Simon Fraser University
Dr. Stephen Smith
Stephen Smith Faculty Photo Associate Professor

Director, Professional Programs

Teacher Education and Physical Education

My scholarly work pertains to curricular and instructional practices in physical education, health and vitality, and the somatics of teacher education.  Drawing up human sciences methodologies, I have investigated the acquisition of movement competence and the means whereby children are taught to become physically proficient.  Writings explore gesture theory and its applications to physical education, health education, and teacher education.

Email: stephen_smith@sfu.ca

1985 Ph.D., Curriculum Theory University of Alberta
1982 M.Ed.,Philosophy University of Queensland
1978 B.H.M.S., Kinesiology University of Queensland
1977 B.Ed., Education Studies Kelvin Grove College of Advanced Education
1972 Diploma of Teaching Kelvin Grove college of Teacher Education

Selected Publications

Books

Smith, S.J. (1998).  Risk and our pedagogical relation to children: On the playground and beyond. Albany: State University of New York Press.

Smith, S.J. (2004).  The bearing of inquiry in teacher education: The S.F.U. experience, SFU internal publication.

Book Chapters

Smith, S.J. (1997).  The phenomenology of educating physically. In D. Vandenberg (Ed.), Phenomenology and educational discourse , (pp. 119-143). Durban: Heinemann.

Smith, S.J. (1996).  Observing children on a school playground. In D. Thiessen (Ed.), Children and the Curriculum: The perspectives of primary and elementary school children, (pp. 144-169). London: Falmer Press.

Smith, S.J. (1992). Studying the lifeworld of physical education:  A phenomenological orientation. In A. Sparkes (Ed.), Research in physical education and sport: Exploring alternative visions (pp. 61-89). London: The Falmer Press.

Lloyd R. J. & Smith, S. J. (2006). Motion-Sensitive Phenomenology. In  Tobin, Kenneth & Kincheloe, J. (Eds.) Doing Educational Research: A Handbook. Sense Publishers, pp. 289-310.

Articles

Lloyd, R. J. & Smith, S. J. (2005). A ‘vitality’ approach to the design, implementation and evaluation of health-related, physical education programs. AVANTE, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 120-136.

Smith, S. J. & Lloyd, R. J. (2006). Promoting vitality in health and physical education. Qualitative Health Research: An International, Interdisciplinary Journal, vol. 16, no.2, pp. 245-267.

Lloyd, R. J. & Smith, S. J. (2006). Interactive flow and exercise pedagogy. Quest, vol. 58, pp. 222-241.

Smith, S.L. (2006).  Gestures, landscape and embrace: A phenomenological analysis of elemental motions, The Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology, 6, 1, pp. 1-10.  http://www.ipjp.org

Smith, S. J. & Lloyd, R. J. (2007).  The assessment of vitality: An alternative to quantifying the health-related fitness experience, AVANTE, 11, 3, pp. 66-76.

Smith, S.J. (2007).  The first rush of movement: A phenomenological preface to movement education, Phenomenology and Practice, 1, 1, pp. 1-13.  http://www.phandpr.org/index.php/pandp

Research and Development Projects

As Director of Professional Programs (1997-2004, 2007-present), I have headed the creation and funding of new programs in First Nations Teacher Education ($75,000 from the BC Ministry of Education), the development of the New Canadian Teacher education program ($10,000 from Multiculturalism BC and $150,000 per annum from the Ministry of Education), and the design, development and implementation of the Professional Qualification Program ($200,000 per annum from the Ministry of Education), and a seven-year program with the University College of the Fraser Valley ($250,000 per annum).  I have developed and oversee an international student exchange program between the Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education (AHCOTE) and Sam Sharpe Teachers College in Jamaica ($500,000 bursary and operations budget).

Public Presentations/Conferences

Lloyd, R. J. & Smith, S. J. (2005) Military vs. Fluid Bodies: Cultivating Motion-Sensitive Pedagogy. Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE) conference, University of Western Ontario, May 28-31.

