Early Childhood Teacher Professional Development in Physical Education and Its Impact on Preschooler Motor Development

2021 ◽  
pp. 16-32
Author(s):  
Cristina Honrubia Montesinos ◽  
Pedro Gil-Madrona ◽  
Luisa Losada-Puente
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Motor Development ◽  
Early Childhood Teachers ◽  
Early Childhood Teacher ◽  
Personal Perspective ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Teachers Professional Development

Physical education in early years makes a unique contribution to the learning experience of children and support physical, cognitive, and social development. Teacher plays an essential role, but early childhood teacher professional development remains unclear. Literature review has shown that it is influenced by individual and social factors. Teacher professional development may have an impact on student motor development in this stage. The objectives of this chapter were to study early childhood teachers' professional development in PE and to analyze the influence and impact of early childhood teachers' professional development on their students' motor development. This chapter describes the results and conclusions of two different studies which have been developed. They highlighted that the variables that affect professional development are initial training and professional development, external perception of physical education, and personal perspective. Furthermore, findings have revealed that these three variables condition their students' motor development most.

Early Childhood Teacher Professional Development on Technologies for Young Children

2021 ◽  
pp. 102-126
Author(s):  
Lynn Hartle ◽  
Diane Bales ◽  
Katherine Gardner ◽  
Kelsey MacLeod ◽  
Megan DeFluri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Early Childhood Teacher ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Mandated Curriculum ◽  
Teacher Professional

Early childhood (EC) teachers need ongoing professional development (PD) to use information and communications technology (ICT) intentionally with young children. This chapter bridges the existing literature on PD best practices with additional interview data from EC teachers and higher education faculty. Three frames of influence on EC teachers' uses of ICT are discussed: personal – beliefs and comfort with technology; institutional – mandated curriculum, affordances of equipment, and ongoing personalized support; and societal – pervasive reliance on technology and influence on young children's future careers. The chapter concludes with PD recommendations for ICT that is content- and pedagogy-focused, based on research and policy, provides options for PD types and timing with follow up supports, and includes EC teachers in shared decision making for appropriate ICT practices in their classrooms.

Impact of Group Mentoring on the Professional Development of Early Childhood Teachers in a Shanghai Kindergarten

2020 ◽  
pp. 115-144
Author(s):  
Lingyun Lu
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Teachers ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Group Mentoring ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Traditional Mentoring ◽  
Teachers Professional Development

This study sought to discover whether group mentoring could serve the purpose for which it is intended in an early childhood educational context. As an alternative to the traditional mentoring model, group mentoring attempts to provide as much, if not more, instructional and emotional support as traditional mentoring relationships, which we assume to be conducive to teachers' professional development in Chinese early childhood educational contexts. In addition, group mentoring facilitates communication, collaboration and mutual growth in ways that traditional mentoring lacks. It also examined whether both mentors and mentees could be involved in the mentoring process as learners and as reflective educators on their journey of professional development, including developing their reflective and research capabilities. This qualitative case study focused on the impact of group mentoring on the professional development of four teachers in a Shanghai kindergarten. Within the theoretical framework of COP (Community of Practice), it was an investigation of how the group mentoring process, an alternative to traditional models of professional development, had an impact on the teachers in a changing early childhood education context in China. This study featured in-depth individual interviews with the four teachers (two mentors and two mentees), who are in the same mentoring group, and observations of their group mentoring activities. Data was coded and analyzed qualitatively. Major themes emerged from the study: the teachers' perceptions of the model, the benefits and challenges it brings, and its influence on their relationships and identity. The study aimed to gain insight into how group mentoring, a potentially optimal model, has exerted an influence on the teachers' professional development. This study concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings and areas for future research.

