Content Competency Paper
EDUC 539
Content Competency Paper
Shanece Sims
Liberty University
1
Content Competency Paper
EDUC 539
Course Competency
There are various content areas that I wish to continue to improve upon. Having the
desire to be a great educator in the field of health and physical education, I must be aware of the
areas in which I am weak. Being able to identify and improve upon weaknesses is the first step to
greatness. Each week I was able to identify an area that needed attention and find a way to be
better and continue to get better.
The first content area I addressed was management and motivation in the classroom
setting. Management and motivation are some very key factors of education. Having a good
ability to get students engaged in the course material and wanting to participate in class activities
is a big step toward having an active and engaging group of pupils. Having a healthy balance of
these two things makes the classroom environment enjoyable and a place pupils look forward to
learning in. The next content area I focused on was assessment of student learning.
This content area was a personal one for me. I have expressed my experience growing up
in the school system not knowing the best way I learned. Assessment of student learning is a
very important part of teaching and learning. Being able to successfully identify what type of
learners you have in your class helps save a lot of time and putting energy toward the correct
way to teach pupils and what material and activities to present to students.
The next content area I focused on was reflection and collaboration. These two things go
hand in hand. As a person it is important to have the ability the receive criticism, reflect on those
critiques and find new ways to improve yourself. As an educator having this ability is key in
improving your teaching methods, styles and activities for your students. Having collaboration
2
Content Competency Paper
EDUC 539
between teacher and students, teacher and parents and teacher and administrators will allow for
the teacher and student to be put in the best situations for learning.
Outside of content areas there were other things I mentioned in my initial papers that I
wished to improve upon. When I began my writing of Artifacts and Activities papers I was
identifying with the wrong document and in return my earlier papers were incorrect. Luckily for
me I was able to turn my papers in the right direction and identify the correct content areas.
Although the document was wrong there were things listed that I myself wanted to improve that
would eventually help me in different content areas. The subject that caught my eye was the
physical education methodology courses.
Being that my undergrad degree was not in education, I do believe there are some courses
I could possibly take during my Master’s program that will give me a better understanding of the
background of physical education and health. A way that I would want to better understand the
history of both subjects would be to possibly enroll in some local courses or even courses
through Liberty University. I truly believe to master anything we must first understand the
history of it and how it came to be.
The next improvement outside of the mentioned content areas was to reach out to former
teachers of both subjects to learn some of the methods and tricks they used when teaching myself
and fellow classmates. I would be very interested in doing some of the same things that I
participated in growing up in health and physical education courses. This would be another way
to better improve my understanding.
Description of Plan for Competency Improvement
3
Content Competency Paper
EDUC 539
My plan for competency has been followed in a variety of ways. My initial step was
reaching out to colleagues who are currently teaching the subject I am interested in becoming
certified in. This step ended up going very well with many of my current and former colleagues
giving me guidance and tips on the both health and physical education. The next step in my plan
was self-taught lessons. I found an amazing website that provided information on different tips
and lesson plans for health and physical education. The last step in my plan for competency
improvement was referring to my undergrad degree. Referring to courses I have already taken
will help pull info from things I have already learned and apply them to my current studies.
Plan Outcome
Overall my plan for competency improvement went very well. I was able to get a lot of
things accomplished and become more comfortable with each content area I wished to improve
upon. Outside of my plan there were other things I wanted to try out for improvement but due to
COVID-19 my time at work was cut short. During this time of virtual learning I was still in
touch with colleagues as well as administrators to ask any questions I may have had while trying
to become more knowledgeable. I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by people and
resources who made following my plan relatively easy.
As a result of following the plan I now feel like I am where I need to be knowledge and
comfortability wise in regards to health and physical education. At this point I wish to continue
to improve upon my plan, set goals and continue to progress in the various content areas. My
efforts to follow the plan despite the change of school setting went on as planned. I had to make
a few adjustments but with the power and tool of technology I was able to get a lot
accomplished. The many things that I learned while following this plan will come in handy
through the many tasks I will have to accomplish on the road to certification.
4
Content Competency Paper
EDUC 539
As time continues through this program I know there are things that may come up and my
plan might change slightly but for the most part I hope to stay the course.
