Service-Learning and Pre-Service Educators' Cultural Competence for Teaching: An Exploratory Study

2008 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen S. Meaney ◽  
Heidi R. Bohler ◽  
Kelcie Kopf ◽  
Lesley Hernandez ◽  
LaTosha S. Scott

Social-cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986) served as the framework to examine a physical education service-learning program's impact on pre-service educators' cultural competence. Participants included 53 undergraduates enrolled in two sections of Health and Physical Education for Children. The course's service-learning component provided pre-service educators opportunities to teach physical education to African-American and Hispanic children from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Participants described their experiences via daily logs, weekly reflections, and focus group interviews. Content analyses of the multiple data sources indicated that daily interaction with the children broadened participants' understanding of under-served children, changed their preconceived stereotypes, improved their language and communication skills, and impacted future teaching expectations. These findings suggest service-learning programs may valuably enhance pre-service educators' cultural competence for teaching.

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-19
Author(s):  
Judy K. NG ◽  
Tom CUDDIHY ◽  
Lena FUNG

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in English; abstract also in Chinese.The purpose of this study is to examine the theoretical relationships among the variables of leisure exercise efficacy, leisure exercise motives, leisure exercise barriers, and leisure exercise behaviors of university students using the social cognitive theory as a framework. The Model of University Students' Leisure Exercise Behaviors (MUSLEB) was hypothesized before data collection to investigate the theoretical relationships among the variables. Initially, a total of 331 university students were recruited for this study. Data were collected on two occasions using measuring instruments that included the Leisure Exercise Efficacy Scale, the Motivation for Physical Activities Measure-Revised, the Leisure Exercise Barrier Questionnaire, and the Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire. Participants were classified into Physical Education and Non Physical Education groups to examine their differences in leisure exercise behaviors. As no significant difference was found on the leisure exercise behaviors between the two groups at the end of the semester, all the participants were pooled to test the hypothesized model (n=172). The hypothesized model was found to be acceptable with x2 / df = 1.85, CFI = .98 and RMSEA= .07. However, in an attempt to test a more parsimonious model, all non-significant paths were removed from the model and a re-specified MUSLEB was analyzed again. The re-specified model provided evidences (x2 / df = 1.39,CFI = .98 and RMSEA = .05) that this was tenable and more parsimonious than the hypothesized model. Path analysis results showed that leisure exercise efficacy was found to be a significant and direct predictor of leisure exercise behaviors 3 months after the commencement of the semester. As hypothesized, positive and significant relationships were found between leisure exercise efficacy and leisure exercise motives. However, contrary to expectation, a positive significant effect between post 3-month leisure exercise efficacy and post 3-month leisure exercise barriers was observed. The investigators suggested the evidence gave support for the theoretical model hypothesizing possible external environmental cause on this phenomenon. Limitations and recommendations for the study are discussed.本文以「社會認知理論」為架構,研究大學生的"休閒運動信心","休閒運動動機","休閒運動障礙",和"休閒運動行為"的理論關係。作者假設了一個"大學生休間運動行為模式"去測試它們的關係。結果顯示"休閒運動信心"能夠成功地預測三個月後的"休閒運動行為"。而"休閒運動信心"和"休間運動動機"亦有顯著的正相關。不過三個月後的"休閒運動信心"和"休閒運動障礙 "卻出乎意料地有顯著正關係。此結果揭示了外在環境因素具潛在影響這個模式的可能性,作者還提出了此文的限制和建議。


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 713-730
Author(s):  
Nick O’Leary ◽  
Alison Barber ◽  
Helen Keane

Recognising the limited research around the use of cooperative learning in higher education, this case study sought to explore physical education students’ perceptions of learning using the jigsaw learning method. It examined the impact of two different aesthetic activities and two different groupings on students’ perceptions of their learning. A purposive sample of 36 third-year undergraduates was selected for the study. Data were collected using focus group interviews and reflective journals. Inductive analysis illustrated students’ perceptions of their own and others’ abilities, students’ empathy towards their peers, and how their perceptions of gymnastics and dance impacted on their perceptions of learning. Students felt that heterogeneous and friendship groupings have the potential to encourage high-order social and cognitive learning. However, those students with limited psychomotor abilities appear to be better served in friendship groupings to facilitate such learning. Students also favoured the ‘structured’ nature of gymnastics in comparison to dance for their own teaching and learning purposes. Irrespective of aesthetic activity or grouping utilised, students felt their psychomotor learning was limited. It is recommended that university staff consider using a mixture of groupings with a single cohort dependent on the practical ability of students and the use of more ‘structured’ activities. In doing so, students’ perceptions of their social, cognitive and psychomotor learning may improve and thereby encourage greater and more effective use of this innovative method in schools.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 1193-1210 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Williams ◽  
Shane Pill

This research investigated what the term Quality Physical Education (QPE) meant to Health and Physical Education (HPE) teachers in Australian Capital Territory (ACT) schools. A total of 14 HPE teachers who taught middle school or above, representing government and independent schools, took part in focus group interviews about their understanding of QPE and the factors that influenced their constructs. Figurational sociology and the concepts of interdependence, habitus, and involvement and detachment, were used to inform the research and interpret the findings. It was found that teachers’ accounts of QPE were largely informed by their individual and collective experiences and their personal ‘philosophies’ of physical education. With the exception of a recently introduced national curriculum for HPE, the teachers in this study did not use, or refer to, any evidence-based documents in forming their ideas about QPE. Further, they did not mention any recognised pedagogical approaches that they used in teaching QPE. The findings from this research are important, because ‘everyday’ or common-sense teacher understandings can negatively impact student learning and threaten the status and credibility of our profession.


