Lance Johanson, M.Ed.

In conjunction with ongoing research projects at NASA in Houston, Dr. Conrad Johanson was invited by WW Samuel Early College High School in Dallas ISD, to hold discussions with Health students concerning neurological research challenges in spaceflight. As professor of Neurosurgery at Brown University in Providence, Dr. Johanson has taught and trained, over the past 25 years, students/faculty at various levels: undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral fellows, neurosurgery medical residents and… Show more

In conjunction with ongoing research projects at NASA in Houston, Dr. Conrad Johanson was invited by WW Samuel Early College High School in Dallas ISD, to hold discussions with Health students concerning neurological research challenges in spaceflight. As professor of Neurosurgery at Brown University in Providence, Dr. Johanson has taught and trained, over the past 25 years, students/faculty at various levels: undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral fellows, neurosurgery medical residents and neurosurgeons interested in basic research. Moreover, on numerous occasions, he has invited elementary and high school students to his research laboratories at the Brown Medical school to discuss professional opportunities in neuroscience and neurosurgery. He is constantly providing opportunities and presentations that encourage young people to consider biomedical research of brain disorders, in college and beyond.

As the scheduling turned out, Dr. Johanson was in Texas in early December, presenting his scientific work on nanomaterials for treating brain diseases; and later in Houston advising on a physiology and neuropathology project with NASA. He, along with neuro-opthalmologists and neurosurgeons, together with NASA life scientists are trying to resolve a health problem afflicting about half the astronauts returning from microgravity on orbit, i.e., elevated intracranial (cerebrospinal fluid) pressure on the brain. As a member of a scientific advisory board for NASA, he travels to Texas from New England every few months.

Two of the topics that he will discuss with the students include: the use of regulating neural stem cells in the brain (his research team has discovered a new brain hormone that helps to adjust neurogenesis and cognition repair after traumatic brain injury); strategies to prevent loss of thinking/memory processes as we age (related to Alzheimer’s disease); and, approaches involved to reduce fluid pressure in the brain. Show less

In an effort to promote higher level thinking with integrated technology sources, The Health and Physical Education Department budgeted funds to provide blended learning classrooms for Health and Physical Education featuring Chromebooks and Tablets. Skyline High School was chosen as the recipient to pilot the Chromebook Classroom program.

Due to the success of the pilot program, six additional chromebook classroom packages were purchased. Teachers interested in facilitating the unique… Show more

In an effort to promote higher level thinking with integrated technology sources, The Health and Physical Education Department budgeted funds to provide blended learning classrooms for Health and Physical Education featuring Chromebooks and Tablets. Skyline High School was chosen as the recipient to pilot the Chromebook Classroom program.

Due to the success of the pilot program, six additional chromebook classroom packages were purchased. Teachers interested in facilitating the unique program were asked to submit an application describing how the technology devices would support instructional pedagogy and increase the rigor in their classrooms. Show less

Developed the social media sites for Dallas ISD Health & Physical Education. These sites provide a platform for recognizing exemplary teachers as well as highlighting the many accomplishments of the Department. Sites are updated daily with student projects, school announcements and recognition efforts. They also foster interactions, discussions, and relationships with community… Show more

Developed the social media sites for Dallas ISD Health & Physical Education. These sites provide a platform for recognizing exemplary teachers as well as highlighting the many accomplishments of the Department. Sites are updated daily with student projects, school announcements and recognition efforts. They also foster interactions, discussions, and relationships with community partners.

www.facebook.com/DallasHPE
www.twitter.com/DallasHPE
www.youtube.com/user/DallasISDHealthPE
http://www.pinterest.com/DallasHPE/ Show less

The experiment is based on a grant proposal that I wrote while serving as a Health teacher and is titled: “Biophysical Principles Involved in Protecting the Brain against Physical Injury.” The objectives for this classroom experiment were for students to gain an appreciation of the complex anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system and to learn about the protective effects of the skull and cerebroventricular cerebrospinal fluid in buffering blows to the head. Exposure of the students… Show more

The experiment is based on a grant proposal that I wrote while serving as a Health teacher and is titled: “Biophysical Principles Involved in Protecting the Brain against Physical Injury.” The objectives for this classroom experiment were for students to gain an appreciation of the complex anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system and to learn about the protective effects of the skull and cerebroventricular cerebrospinal fluid in buffering blows to the head. Exposure of the students to this subject might even kindle the desire to look ahead for a possible career in bioengineering. Show less

