Our people - Dr Graham Dodd
For
as long as I can remember I have been passionate about human
movement and play, and it’s probably why I pursued a career in
health and physical education (PE) and exercise science.
Many early influences – parents, teachers and coaches - enhanced my understandings of the development of identity, personal confidence and self-esteem through the medium of physical activity. This led to my lifelong passion to make and promote learning as a moving experience.
I strongly support the view that our development is a dynamic, interactive process that begins with our genetic endowment and unfolds over time as a result of experiences with the social, spiritual and physical environment unique to each of us. I have always been interested in how human motion specifically contributes to learning, healthy growth, motor development, personal health, wellbeing, and building strong positive individual and group identities.
I am honoured that the Carrick Institute citation "for sustained commitment and innovative leadership in the development and implementation of student-centred programs in human movement and physical education" has acknowledged my commitment to develop courses, programs, teaching and community resources that reflect my passion for, and understanding of, learning through human movement over a career spanning some 40 years to date.
Before joining UniSA in 1990, I was a PE teacher, PE curriculum adviser and writer in the SA Education Department. Then as national coordinator and principal writer, I developed daily PE programs for all primary school grades.
I also co-founded the first Kindergym and Physical Education Week in Australia, and set up the company TriSkills.
My focus on active learning continues at UniSA, having been a program director of the double degree in health and physical education, and the human movement and health studies programs.
Job satisfaction for me is the glow on the faces and enthusiasm that I try to engender in students by helping them to connect with the role of human motion in healthy wholesome human development.
I believe that being interested in, and having an affinity for, students is fundamental to teaching. It is important to enjoy what you do and to make learning relevant and engaging for them.
By getting students involved in movement, they learn better because they use more of their senses that enrich learning.
I live the way I teach, by trying to be active and exercising every day to stay grounded with myself and life.
Dr Graham Dodd is in the School of Health Sciences.