How does physical education teacher education matter? A methodological approach to understanding transitions from PETE to school physical education

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ABSTRACT Background In this paper, we will address the question of how physical education teacher education (PETE) matters and suggest one way to explore the potential impact of PETE. A distinguishing feature of the studies of PETE's impact on physical education is that they either include perspectives from preservice teachers involved in PETE courses or perspectives from physical education teachers in schools looking back at their education. Longitudinal attempts to follow preservice teachers’ journey from education to workplace, in order to grasp how they perceive the relation between teacher education and teaching practice in schools, and the transition between these contexts, are few and far between. This gap of knowledge is a missing piece of the puzzle to further develop PETE, and to inform life-long professional development for teachers. Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we develop and present a methodological approach for investigating the transition of content areas from courses in PETE into teaching practice in school physical education. Second, we will illustrate the potential utility of this methodological approach in longitudinal studies by showing how one particular content area, Assessment for Learning (AfL), was investigated through the use of methods and theories described in the first part of this paper. Methodology The suggested longitudinal approach involves Stimulated Recall (SR) interviews with pre- and postservice teachers, observations and communication with groups of students and teachers through social media. The construction, recontextualisation and realisation of pedagogic discourses regarding content areas are suggested to be analysed through a combination of Bernstein's concept of the pedagogic device and Ball's concept of fabrication. Results and Conclusions The longitudinal design and the suggested methodology can provide answers to how content areas are transformed in and between PETE and school physical education. A combination of the theoretical perspectives of Bernstein and Ball enables us to say something not only about how pedagogic discourses regarding content areas are constructed, recontextualised and realised in PETE and school physical education, but also about what content areas become in terms of fabrications in the transition between these contexts. To conclude, we argue that the methodological research design can be used to explore different content areas in PETE and that this methodology can contribute to knowledge about how PETE matters for school physical education.

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  • Cite Count Icon 4
  • 10.1080/17408989.2022.2153818
Exploring Movement Composition in the transition from physical education teacher education to school PE
  • Dec 7, 2022
  • Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy
  • Björn Tolgfors + 3 more

Background Scholars have suggested that students’ views of what is important for them to know as Physical Education (PE) teachers are a result of what is assessed in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE). Thus, there is a risk that students will reproduce content areas such as sports and assess sport-techniques without much critical consideration. In this study, however, the risk of reproducing what is prioritised in PETE is seen as an opportunity regarding the potential reproduction of other content areas than sports. Based on the regulative principles of PE and PETE that privilege sport skills and hinder creative movement learning, we focus on a content area in PETE that provides opportunities for students to engage in creative collaboration and examine how this content area is realised in school PE. Hence, we have chosen to explore ‘Movement Composition’, a content area which has a long tradition at one of the PETE universities in Sweden. Based on an overarching interest in whether and how PETE matters, this exploratory study focuses on the potential transferability of Movement Composition as a particular content area in the transition from PETE to PE. Purpose and research question The purpose of this study is to explore Movement Composition as a content area undergoing the transition from PETE to school PE. The research question is: How is the pedagogic discourse of Movement Composition constructed, recontextualised and realised in the transition from PETE to school PE? Methods Data was generated through an interview with one of the initiators of Movement Composition. Stimulated Recall interviews and Zoom interviews were also conducted with a group of five PETE students and three experienced PE teachers. In addition, documents such as the study guide, course literature, and written assignments associated with Movement Composition in the PETE programme were included in the empirical material. In the analysis, the combination of Bernstein’s pedagogic device and the Swedish didactics of PE research tradition was used to identify the pedagogic discourse of Movement Composition in the transition from PETE to school PE. Findings The findings show how the pedagogic discourse of Movement Composition as a content area is constructed, recontextualised and realised in the transition from PETE to school PE. The construction of Movement Composition as a pedagogic discourse in PETE is about how the content area (the what) is selected and organised for pedagogical purposes. The recontextualisation of Movement Composition is about how the pedagogic discourse is interpreted and translated in relation to the PE syllabus. The realisation of Movement Composition involves how the content area in PETE is implemented in PE practice. Conclusions This exploratory study has shown that what is articulated as a relevant content area and the way it is taught, learned, and assessed in PETE in many regards survives the transition to school PE. The transition from PETE to school PE does not only involve reproduction of sports and sport-techniques from one context to another. PETE also contributes to the use of creative, collaborative, and student-centred learning tasks in school PE.