Planning for the Advanced Health Class that I created and revived at Nimitz High School
was based on encouraging discussions with Dr. Sandi Cravens, the Health and Physical
Education Coordinator for IISD. We discussed the need and desirability for this advanced level
course at Nimitz. The Advanced Health Class focused on advanced principles in kinesiology
and lifetime fitness, one of the District goals. Students received instruction in the classroom
followed by activity-based… Show more

Planning for the Advanced Health Class that I created and revived at Nimitz High School
was based on encouraging discussions with Dr. Sandi Cravens, the Health and Physical
Education Coordinator for IISD. We discussed the need and desirability for this advanced level
course at Nimitz. The Advanced Health Class focused on advanced principles in kinesiology
and lifetime fitness, one of the District goals. Students received instruction in the classroom
followed by activity-based learning for reinforcement of key topics. Opportunities were then
given to the students to create Health and PE projects that they could present to elementary
students in the District, as well as the Life Skills students on the Nimitz Campus. The
excitement generated from this advanced class motivated current students in regular Health
classes to achieve the higher grades required for advanced study.

To prepare for the offering of this revived course, many steps had to be taken. I met with
counselors to propose the idea of an elective course that would extend regular Health Education.
After creating an outline and abstract of the course objectives, I then met with Dr. Cravens to
purchase a curriculum. A video was constructed using a video-editing program to advertise the
class to current students. Playing the video during morning announcements generated
enthusiasm for the new course. The summer before implementation, I contacted the scheduling
vice-principal to request that the class periods not occur during the main sports athletic periods 1,
4 and 8 to prevent conflicts with gymnasium usage. The substantial interest in this advanced
class necessitated multiple sections.
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A memorable health science-related accomplishment was the development of the Nimitz
lacrosse program in Irving ISD. It was my good fortune to bring the sport of lacrosse to Nimitz
High School, by way of the 21st Century Learning Grant. This federal award provided moral and
professional support for students to prepare them to attend college and achieve full potential
through academic enrichment. This levels the ‘playing field’ for low-income students, often the
first in their… Show more

A memorable health science-related accomplishment was the development of the Nimitz
lacrosse program in Irving ISD. It was my good fortune to bring the sport of lacrosse to Nimitz
High School, by way of the 21st Century Learning Grant. This federal award provided moral and
professional support for students to prepare them to attend college and achieve full potential
through academic enrichment. This levels the ‘playing field’ for low-income students, often the
first in their families to attend college. The 21st Century Grant reinforces study and
organizational skills, encourages more rigorous classes, and provides confidence-building skills
to succeed in teamwork. Student players, parents, and I have struggled through many challenges
to develop the Lacrosse Club. Our combined efforts culminated in improved classroom
attendance, participation in after-school tutoring, and admittance into a competitive league.
Significantly, the lacrosse endeavors fostered student physical fitness and increased motivation
in the classroom.

It was exciting to ‘pioneer’ the development of lacrosse in the Irving district. The Nimitz
Lacrosse team is leading the way for other public schools to provide this sport, with its attendant
educational opportunities, to students citywide. Consequently the 21st Century Grant has been an
ideal mechanism to coordinate health science education and athletics at Nimitz, in order to
encourage the students with a lifestyle for academic and, eventually, professional success. Part
of my teaching philosophy was to impart leadership skills to students. This could be exemplified
by my Lacrosse players ‘teaching’ athletic skills to Special Olympians at the Dallas Cowboy
football stadium, two years ago, where we all engaged in lacrosse activities on the field. This
experience was especially appreciated by the Nimitz families represented in Lacrosse. I
increasingly appreciate family support of student educations. Show less

The rationale for writing this grant was to provide my students with an appreciation of the complex structures of the anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system, including the various brain regions and ventricles that contain the CSF (Cerebrospinal Fluid); to learn about the protective effect of the skull and ventricular CSF in buffering blows to the head; to analyze the forces involved in shearing and accelerative injuries; and to appreciate the value of wearing helmets in athletics… Show more

The rationale for writing this grant was to provide my students with an appreciation of the complex structures of the anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system, including the various brain regions and ventricles that contain the CSF (Cerebrospinal Fluid); to learn about the protective effect of the skull and ventricular CSF in buffering blows to the head; to analyze the forces involved in shearing and accelerative injuries; and to appreciate the value of wearing helmets in athletics and safety belts in vehicles. Show less