Supporting professional development needs for early childhood teachers: an exploratory analysis of teacher perceptions of stress and challenging behavior

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Stormont ◽  
Laine Young-Walker
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Teacher Perceptions ◽  
Child Behavior ◽  
Challenging Behavior ◽  
Teacher Stress ◽  
Early Childhood Teachers ◽  
Teacher Commitment ◽  
Teacher Survey ◽  
Teacher Professional

Abstract Early childhood teachers are a unique population of teachers and it is important to determine amendable factors that contribute to their stress. According to available research, challenging child behavior is associated with teacher stress and burnout in school-aged teachers. Given the lack of formal and coordinated in-service education and varied qualifications, early childhood teachers are particularly vulnerable to stress. Further, young children are more likely to have challenging behavior given their social-emotional developmental levels. The purpose of this study was to explore teacher characteristics and perceptions related to their stress, commitment, support, and challenging child behavior in their classrooms. Participants included 100 early childhood professionals. A teacher survey was utilized to determine their perceptions related to key variables. Regression analyses documented teacher commitment and challenging behavior in the classroom uniquely predicted variance in teacher ratings of stress and burnout. Commitment to their job was also a significant predictor to their perceptions of challenging behavior. However, only teacher stress/burnout predicted ratings of challenging behavior; thus, relationships among variables may be more complex. Teachers’ years of experience and education level were not related to other variables. For exploratory purposes, teacher professional development perceptions were also surveyed and results indicated that the vast majority of early childhood educators felt professional development was a good use of their time and that they wished more opportunities were available; however, most also indicated they felt training covered information they already knew.

scholarly journals Critical Incidents for Teachers’ Professional Development

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 82-88
Author(s):  
Khem Raj Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Critical Incidents ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
Future Reference

 Analysis of critical incidents is one of the approaches of teacher professional development. A critical incident is any unplanned event which takes place during the class. It is something we interpret as a problem or challenge in a particular context, rather than a routine occurrence. The incident is said to be critical because it is valuable and has some meaning. In other words, incidents happen but critical incidents are created because of their importance. Teachers can critically analyze any of their lessons and can make a particular event critical by reflecting on it. The teachers ask not only what happened but also why it happened. They then use the incidents for future reference. This article deals with the benefits of critical incidents and the ways to analyze them, which lead to successful teacher professional development.Journal of NELTA Surkhet,  Vol. 5 January, 2018f, Page: 82-88

Physical Activity in High School Physical Education: Impact of Lesson Context and Class Gender Composition

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole J. Smith ◽  
Monica A.F. Lounsbery ◽  
Thomas L. McKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Professional Development ◽  
High School ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Gender Composition ◽  
Instruction Time ◽  
High School Physical Education ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Lesson Context

Background:Physical education (PE) is recommended as a source for physical activity (PA) and learning generalizable PA skills. Few studies have objectively examined high school PE, specifically its delivery, including PA, lesson contexts, and class gender composition.Methods:We used the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT) to assess PA during 6 lesson contexts in 47 boys-only, 54 girls-only, and 63 coed lessons from 7 high schools. MANOVA assessed differences based on class gender composition.Results:Actual lesson length was 27.7 min, only 65% of the scheduled length of class periods. Students engaged in moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) 54% of the time, with boys being more active than girls. Game play was the most dominant context (47%), and little time was allocated to knowledge and skill development. Class size, lesson length, PA, and lesson contexts all differed by class gender composition (P < .001).Conclusions:Many differences in the conduct of high school PE are related to class gender composition. Boys accumulated more MVPA than girls. When held, PE lessons contributed about 25% of recommended daily PA minutes; improvements could be made by increasing allocations to fitness and skill practice and reducing transition and management time. Teacher professional development is warranted.

Comparisons of Academic Researchers’ and Physical Education Teachers’ Perspectives on the Utilization of the Tactical Games Model

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Harvey ◽  
Shane Pill
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Conceptual Understanding ◽  
Physical Education Teachers ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Academic Researchers ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Tactical Games ◽  
Teachers Perspectives

Research commentary suggests the utilization of Tactical Games Models (TGMs) only exists in isolated instances, particularly where teachers demonstrate true fidelity to these models. In contrast, many academics have adopted TGMs into their courses. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to investigate reasons for this disparity. Participants were 44 academics and 80 physical education teachers. Results showed that academics provided a myriad of reasons why teachers may not use TGMs, although all agreed on the need for increased teacher professional development in TGMs. Physical education teachers’ outlined that numerous competing versions of TGMs was confusing and they required more hands-on examples of TGMs. Results further highlighted disparities between academics and teachers’ conceptual understanding and pedagogical applications of TGMs. There is a critical need to create improved connections between academics and physical education teachers, which could be achieved through the extended examination of the micropedagogies of teachers practice in TGMs.

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