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  • Cite Count Icon 4
  • 10.1080/17408989.2023.2230280
Physical education teachers’ assessment practices in health education
  • Jul 5, 2023
  • Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy
  • David Bezeau + 6 more

Background This article focuses on the assessment of health education (HE) in physical education (PE). PE is one of the school disciplines that can contribute substantially to educational actions in HE (Kirk, D. 2018. “Physical Education-as-Health Promotion: Recent Developments and Futures Issues.” Education and Health 36 (3): 70–75). However, studies conducted on PE teachers’ practices indicate that assessment in HE is challenging, even though it is mandatory in Quebec schools (Bezeau, D., S. Turcotte, S. Beaudoin, and J. Grenier. 2020. “Health Education Assessment Practices Used by Physical Education and Health Teachers in a Collaborative Action Research.” Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy 25 (4): 379–393). Few studies have focused on the assessment practices of PE teachers in HE, resulting in a limited amount of empirical data being currently available (Georgakis, S., and R. Wilson. 2012. “Australian Physical Education and School Sport: An Exploration Into Contemporary Assessment.” Asian Journal of Exercise & Sports Science 9 (1): 37–52). A well-planned assessment in which pupils are involved promotes their learning and makes them accountable for their own health (Leirhaug, P. E., and C. Annerstedt. 2016. “Assessing with new Eyes? Assessment for Learning in Norwegian Physical Education.” Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy 21 (6): 616–631). It is necessary to investigate PE teachers’ assessment practices in HE to improve the current scientific knowledge on the subject and to better understand the main challenges they face. Objectives This article addresses three research objectives that aim to determine: 1) assessment practices as reported by PE teachers who assess in HE, 2) the reasons given by PE teachers who do not assess in HE for not doing so, and 3) the perceived contribution of PE teachers to the development of pupils’ autonomy in health and well-being. Method 223 elementary school (pupils: 5–11 years old) PE teachers from Quebec (Canada) answered a questionnaire including five closed-ended and two open-ended questions specific to assessment practices in HE. A quantitative analysis of the data from the five open-ended questions was carried out using descriptive statistics in addition to a Kruskall-Wallis rank analysis (Howell, D. C. 2008. Méthodes statistiques en sciences humaines. De Boeck) with a Mann–Whitney post-hoc test (α < .05; Siegel, S., and N. J. Castellan Jr. 1988. Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (2nd ed.). Mcgrawhill). These analyses were conducted using five independent variables: 1) gender, 2) teaching experience, 3) number of schools where they teach, 4) contract status, and 5) socioeconomic background of the school. Also, the Goodman-Kruskall's G coefficient was used to analyze statistical associations between items. A qualitative analysis of the data from the two open-ended questions was carried out following (L’Écuyer, R. 1990. Méthodologie de l’analyse développementale de contenu : méthode GPS et concept de soi. Presses de l’Université du Québec) steps of inductive content analysis. Findings A large majority of the participants claimed to assess in HE (84.9%). They also mentioned respecting the official programs (87.7%), building tools to assess in HE (87.4%), assessing pupils’ progress (84.4%) and having an impact on their pupils’ autonomy in matters of health (74.9%). Those participants who worked in multiple schools assessed more in the short term (U = 2426, p = .028). Finally, those who did not assess HE (15.1%) mentioned a lack of feasibility and a lack of resources. Conclusion This study contributes to the scientific literature by focusing on an area for which there are few empirical studies and which represents a challenge for practical settings. The results show that a large majority of PE teachers assess in HE, while some face challenges that lead them to not assess this competency at all, even though it is mandatory. Based on these findings, we believe it is important to work with PE teachers to lessen the impact of these challenges on their assessment practices to help pupils’ learning.

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  • Cite Count Icon 23
  • 10.1080/17408989.2020.1834528
Aligning the principles of assessment for learning to learning in physical education: A review of literature
  • Oct 19, 2020
  • Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy
  • André Moura + 3 more

