From Long Beach to Brazil: Dr. Michael Ertel Advances Inclusive Physical Education Through Global Motor Development Research
Congratulations to our very own Dr. Michael Ertel, Assistant Professor of Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) in the Department of Kinesiology, who presented his research on universally designed nonlinear pedagogy at the 7th International Motor Development Research Consortium (I-MDRC) in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil!
I-MDRC brings together international scholars to advance research on motor development, movement, and learning, with an emphasis on translating scientific knowledge into meaningful practice.
Beyond presenting his research, Dr. Ertel connected with leading scholars and explored new perspectives on motor learning, inclusive instruction, and assessment. These insights will help strengthen how we prepare future physical educators through coursework, teaching, and field experiences at °µÍøTV.
Dr. Michael Ertel's research examines how inclusive, learner-centered pedagogical approaches influence motor skill acquisition among students with and without disabilities.
"My work also explores pedagogical content knowledge, adaptive teaching competence, and practice-based teacher education to better prepare future physical educators."
Beyond the classroom and research lab, Dr. Ertel is engaged in service-learning, professional leadership, and community partnerships. His professional background includes teaching Health and Physical Education in Title I school districts, coaching elite-level youth and collegiate soccer and developing after-school and community sport programs that promote inclusion and access.
°µÍøTV used the Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI) to observe, code, and interpret game-play behaviors in real time—connecting decision making, skill execution, and tactical performance to meaningful assessment evidence.
"Experiences like this are an important reminder that becoming a strong teacher is not just about learning concepts," Dr. Ertel said. "It is about applying them, making professional judgments, collaborating with others, and learning through practice. And yes—you can work hard, think deeply, and still enjoy the process of becoming a teacher!"
