ERIC Number: EJ924714
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1740-8989
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Preparing Pre-Service Physical Education Teachers for Uncertain Future(s): A Scenario-Based Learning Case Study from Australia
Meldrum, Kathryn
Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, v16 n2 p133-144 2011
Background: A key aim of a physical education teacher education (PETE) program is to promote wide and deep knowledge, enabling students to establish connections and understand contexts within and beyond education, physical education and their life worlds. Most often PETE programs equip students with content knowledge and pedagogical strategies that help them address current challenges, but less attention is directed to helping the students anticipate future challenges and engage with opportunities they may face as teachers. Purpose: This paper presents a case study of scenario-based learning as it was implemented in a final year PETE program in an Australian university, as a means of preparing students for their future teaching careers. Participants and setting: Twenty-five final year pre-service physical education teachers enrolled in the culminating unit of their physical education degree. Data collection: Scenario-based learning was introduced to the students via class discussion and assigned tasks. Examples of student-written scenarios and reflection on the experience from the lecturer and student perspectives are analysed. Findings: Although the cohort found the process of scenario-based learning daunting the post-unit questionnaires revealed that it was a valued and valuable means of exploring professional issues they will face in the future. Scenario-based learning was a powerful tool of learning as well as modelling a pedagogy students could use in the upper levels of secondary school. Conclusion: This paper argues that scenario-based learning should be a key component of forward-looking PETE programs that encourage their graduates to solve problems about issues they may face as beginning teachers. (Contains 1 figure and 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Physical Education, Preservice Teacher Education, Foreign Countries, Physical Education Teachers, Beginning Teachers, Discussion (Teaching Technique), Case Studies, Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Questionnaires, Vignettes, Teaching Methods, Student Attitudes
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A