Smith, S. J. & Lloyd, R. J. (2005). A ‘Vitality’ Approach to the Design, Implementation and Evaluation of Health-Related, Physical Education Programs, CUPR Forum at CAHPERD, University of Regina, May 4-7.

Lloyd, R. J. & Smith S. J. (2005). Interactive Flow: A Pedagogical Addition to Csikszentmihalyi’s Model and Conception of Flow, Council of University Professors and Researchers (CUPR) Forum at the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Conference (CAHPERD), University of Regina, May 4-7.

Smith, S.J. and Milloy, J. (2005).  Ethical movements: The emergence of writing and teaching, 24th International Human Science Research Conference, 10-13th August 2005, Bournemouth University, United Kingdom.

Smith, S.J., Henry, T., and Joyce, S. and student teachers of the ITEM (2006).  Place centered pedagogy: Learning to teach in Mexico and Trinidad, WestCAST Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Feb. 15-18.

Smith, S.J. (2006).  Bodily bearings: The mimetic practice of teaching, SFU Faculty of Education 40th Anniversary Conference, Vancouver, March 2-4.

Smith, S.J and Milloy, J. (2006).  Vital contacts: Lingis and Multilingual movements,  26th International Human Science Research Conference, John F. Kennedy University, Pleasant Hill, CA, July, August 3-6.

Smith, S.J., Henry, T. and Lewis, S. (2006). Moving to teach: The pedagogics of an international teacher education placement, From SFU to the world and back: Weaving International and local perspectives, SFU Burnaby Campus, July 6-8, 2006.

Smith, S.J., Chin, G., L. Clapp & Plummer, L. (2007).  Teacher presence: Learning to teach in a kinetic language, WestCAST Conference, University of Manitoba, February 14-17.

Smith, S.J., Snowber, C, & Milloy, J. (2007).  Writhing, writing and riding: Phenomenological acts of an essential corporeality, 27th International Human Science Research Conference, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy, June 13-16.

Leadership, Faculty Service, Community Service

  • Member of Faculty Committees, including Executive, Appointments, Professional and Undergraduate Programs
  • Director, Professional Programs (1997-2004; 2007-present)
  • Coordinator, off-campus M.Ed. programs in Curriculum and Instruction and coordinator of the undergraduate PE Minor Program

University

  • Work with various Senate committees and Faculties in the development and delivery of Professional Programs.
  • Faculty review committee (2005-07)

Professional

  • Member: BC Teacher Supply and Demand Consortium; BC College of Teachers committees on Acceptable Degrees, Ongoing Collaborative Reviews, Forum Planning and Programs.

Scholarly Community

  • Consulting Editor for the Journal of Learning About Learning, 1988–1994, Phenomenology and Practice, 2006-present, the Canadian Association for Health Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Journal, 2005-present.
  • Reviewer, Teachers College Press and State University of New York press and various curriculum journals, including Teaching and Teacher Education: An International Journal of  Research and Studies, The Journal of Curriculum Theorizing (JCT), Journal of Curriculum Studies (JCS), International Journal of Physical Education, Policy and Pracice in Education, The Alberta Journal of Educational Research (AJER), Interchange, Qualitative Health Research, Journal of Applied Research on Teaching and Learning, European Physical Education Review and The Canadian Journal of Education.

Graduate Student Supervision

Theses Completed

  • 5 Ph.D. (senior supervisor)
  • 5 Ph.D. (committee member)
  • 17 M.A. (senior supervisor)
  • 12 M.A. (committee member)
  • Supervised approximately 50 M.Ed. programs

Theses In Progress

  • 4 Ph.D. (senior supervisor)
  • 4 Ph.D. (committee member)
  • 1 M.A. (senior supervisor)
  • 2 M.A. (committee member)
Last Updated
November 25, 2008
FOE