Review of Competency Area Resources
The first resource I would like to address that I felt most helpful was the professional
development day at my workplace and use of the book Discover Your Clifton Strengths by Don
Clifton (2017). These two resources aided in getting to know myself better and how to be the
most effective self. Having these in my development arsenal will help me become a better
student, colleague and most importantly a better educator. Knowing my weaknesses and
strengths will come in handy when deciding lesson plans, how to teach material, communicate
with my students and the most effective way to teach them. The next resource that served me
well during the strengthening of my competency areas was the use of the website Society of
Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America). This website provided many tools, lesson
plans and provided insight to those currently in the field of health and physical education. This
resource completely assisted me in strengthening many areas of my content area.
Although not mentioned in any of my papers and not so much deemed an official
resource, being a former athlete is a major resource in trying to grasp many concepts of health
and especially physical education. These two subjects have some very deep roots in any sport
especially at the professional level. Going back to my collegiate and professional days, there
were many activities and resources we were able to take advantage of in order to be the best in
our sport. We were blessed to have some of the top health and strength trainers at the collegiate
level and luckily I can reach out to them for assistance with becoming a good health and physical
educator instructor. I truly believe that all of these tie into each other and can be applied at many
levels of education.
5
Content Competency Paper
EDUC 539
One of my last official resources that assisted me was the article Teaching Strategies to
Approach Different Learning Styles (2020). This article made me more comfortable in my ability
to identify students in my class and learn different way to teach them. This was a major resource
to have mainly because of how important I know it is to identify the different types of learners
and teaching styles that need to be used to appeal to learners best interests.
Overall these three resources were key in my development of many areas that needed to
be improved. Going forward I will continue to use these resources in hope that improvement
continues and my confidence in teaching within the content area is fairly high. Along the way I
hope to obtain more resources to add into my arsenal of becoming a great educator.
Biblical Connection
The first biblical teaching that comes to mind throughout this process is “Commit
everything you do to the Lord. Trust him and he will help you.” (Psalm 37:5, KJV). This verse
speaks volumes into the process that a person goes through when trying to achieve anything
worthwhile to them. The decision alone to begin grad school took much time and commitment
on my part. Having different things going on in my personal life such as working as a teacher
full time and being a new mom, my commitment to taking this journey had to be serious.
When I think about what I have learned so far, the material that goes into health and
physical education it make me think about lifestyle changes. These two subjects set the tone for
many people’s lifestyle. As a teacher of these two subjects I would be presenting different
options to students for them to commit to. Something as simple as how they eat, their hygiene or
even how physically fit they are, all ties into commitment.
6
Content Competency Paper
EDUC 539
The next Bible verse that tied into what I learned is “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep
your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in
prayer.” (Romans 12:11-12, KJV). What I learned through this content competency process that
ties into this Bible verse is in whatever we do we must serve the Lord through it. If we include
the Lord in our plans and do it excitedly, our plans shall not fail. When planning out the different
activities to help me improve in a content area, it was important that I put the Lord at the head of
it and I simply follow in the direction he led me.
“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue
wit knowledge. This Bible verse tied into my work by simply meaning in everything you do, you
should have faith, virtue and knowledge. Having these three things will ensure you are successful
if you are truly dedicated. These three things should supplement each other in order for all
endeavors to be successful.
The last Bible verse and possible my favorite one during this process was “Plans fail for
lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22) This Bible verse
summed everything I went through into one Bible verse. Throughout the process of seeking
assistance and learning from colleagues and mentors to understand the material and become a
better educator, I would not be able to learn much if I never sought help from anyone or was
willing to receive advice from anyone. If I were to have too much pride, I would not succeed in
getting the information I need or engage in the activities to be successful. With the people who I
look to for advice as well as seeking advice from the Lord there should not be anything I can’t
achieve in mastering the different content areas.
Conclusion
7
Content Competency Paper
EDUC 539
I have had the opportunity to learn many different things while improving in various
content areas. Going forward I hope to continue with the plan I have laid out in order to be
successful. The content areas that go into health and physical education are very important to
master in order to be a successful and well-equipped educator. As a current teacher I am excited
to see the difference in my teaching, my classroom environment and confidence as I continue in
this program while currently teaching.
These weekly papers gave me the opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone which
was not really seeking assistance from many people but trying to figure things out on my own. I
am glad to have done so and am now more comfortable seeking assistance if I am ever in doubt
about a topic relating to the different things that I may encounter during graduate school. In
conclusion, the content areas I have discussed throughout the class I now feel more comfortable
in. I look forward to strengthening many more through activities within grad school as well as
my current teaching job.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this class and its teachings and will be sure to carry many of
the lessons to my future courses and activities throughout grad school and even life. Many things
I have learned while doing these papers can be applied to many aspects of the courses I will take
in the future toward my master’s degree. “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the
purpose of the LORD that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21)
8