2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (9) ◽  
pp. 5-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron A. Settle ◽  
Cindi J. Smith

In recent years, college health and physical educators have examined multiple teaching strategies that enhance students ability to learn state-required and nationally-required health and physical education standards and outcomes. Identifying such methods and implementing them into courses can be overwhelming and confusing to the college educator. Service learning is a teaching method that best fits into the experimental section of educational foundations. This is an educational method of teaching, learning, and reflection that easily merges traditional classroom curriculum with meaningful community service. This paper provides detailed discussion regarding the service-learning teaching strategy as well as step by step instructions for correct course implementation and optimal educational results.


Author(s):  
Jo An M Zimmermann ◽  
Jessica Dupree ◽  
Jan S Hodges

Service learning is a well-established pedagogy within higher education. Specifically, service learning allows students to engage in 'real world' activitites to practice skills and reflect upon their own competence. To enhance the effectiveness of service learning, instructors need to consider a multitude of learning influences. This study adhered to the tenants of the Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986; Schunk, 2004) to engage students in service learning activities related to entry level administrative competencies. Data analysis included a content analysis of reflection papers to determine how many times competencies expected of entry level recreation professionals were mentioned. Students percieved the acquisition of competencies consistent with entry level competencies identified within the recreation industry. Results contribute to the development of effective assignments to facilitate the acquisition of desired professional competencies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 363-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Galvan ◽  
Karen Meaney ◽  
Virginia Gray

Background: Although service-learning scholarship in physical education teacher education (PETE) programs has shown positive results, little is known about the reciprocal benefits of PETE service-learning programs on underserved students and physical education preservice teachers. Purpose: This study examined the impacts on students and teachers of integrating two physical education curricula within a service-learning program using a mixed-methods approach. Methods: A pretest–posttest design investigated changes in cardiorespiratory endurance training among students (n = 50). Reflective journals, interviews, and field notes assessed program impact on preservice teachers (n = 16). Results: Findings revealed a significant improvement in cardiorespiratory endurance among students, while qualitative data provide evidence of increases in general pedagogical content, knowledge of curriculum, and knowledge of educational contexts among teachers. Discussion/Conclusion: This study adds important reciprocity findings to PETE service-learning literature.


2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Gasper-Hulvat

Background: In a digital age, service-learning partner organizations can expand beyond geographical locations accessible to the students. Particularly within fields digitizing archival sources, including art history, many learning outcomes achieved in traditional on-site service-learning programs can also result from remote access to staff and materials at non-local partner organizations. Purpose: This study analyzed the impact of a remote service-learning project between an upper division contemporary art history course at a regional university in Ohio and the Archives of American Art in Washington, D.C. Methodology/Approach: Over 3 consecutive years, the students used digitized visual and audio archival materials to edit transcripts of oral histories for web publication. At the conclusion of the project, the students conducted focus group interviews to analyze their perceptions of learning outcomes. Findings/Conclusions: Qualitative analysis of the interview transcripts yielded four primary themes in the data: disciplinary understanding, transferrable skill development, critical decision making, and emotional knowledge. Implications: Remote service-learning can facilitate many of the same learning outcomes as on-site experiences.


2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Scrabis-Fletcher ◽  
Jennifer Rasmussen ◽  
Stephen Silverman

PurposeGrounded in social cognitive theory this study examined attitude and perception of competence and their relationship with skill practice in middle school physical education.Method:Participants (N = 81) were randomly selected from nine teachers’ classes. Two lessons were videotaped and students completed a middle school perception of competence survey (Scrabis-Fletcher & Silverman, 2010), and a physical education attitude survey (Subramaniam & Silverman, 2000). Student practice trials and task time were coded during skill instruction. A series of different analyses were conducted including descriptive, correlational, and multiple regressions to allow for in-depth understanding of the relationship of student practice and the psychosocial variables of perception of competence and attitude, along with the type and amount of practice occurring in class.Results:Analyses revealed interesting findings about how class time was spent along with a significant correlation for the total number of tasks and appropriate trials per minute and a low correlation between the psychosocial factors and practice variables.Discussion:Including more tasks may increase the number of appropriate practice trials. The sociocognitive bidirectional relationship however, is not predictive in nature and needs to be examined more discreetly from the student, contextual, and teacher perspectives.


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