Susan M. Flynn

Instructor

Address: 86 Wentworth Street, #229
Office Hours: Mondays – 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. @Silcox; Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. @Silcox; Fridays 11 a.m.-1 p.m. @ office or by appointment
Phone: 843.953.0815
E-mail: flynns@cofc.edu
Personal Website: http://www.fit2bsmart.com
Blog: twitter: @fit2bsmart


Susan Flynn works in the School of Education, Health and Human Performance.  She is training students’ in early childhood and elementary teacher education providing our future educators with the skills and knowledge to infuse health and movement in the classroom.  Prior to teaching at The College of Charleston, Flynn taught at Purdue University in Indiana for twelve years in the Department of Health and Kinesiology.  She specializes in the areas of Adapted Physical Education; Rhythms and Dance in the Physical Education Curriculum, and Action-Based Learning for early childhood.  Prior to Purdue and the College of Charleston, Flynn taught in the public schools outside of Toledo, Ohio as an Adapted Physical Education Specialist and Maryland as a Special Education Teacher.  In addition, she organized and directed the Perceptual Motor Development Clinic at the University of Toledo for 10 years and Pete’s PAL’s at Purdue. Both programs offer aquatic and motor therapy for children with disabilities.  Flynn organized and directs a similar program at The College of Charleston called FitCatZ. http://hhp.cofc.edu/research-studies/fitcatz/index.php
The above link leads interested students to the application page.

This video link provides an overview of the program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csw9Ox1au_U

Flynn recently secured a $1.2 million, three-year grant from National Science Foundation. The TECHFIT (Teaching Engineering Concepts to Harness Future Innovators and Technologist) program uses the design, programming, and construction of exergames to increase student interest and knowledge in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) and fitness.  

Flynn’s other passion is in student leadership and helping to develop SHAPE America future professionals.  She also volunteers in a local school to teach children dance and physical education providing them with the skills and knowledge to be healthy for a lifetime.  Her philosophy she shares with the College of Charleton student is,  “To lead by example and embrace the importance of helping young people value an active and healthy lifestyle.”

Flynn is also a certified Physical Best Instructor and Presidential Youth Fitness Program Master Trainer. 

 


Education

  • M.A.,  Physical Education with a concentration in Adapted Physical Education

                     University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.  Degree conferred 1980

  • B.S.,  Health and Physical Education, Grades K-12, Concentration in Adapted PE

                    Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, Massachusetts.  Degree conferred 1981

 


Research Interests

Flynn recently secured a $1.2 million, three-year grant from National Science Foundation. The TECHFIT (Teaching Engineering Concepts to Harness Future Innovators and Technologist) program uses the design, programming, and construction of exergames to increase student interest and knowledge in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) and fitness.  

The TECHFIT webpage http://techfit.tech.purdue.edu/ provides a wealth of information about our grant project. The following link http://youtu.be/l_g9Y3s9DSM  will provide a glimpse of the teacher training. Activities and news related information about the grant can be found on twitter https://twitter.com/GoTECHFIT and the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/gotechfit.

The FitCatZ research project titled: Service Learning in an Adapted Physical Activity Program is examining civic learning outcomes among undergraduate students who participate in a physical activity program.


Courses Taught

  • EDEE  370             Health and Physical Education for the Classroom Teacher
  • EDEE 664              Health and Physical Education for the Classroom Teacher
  • FYSM 138              Special O.P.S. Therapy Tactics
  • EDEE 699              MAT Clinical Practice
  • EDEE 457              Elementary Clinical Practice
  • EDEE 455              Early Childhood Clinical Practice
  • FYSM 126              Neurobics:  Sparking Mental Connections
  • EDEE 382              Application of Curriculum and Instruction: Grades 2-6
  • EDEE 416              Elementary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
  • EDEE 465              Action-Based Learning Independent Study
  • PEHD 201              Inttoduction to Physical Education
  • PEHD 222              Analyses and Conduct of Lifetime Activities
  • PEHD 439              Advanced Topics in Exercise Physiology
  • HEAL 216              Personal and Community Health

 


Honors and Awards

2011      Service Award.  Wisconsin Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

2008      Honor Award, Midwest District Association Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

2008      Honor Award, Indiana Association Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

2008      Presidential Citation for Service.  Midwest District for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

2008      Presidential Citation. Service Award, Midwest District Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

2006      Midwest Meritorious Service Award.  Midwest District for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

2001      Presidential Citation, Indiana Association Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

2001      Leadership Recognition Award, Indiana Association Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

1994      University of Toledo, Outstanding Woman Award.

1992      Learning Disabilities Association of Toledo, Contribution Award.


Publications

Flynn, S. M.,  Masterson, C.,  (2006).  Teaching Fitness Concepts in Tough Situations.   

Teaching Elementary Physical Education, pp.32-37  Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Harriger, A., Flynn, M., Harriger, B. & Flynn, S. (2011).

TECHFIT: Combining fitness & technology to spark interest in STEM.

In Proceedings of Society for Information Technology &

Teacher Education International Conference 2011 (pp. 2121-2128). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.