, serving as teachers, have on child socialization patterns, third, to examine service learning as a educational movement pedagogy. Grounded in experiential learning theory, Dr. Miller’s action research is centered upon a service learning model involving preschool-age children with and without disabilities coming together in an inclusive setting for developmentally appropriate educational movement experiences, taught by undergraduate (physical) education majors. She has presented her research internationally and nationally
View Dr. Millers Vitae. Click Here
Current Courses:
- PE 61 243 Movement Education
- PE 61 452 Field Experience in Elementary Methods
- PE 61 705 Life Span Motor Development (Graduate)
All Courses Taught:
- PE 61 243 Movement Education
- PE 61 452 Field Experience in Elementary Methods
- PE 61 455 Supervision of Student Teaching
- PE 61 486 Senior Seminar
- PE 61 705 Life Span Motor Development (Graduate)
- INDS 110 FYRST Seminar
Education:
- Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh 1990
Motor Development
Motor Learning and Research Methodology
- M.Ed. University of Pittsburgh 1984
Special Education
- B.S. Western Michigan University 1975
Physical Education K – 12
Physical Education – Exceptional Child
Dr. Miller has a book, Service Learning in Physical Education and Related Professions: A Global Perspective that will be published on January 22, 2010 by Jones and Bartlett Publishers. For information about the book click here
Professional Memberships:
- American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 1973-present
- International Association of Physical Education in Higher Education, 2006-present
- National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities 2000-present
- Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance 1978-present
- Council for Exceptional Children, 1979-present
- Women's Sports Foundation, 1980-present
Current Professional Activities/Assignments:
Advisement: Undergraduate physical education majors in the PETE program.
Service: Dr. Miller has created and directs a free program called Moving Concepts which is an inclusive developmentally appropriate educational movement program for pre-school age children with and without disabilities. Offered each spring semester on the campus of Slippery Rock University, the program includes over 50 preschoolers coming from the University’s Child Care Center, Butler County Children’s Center, Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV, and from the surrounding communities as far away as Franklin, PA. Moving Concepts is a community-based service learning program associated with PE 61-243 Movement Education. While pre-service teacher candidates from the disciplines of physical education, special education, elementary education and early childhood education enrolled in PE 61-243 study concepts and content related to educational movement, they apply their learning through the service of standards-based best-practices teaching to some of Pennsylvania’s youngest citizens to promote an active start to health-related fitness and movement skills. To obtain information about Moving Concepts, contact Dr. Miller by e-mail (marybeth.miller@sru.edu) or phone (724) 738-2789.
Department: Awards Committee, Curriculum/Personnel Committee
College of Education:
- The Quality Circle: Research/Publications
- PASSE Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity: Grant Reviewer
- Conceptual Framework Committee Chairperson
University:
Years at SRU: Since 2005
Years in Education: Since 1979
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