Background: A comprehensive international literature review on alternative assessment in physical education has been provided by López-Pastor et al. ([2013]. “Alternative Assessment in Physical Education: A Review of International Literature.” Sport, Education & Society 18 (1): 57–76). The authors remarked that while more authentic forms of assessment in physical education have been evidenced over the last three decades, the extent to which alternative assessment practices have become common practice in the teaching of physical education is yet to be established. Purpose: This review provides an updated perspective on the prevalence of assessment for learning (AfL) principles in physical education discourse since the 2013 publication. The intent is to inform and consider future AfL practices in school physical education and physical education teacher education (PETE) programmes. Methods: Eligibility criteria for the review required full-text articles written in English or Spanish; published (open access and/or in print) in peer-reviewed, academic and professional journals; and limited to the period 2013–2019. Inclusion criteria required articles to report assessment being used to promote learning in physical education, regardless of making reference to ‘assessment for learning’. Findings: Fifty-two articles met the inclusion criteria. A thematic analysis of these articles resulted in four themes: i) traditional positioning of assessment in physical education; ii) AfL and physical education; iii) the constraints in enacting AfL in physical education; and iv) how to most effectively embed AfL in daily physical education practices. Conclusions: The main conclusions of this review are that i) AfL is a learning-oriented assessment based on socio constructivist theories and integrated into the teaching-learning process, ii) physical education teachers continue to use assessment solely to grade students; iii) physical education teachers do not have the necessary skillset to use AfL in physical education successfully; iv) physical education teachers need to be supported to implement AfL; and v) it is necessary to consider how best PETE programmes can infuse AfL across the programme.

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  • Cite Count Icon 18
  • 10.1177/1356336x20949575
Between ideal teaching and ‘what works’: The transmission and transformation of a content area from university to school placements within physical education teacher education
  • Aug 24, 2020
  • European Physical Education Review
  • Björn Tolgfors + 3 more

The purpose of this study is to explore the recontextualisation of Assessment for Learning (AfL) as a particular content area in the transition between a university course and a school placement course within Swedish physical education teacher education (PETE). By combining Basil Bernstein’s pedagogic device and Stephen Ball’s performativity perspective, we alternately ask how AfL is constructed as a pedagogic discourse and what AfL becomes in different contexts within PETE. Nine students attending a Swedish PETE programme participated in the study. The empirical material was collected through one seminar and two group interviews at the university, as well as through nine individual interviews based on lesson observations at different school placements. Our findings highlight five recontextualising rules, which indicate that: (1) the task of integrating assessment into teaching enables the use of AfL; (2) an exclusive focus on summative assessment and grading constrains the use of AfL; (3) a lack of critical engagement with physical education teaching traditions constrains the use of AfL; (4) knowing the pupils is crucial for the use of AfL; and (5) the framing of the school placements determines how AfL can be used. As a consequence of these rules, AfL was transformed into three different fabrications: (1) AfL as ideal teaching; (2) AfL as correction of shortcomings; and (3) AfL as ‘what works’. One conclusion from this study is that increased collaboration between teacher educators and cooperating teachers in schools can help strengthen PETE’s influence on school physical education.

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  • Physical Education and Sports: Studies and Research
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Background: Effective education delivery relies on PE teachers’ abilities. Research indicates that students’ school performance significantly depends on the quality of PE teaching. Objectives: This study focused on assessing instructional capabilities in physical education. Specifically, it examined how school heads and teachers evaluated teachers’ abilities in content knowledge, pedagogical skills, communication, and professionalism. Additionally, the study compared assessments between the two groups. Methods: The study employed a descriptive research design involving 98 physical education teachers and 59 school heads from the Division of Batangas City. Data collection utilized a researcher-made questionnaire and interviews. Statistical analysis involved weighted mean and independent t-tests for data interpretation. Results: The assessment revealed valuable insights regarding PE teachers’ instructional capabilities. Administrators acknowledged strengths in lesson introduction and accurate content delivery. However, areas for improvement included integrating key elements and promoting higher-order thinking skills. PE teachers felt confident introducing lessons but recognized a need to refine performance demonstrations. Administrators praised diverse teaching methods but suggested creating more challenging experiences. Communication skills were positive, with room for improvement in grammatical accuracy. PE teachers expressed dedication to student physical education but identified a need for more decisive leadership in school-based activities. The findings highlighted specific improvement needs while emphasizing contrasting perceptions between administrators and PE teachers. Conclusion: The assessment found that physical education (PE) teachers are capable in delivering junior high school PE. However, they need familiarity with emerging trends to enhance instruction. School heads and PE teachers have differing views on instructional capabilities, attributed to assessment sources: administrators rely on scheduled observations, while PE instructors use self-assessment and daily teaching experiences.

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Investigating primary and middle school physical education teachers’ professional knowledge of Amhara Region, Ethiopia
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  • Education 3-13
  • Yeshiwas Dereb + 2 more

This study explored the status of primary and middle school physical education (PE) teachers’ professional knowledge competence (PKC) in the Amhara Region, in Ethiopia. For this, a quantitative research approach was employed and data were collected from 382 randomly selected PE teachers and analysed quantitatively. Findings revealed that the overall PKC of PE was low. Statistically, a significant difference was observed among PE teachers in their content knowledge (CK), pedagogical knowledge (PK), pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), and PKC. Female PE teachers, novice PE teachers, and rural PE teachers were less competent in their CK, PK, and PCK. Besides, unlike in their PK, degree-holder PE teachers have better CK, PCK, and PKC than diploma holders. Accordingly, due care and special intervention need to be given by the education actors in the recruitment, training, and deployment of PE teachers in Ethiopia.

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Teachers’ use of teaching games for understanding in Central Spain
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ABSTRACTBackground: A recurrent theme posited by academics is the lack of widespread utilization of Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) by physical education (PE) teachers in schools, particularly in the form it was initially described. Using TGfU in practice is challenging for many teachers impacting its adoption.Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate which features of the TGfU model primary and secondary school physical education (PE) teachers in Central Spain perceive they have incorporated into their games teaching practice.Participants: 199 PE teachers from Central Spain (52 females, 147 males) participated in this study (Mage = 40.16 years ± 8.26). 64.8% (n = 129) and 35.2% (n = 70) worked in primary (PS) and secondary schools (SS), respectively.Research design: A survey research design was used. Teachers completed an online survey to identify specific features of TGfU they perceived they used in their PE games teaching practice.Data analysis: Descriptive analyses of the survey data were conducted, alongside interpretative analyses using MANOVA and logistic regression.Findings: Central Spanish PE teachers reported not using the ‘full version’ of the TGfU model. The teachers believed using five of the six main features of TGfU worked best to achieve student learning in their current teaching context: (a) games as a pedagogical method, which promotes interaction between the teaching of technical skills and tactical awareness; (b) game modification; (c) questioning; (d) organization of lessons, units and the broader curriculum using tactical complexity; and, (e) use of thematic approach to games teaching. Results from logistic regression analyses indicated that the strongest predictors of whether Central Spanish PE teachers were likely to be teaching games in PE through TGfU were their use of tactical complexity as a way to organize their curriculum content progressions and the use of questioning. Finally, SS teachers incorporated the key features of TGfU into their games teaching practice more than PS teachers.Conclusions: Results of this study highlight the notion that Central Spanish PE teachers perceive the utility and quality of key features of TGfU differently, resulting in various pragmatic forms of TGfU in school PE.

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  • Medico-Legal Update
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Therefore, the researchers wanted to know the nature of the relationship between self-management and theprofessional adequacy of teachers of physical education in order to help those interested in teacher affairsto develop appropriate plans to advance the educational process. The research aimed to identify the realityof self-management and the professional adequacy enjoyed by the members of the research sample and toidentify the relationship between self-management and the professional adequacy enjoyed by the membersof the research sample and the percentage of the contribution of self-management in this relationship.The researchers used a descriptive approach to the survey method and correlations, due to its relevanceand the nature of the present study. Information and data were collected from the research community andrepresented by physical education teachers in middle schools of the General Directorate of Education forBabil Governorate. After collecting the data and statistically processing them, the most important conclusionswere reached:1. Physical education teachers in the schools of the Babil Governorate Center enjoyed good managementand high levels of professional competence in their field of work, which they assessed on the basis oftheir achievement.2. There is a positive correlation between the themes of self-management and the professional competenceof physical education teachers.3. Planning is the most important aspect of the self-management scale that contributes to professionalcompetence and the least areas of self-management contribute to professional sufficiency. The balancewas for teachers of physical education.

