Trainee primary teachers' beliefs and practices about physical education during student teaching

Abstract

Background: In exploring the complexity of teaching, scholars have suggested that greater attention needs to be paid to the teachers' thoughts and actions and to how these affect quality teaching. Up to today, very few studies have investigated the relationship between teachers' beliefs and practices even though it has an important role to play in teaching. Whilst general research on primary teachers in physical education has been conducted, no research has yet specifically described trainee primary teachers' beliefs and practices about physical education. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe two trainee primary teachers' beliefs and practices in physical education during their student teaching. Participants and setting: Two trainee primary teachers, Marita and Anna, who attended a university in Cyprus, voluntarily participated in the study. Marita and Anna were in the fourth year of their programme during their student teaching course and they had already taken a compulsory methodology course on teaching elementary physical education and the course on early field experiences. Data collection: Data were collected through interviews (formal and informal), field observations, journals and document analyses (unit and lesson plans). Data analysis: Data from all sources were analysed inductively via individual-case and cross-case analysis. Data sources were analysed individually for each participant and then compared across data sources. Through multiple and careful examination of the data, the key links, properties, themes, and patterns in the data were identified in order to locate common categories... ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR