Mary Ellen Alger, M.S.

Philosophy of teaching:
My classroom is a place where students have clear expectations about engagement, as they participate in establishing “class norms” each semester.  The environment is one of challenge, with high standards, yet flexible and accommodating to the varied growth of individual students.   Each of my courses presents many different types of assessments to challenge the student. This variety also represents the opportunity for students with different learning styles to excel and demonstrate competency in key areas using different tools.  Ultimately, the courses are driven by student outcomes, with my increased focus on developing clearly defined and appropriate artifacts to demonstrate student achievement.  

Overall, I strive to accomplish several goals in my teaching:

a) imparting knowledge in particular content areas in an environment where student growth and achievement are foremost,  personal gains fully acknowledged, and student ideas are fostered

b) supporting students in being (or becoming for some) self-responsible for their own learning, building in opportunities for reflective practice, and assisting students to “set the bar” of personal achievementat a reasonable, yet challenging level

c) leading the enthusiasm for learning by example – how often do I find myself learning from my students and colleagues, while also continuing to build confidence and go beyond my own “comfort zones”.

d)  focusing on student development in critical thinking skills, expressive skills in both written and oral form, while also providing appropriate standards and levels of expectations as well as abundant feedback

 
These goals, which I more often think of as guiding principles, serve to shape how I continue to be a life-long learner, and thus, I believe, a more effective teacher.

I  believe that my teaching contributes to the Mission of the College by encouraging students to (1) think creatively through professional activities, (2) convey their ideas through oral and written communication, (3) convey an understanding of their role as a member of a community of learners, (4) conveying content knowledge in the specific discipline and making connections to the world around them, and (5) instilling curiosity and excitement about the world around them.

Special areas of expertise or research interests:  Physical education curriculum and pedagogy, coaching education training,  sport management, and sport sociology

Other Interests: Distance learning pedagogy, instructional technology in sport, fitness and physical education programs,  professional development  and leadership for sport professionals

Personal interests include golf, kayaking, skiing, tennis, advocacy for the preservation of lighthouses, and ecotourism

Teaching background
A lifelong educator, I have been at New England College for 20 years, serving as a Faculty member, Intercollegiate coach for women’s basketball and softball, and Director of Athletics.

Previously, my coaching/teaching experiences took me to several other institutions, including the University of New Hampshire (assistant director of women’s athletics and assistant women’s basketball coach, St. Anselm College (assistant women’s basketball coach), and Nashua (NH) High School (softball and basketball coach), where  I also taught physical education for nine years.  I have been a USFA rated field hockey umpire for over 15 years, and continue to umpire at the high school level.  During the fall of 2007 I received an award as Outstanding Professional in College Teaching from the New Hampshire Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. 

 In my current role as Assistant Professor of Kinesiology, I am fortunate to teach in three specific majors:  Kinesiology, Physical Education, and Sport and Recreation Management.  Teaching a diverse set of courses allows me the opportunity to bring theory and practice to the classroom, integrating current happenings in the “real” world arenas, in order to bring those current issues, trends and controversies into the classroom.