Preservice Physical Educators’ Epistemologies of Skillfulness

2000 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela C. Allison ◽  
Becky W. Pissanos ◽  
Adrian P. Turner ◽  
Denise R. Law

The constructivist theoretical tenet, that individuals create meaning based on the interaction of their previous knowledge and beliefs with currently experienced phenomena, served as the orientating framework for inquiry into a physical education teacher education program that emphasizes development of skillful movers as the primary goal of physical education. Epistemological stances on movement skillfullness held by 25 beginning preservice teachers were explored. Data were collected in a directed reflective format. Inductive data analysis revealed that these preservice teachers see above average ability, task commitment, and creativity as characteristic of being skillful. Their constructs of skillfulness were developed in contexts that include the human body in action, intermesh of movements, whole pattern of performance, presence of movement, the sociocultural event, and skillfulness as a backdrop for teaching. These findings informed the dialectic between teacher education faculty and students by creating avenues for shared understandings of the epistemological bases of the program.

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tan Leng Goh ◽  
Kristin Scrabis-Fletcher

Purpose: Physical education teacher education programs prepare preservice teachers to lead Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs. Through the coordination of a university’s physical education teacher education program and an elementary school, the purpose of this study was to examine preservice and in-service teachers’ perspectives in implementing a 6-week movement integration program. Method: A total of 12 preservice teachers participated in a weekly online discussion forum as part of a community of practice. In addition, the preservice teachers and three in-service teachers participated in an interview. Data were analyzed for themes. Results: The themes were facilitating implementation through support, sharing ideas for common practice, and overcoming challenges in implementation. Support received by the preservice teachers facilitated the implementation of the program. They also shared strategies to overcome implementation challenges through the weekly online discussions. Discussion/Conclusion: Fostering communities of practice among preservice teachers prepares them for collaboration and movement integration implementation in the future.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenn M. Jacobs ◽  
K. Andrew R. Richards ◽  
Zach Wahl-Alexander ◽  
James D. Ressler

Physical education teacher education programs are tasked with preparing students for a teaching career in a field that possesses inherent challenges. Purpose: The current study, designed as a descriptive case study, examined how an outdoor education field experience can facilitate important learning for preservice teachers about navigating sociopolitical relationships among colleagues and the greater school community. Method: Interviews were conducted with 13 preservice physical educators and the course instructor, in addition to field observations. Results: An outdoor education experience that includes opportunities to interface with and reflect on working with various stakeholders can help preservice teachers learn to navigate sociopolitics and persist through challenges. Discussion/Conclusion: Despite challenges, the nontraditional and intensive nature of the field experience, as well as the positive relationships developed with students, compelled the preservice teachers to find effective ways to collaborate and manage teaching roles.


1993 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doune Macdonald

This paper is part of a larger study which looked at the social construction of knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and practices in a physical education teacher education program. Through participant observations and interviews, texts of pedagogy were read in terms of their gendered discourses. Specifically the discourses associated with staffing patterns, students' physicality and body image, social interaction patterns, course knowledge, and research foci and how notions of ‘the body’ underpin these were examined. Analyses suggested that the female students were marginalised by the dominant discourses although there was resistance from some faculty and students. The conclusion is drawn that the teacher education program perpetuated masculine hegemony. It thus contributed to limiting the voice of women physical educators and the potential of all graduates to challenge the sexist structures within physical education and the teaching profession.


1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew C. Taggart

Clinical and field experiences in physical education teacher education programs have gradually been added to the student teaching experience to allow student teachers more opportunities to develop teaching skills. The quality of these experiences appears to depend largely on the many contextual variables the student teachers confront rather than the successful performance of the teaching skills being practiced. If beginning physical education teachers are to share in a pedagogy developed from research in classroom management, instructional time, and teaching strategies, and if teaching skills are to be developed specific to these areas, then repeated supervised practice in a variety of settings is needed. The teacher education program described contains a sequentially arranged pattern of nine clinical and field experiences culminating in the final student teaching experience. The essential features of the pedagogical experiences are detailed, emphasizing time engaged in practice teaching, teaching skill focus, supervisory/data collection focus, and pupil teacher ratio.


Author(s):  
Carlos E. Quiñones-Padovani ◽  
Clarena Larrotta

The qualitative research study explored in this chapter took place in a physical education teacher education program at a large public university in Puerto Rico. Study findings are relevant for similar programs in the United States. The research questions guiding the chapter are: (1) What can physical education teacher candidates do to help promote community health awareness? (2) What does transformational learning look like for physical education teacher candidates in a physical education teacher education program? (3) From the point of view of the university instructor, what are the challenges training physical education teacher candidates to promote health awareness? Data collection sources include: The researcher's journal, informal conversations with physical education teacher education university colleagues from different institutions, alumni questionnaire responses, electronic communications with 11 physical education teacher education program graduates, and documents (e.g., the National Association for Sports and Physical Education Standards, and the Physical Education Teacher Education Standards). The authors draw on transformational learning theory as a framework to inform the study, and narrative analysis plays a central role reporting study findings. The chapter includes the following sections: a theoretical framework section discussing how transformational learning theory informs the study; a relevant literature section that provides the definition, benefits, and connection with concepts such as physical activity, community health, and effective teaching in physical education; a qualitative methodology section that describes the study setting and participants; data collection sources and data analysis procedures; a study findings section that is organized by research questions; an implications for practice section; and conclusion.


2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 472-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendon P. Hyndman ◽  
Stephen Harvey

Purpose: Limited research has been conducted relating to the use of social media during health and physical education teacher education. The aim of this study was to investigate preservice teachers’ perceptions of the value of using Twitter for health and physical education teacher education. Methods: Preservice teachers completed a qualitatively designed survey. Thematic analyses were conducted via Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software, aligned to self-determination theory. Results: Twitter was perceived to be valuable for the following motivational components: (a) autonomy (choice over professional development, latest ideas, and learning flexibility), (b) relatedness (enhancing communication, tailored collaborations, and receiving practical support), and (c) competence (transferring ideas to classes, increasing technological competence, and keeping ahead of other teachers). Yet there were concerns due to Twitter’s public exposure to undesired Twitter users (relatedness) and how to navigate the platform (competence). Discussion/Conclusions: The study provides guidance to health and physical education teacher education providers on how digital learning via Twitter can meet preservice teachers’ learning needs.


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