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  • Cite Count Icon 1
  • 10.58962/hsr.2023.9.3.40-49
Curriculum preferences of physical education teachers in primary schools: differences in length of pedagogical practice
  • Sep 17, 2023
  • Health, sport, rehabilitation
  • Štefan Adamčák + 3 more

Purpose. Curriculum preferences of physical education (PE) teachers in primary schools differ, depending on educational policy, local guidelines, and particular needs of students (pupils); therefore, the survey objective was aimed at determining the curriculum preferences of PE teachers in primary schools in terms of differences in length of pedagogical practice. Material and methods. Curriculum preferences of PE teachers in primary schools (survey instrument) was conducted 6 months (January – June, 2022), through the purposive sampling of size (survey group) of 1 300 (100%) PE teachers in primary schools: (i) Pedagogical practice ≥10 years (n = 518, 39.84%); (ii) Pedagogical practice ˂10 years (n = 782, 60.16%). Descriptive (e.g., percentage frequency, arithmetic mean), inferential (e.g., Pearson's r, chi-square test) statistics were used to evaluate (e.g., analyze, compare) the data. Results. Significant differences (0.01, 0.05) between the pedagogical practice ≥10 years (n = 518, 39.84%) and ˂10 years (n = 782, 60.16%) of PE teachers (n = 1 300, 100%) were as follows: (i) Curriculum preferences of PE teachers (χ2(3) = 77.75, p = 9.35E-17); (ii) Demanding teaching activity in PE teachers (χ2(4) = 29.34; p = 6.65E-06); (iii) Undemanding teaching activity in PE teachers (χ2(4) = 30.10, p = 4.68E-06). No differences (p˃0.05), between the pedagogical practice ≥10 years (n = 518, 39.84%) and ˂10 years (n = 782, 60.16%) of PE teachers (n = 1 300, 100%), were as follows: (i) Popular teaching activity in PE teachers (χ2(4) = 6.82, p = 0.15); (ii) Unpopular teaching activity in PE teachers (χ2(4) = 8.78, p = 0.06). Conclusions. Curricular reform in Slovak primary schools allows PE teachers autonomy (partial) in selecting the educational content (course) in terms of meeting the specific needs of students and learning environment, in consultation with board of education (school board) in terms of meeting the particular needs of students and learning environment, recognizing the importance of PE teachers' autonomy and value of tailoring education.

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  • Cite Count Icon 34
  • 10.1111/josh.12615
Health Literacy Teaching Beliefs, Attitudes, Efficacy, and Intentions of Middle School Health and Physical Education Teachers.
  • Apr 2, 2018
  • Journal of School Health
  • Hsiang‐Ru Lai + 3 more

Health education (HE) courses in schools are vital paths for improving teenagers' health literacy. HE and physical education (PE) teachers lead HE courses, and their teaching intentions and competency influence the effectiveness of the courses and the ability to promote students' health literacy. This study attempted to understand HE and PE teachers' health literacy teaching intentions and professional competency and to investigate their relationships. This study adopted a cross-sectional design. A questionnaire survey was administered to 906 middle school HE and PE teachers in Taiwan by mail, and 545 provided valid data with consent. Participants had a favorable health literacy (47.78/50), positive health literacy teaching beliefs and attitudes, and acceptable efficacy. They intended to implement health literacy instruction within the subsequent year. Teaching beliefs, attitudes, and efficacy were all positively correlated with intentions (all p < .001). Demographic variables, health literacy, and teaching beliefs, attitudes, and efficacy explained 33.5% of the variance of teaching intentions. Teaching beliefs, attitudes, and efficacy were crucial predictors of health literacy teaching intentions. To improve students' health literacy, educational authorities and schools should pay attention to HE and PE teachers' intentions and vital factors, thereby enhancing teachers' willingness to perform health literacy instruction.

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  • Cite Count Icon 1
  • 10.4103/mohe.mohe_19_21
Perception of physical literacy among secondary school physical education teachers
  • Jul 1, 2021
  • Malaysian Journal of Movement, Health &amp; Exercise
  • Chang Siang Cheng + 1 more

Introduction: Physical literacy (PL) is important among children and teenagers. Studies have shown that children with high level of PL tend to be more active and not only is an active lifestyle linked to lower risk of metabolic disease, it's also associated with better academic results. Physical Education (PE) curriculum in school is aimed to develop PL among school children and PE teachers plays an important role in achieving that goal. Although PE teachers are models of people with good PL, PE teachers in schools does not necessarily take this into account. Aim: The purpose of this study was to identify the level of perception PL among PE teachers in Malaysia. Methods: This quantitative study involved secondary school PE teachers (N=100) from Miri, Sarawak. Physical literacy was measured using the Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument (PPLI). Results: This study found that the overall level of PL is high among PE teachers (M = 4.23 ± 0.39) with no significant difference between gender, location and teaching experience. However, PE teachers who majored in PE have a significantly higher PL compared to PE teachers who were not PE majors. Conclusions: The significantly higher PL among PE teachers who majored in PE shows that they may be more suitable to teach PE. Whenever possible, PE should be taught by subject-qualified teachers for PE to be effective in developing PL among students.

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  • Cite Count Icon 1
  • 10.1080/17408989.2024.2374272
Japanese health and physical education teachers’ positioning in teaching Japanese language learners in high school physical education
  • Jul 3, 2024
  • Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy
  • Takahiro Sato + 8 more

Background In recent years, the number of Japanese Language Learner (JLL) students, or children who speak a language other than Japanese and require Japanese language instruction, has been rapidly increasing in Japanese schools. Successful inclusion of students who use Japanese as a second language in the classroom creates opportunities for all students to engage with multiple languages and learn new cultures, backgrounds, history, and aspects of diversity that help them strengthen their overall cognitive abilities [Sato, T., and S. R. Hodge. 2009. “Asian International Doctoral Students’ Experiences at Two American University: Assimilation, Accommodation, and Resistance.” Journal of Diversity in Higher Education 2(3): 136-148]. In particular, physical education (PE) is considered an academic subject that can be a powerful tool to promote peace, tolerance, and understanding by bringing people together across boundaries, cultures, and religions by promoting the concepts of teamwork, fairness, discipline, and respect for the opponent in a game or activity [Beutler, I. 2008. “Sport Serving Development and Peace: Achieving the Goals of the United Nations Through Sport.” Sport in Society 11 (4): 359–369]. The purpose of this study is to describe and explain Japanese high school health and physical education (HPE) teachers’ positioning of themselves and others, as shown through a storyline, when they teach and assist Japanese Language Learner (JLL) students in academic and social contexts. Participants and setting Seven HPE teachers participated in this study by sharing their thoughts, opinions, and experiences related to teaching JLL students in PE. The teachers had between 3 and 23 years of experience teaching PE, and 2–9 years of experience teaching JLL students in high school PE. Research design This study utilized a descriptive-qualitative design using an in-depth, semi-structured interview approach [Seidman, I. 2019. Interviewing as Qualitative Research: A Guide for Researchers in Education and the Social Sciences. 5th ed. New York: Teacher College Press]. A constant comparative analysis method was used to analyze the data. In this study, the process of constantly comparing data from several sources led to tentative categories that were compared to each other and to other data in order to construct categories. In this study, meaningful narrative phrases were those related to PE pedagogical content and teacher development. Findings Explainable by concepts in positioning theory [Harré, R., and L. van Langenhove. 1999. “The Dynamics of Social Episodes.” In Positioning Theory: Moral Contexts of Intentional Action, edited by R. Harré, and L. van Langenhove, 1–13. Oxford: Blackwell], three major interrelated and complex themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) teachers’ positioning in securing a safe learning environment for JLL students in PE, (b) teachers’ dilemma in assessing JLL students’ learning outcomes based on performance assessments and written exams in PE, and (c) teachers’ positioning in their responsibilities as both teacher and host parent. To enhance the quality of PE classes, school districts need clear and focused goals related to assessment and evaluation, instructional planning, and responsibilities involved in teaching JLL students.

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  • Cite Count Icon 2
  • 10.1080/13573322.2023.2281389
A PE teacher’s tale: journeying from teacher education to teaching practice in physical education
  • Nov 18, 2023
  • Sport, Education and Society
  • Björn Tolgfors + 3 more

As part of a longitudinal research project on the transition from physical education teacher education (PETE) to school physical education (PE) in Sweden and exploring whether and how PETE matters, this article uses narrative inquiry to ‘represent’ a PE teacher’s professional journey from PETE to the induction phase of PE teaching. The study focuses on his use of, and reflections on, ‘assessment for learning’ (AfL) at different stages of his teaching experience. The purpose of the study is to contribute knowledge about how positive experiences of AfL during PETE can enable the use of AfL in school PE for a newly qualified teacher. This is done by analysing one male PETE student’s reflections on AfL in the context of a campus-based course on PE assessment, his use of and reflections on AfL during his practicum, and in school PE as a newly qualified teacher. The data generation consisted of recordings of a PETE seminar, a stimulated recall interview with the participant during his final school placement, and two interviews with him in his role as a newly qualified PE teacher at two different schools. Through the PE teacher’s tale, we show how the campus-based course on PE assessment in PETE and the student teacher’s positive experience of using AfL during his practicum seem to have inspired him in his later positions. The results are discussed in relation to the perspective of occupational socialisation theory. This narrative inquiry suggests that PETE can make a difference for student teachers who are prepared to face the challenges of the induction phase of PE teaching and are able to navigate between the barriers that get in their way. We conclude the paper with some considerations regarding the study’s potential strength (trustworthiness), sharing (transferability) and service (usefulness).

  • Research Article
  • Cite Count Icon 58
  • 10.1080/17408980600986306
Physical education teacher educators' professional identities, continuing professional development and the issue of gender equality
  • Nov 1, 2006
  • Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy
  • Fiona Dowling

Background: Despite the evidence that many girls and some boys are regularly subjected to inequalities within school physical education (PE) in Norway today, and international research showing how physical education teacher education (PETE) courses often construct unequal learning opportunities for their students on the basis of gender, few teacher educators' ‘instructional discourses’ seem to reflect these findings about gender relations. In fact, there is very little empirical research available about PE teacher educators in general and how they develop their professional identities. Purpose: This study has aimed to illuminate the duality of structure of PE teacher educators' professional identities and of the social construction of gender in PETE. By gaining a better understanding of the way in which we are both structured by PETE culture, and yet at the same time structure the culture, PE teacher educators may be better positioned to combat discriminatory practices. Participants and setting: Four PE teacher educators (aged between 31 and 42 years, with 5–13 years of teaching experience in PETE) from three universities offering PETE in Norway comprise the ‘purposeful sample’. Research design: The qualitative study is based upon social constructivist theories of professionalism and gender. It asks: ‘Are PE teacher educators’ professional identities constructed as technical or moral projects?' and ‘How are gender, gender equality and equity constructed in PETE?’ Data collection: Data were collected via in-depth interviews (two per informant), researcher log books and policy documents. Policy documents were downloaded from university websites or provided by the informants (for example, course plans and literature). Data analysis: Data were coded and analysed using a ‘content analysis’ approach, in which emerging themes were identified in relation to what being a professional PE teacher educator means and how gender equality and/or equity are constructed within PETE. Findings: The PE teacher educators' identities in this study are closely linked to a performance identity and a desire to pursue a love of sport. Their professional knowledge is based on knowing ‘what and how’, rather than asking why PE students should learn certain things. Their identity projects can be classified as technical rather than moral: the teacher educators are not concerned with developing students as democratic citizens with an interest in social justice; rather, they are interested in the successful transmission of the ‘truths’ of PETE to tomorrow's teachers. They are mostly interested in PE didactics and show little, if any, interest in pedagogical theory. Gender is not perceived as an important factor in the learning arena; it is perceived as a biological given. The teacher educators seem to exercise autonomy in PETE and their practice can be characterised as private, rather than collective. Conclusion: The PE teacher educators' lack of a theoretical understanding of gender unwittingly leads them to perpetuate a discourse which discriminates against many young female and some male students in PETE. Today's neo-liberal, outcome-driven teacher education tends to strengthen the PE teacher educators' technical view of professionalism and provides little room for alternative professional identities. PE teacher educators may benefit from the sharing of self-narratives about our gendered, professional identities with the view to engaging in fruitful continual professional learning.

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  • Cite Count Icon 48
  • 10.1177/1356336x15590352
Student teachers’ understanding and application of assessment for learning during a physical education teacher education course
  • Jun 17, 2015
  • European Physical Education Review
  • Eloisa Lorente-Catalán + 1 more

There is widespread consensus on the need for assessment for learning (AfL) in both university courses and school programmes. Given the prevalence of traditional practices in school physical education where assessment is basic or non-existent, we might ask whether AfL is present in physical education teacher education (PETE) courses. Where it is, we may wonder whether the student teachers’ concept of AfL is consistent with the concept advocated for and developed in the literature and in policy. This paper draws on a qualitative study that was conducted on a core unit within a PETE course delivered by a university in England. Despite the fact that the students lacked a voice in framing their understanding and uses of AfL, we found that most students appeared to have grasped the concept, not just as a theoretical framework but also in terms of applying different strategies during their practice in schools. They reported that they found this knowledge relevant and useful, they recognised the need to learn more about it, and they also had the intention to incorporate this knowledge into their future professional practice. Given these findings, we conclude this paper with a brief discussion of why traditional approaches to assessment in school physical education appear to persist.

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