Browsing by Subject "Pre-service physical education teachers"

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Pre-service physical education teacher attitudes toward school-based health-related fitness testing and the professional preparation for using fitness tests through physical education teacher education programs
(2020-07-30) Liu, Xiaolu; Keating, Xiaofen; Harrison, Louis; Liu, Min; Liu, Jingwen
The primary purpose of this project was to explore pre-service physical education teacher (PPET) attitudes toward health-related fitness testing (HRFT). The secondary purpose was to examine HRFT preparation in physical education teacher education (PETE) programs from faculty members’ perspectives. Three studies were implemented using a parallel mixed-method approach. The first study used a survey research method to investigate American PPETs’ attitudes toward HRFT and the differences in demographic variables. The results from a total of 501 participants indicated slightly positive overall attitudes toward HRFT among American PPETs. Moreover, PPETs’ previous experience with fitness tests had significant effects on all aspects of attitudes. Senior PPETs had significantly higher scores in overall attitudes and belief in the importance of fitness tests than those for sophomore PPETs. Caucasians had a significantly lower score in the enjoyment of fitness tests than Native Americans. No gender difference was found. The second study conducted inter-country comparisons regarding PPET attitudes toward HRFT. The findings from a total of 1267 participants (N Chinese = 766; N American = 501) indicated that Chinese PPETs had more positive overall attitudes than American PPETs. Specifically, Chinese PPETs had higher scores in the cognitive component of attitude but lower scores in the affective component than their American PPETs counterparts. PPETs’ characteristics such as gender, year in university, and previous experience with fitness tests all had significant main effects on attitudes toward HRFT between Chinese and American PPETs. The third study explored PPET preparation for HRFT in PETE programs in the state of Texas, where Fitness testing is mandated by the state law. The perspectives from seven PETE faculty members through in-depth interviews, online surveys, and document analysis emerged in four themes: (a) Required courses are the primary means for preparing PPETs to use HRFT, but barriers (e.g., a lack of time devoted to HRFT content) existed; (b) PETE faculty members modeled the use of HRFT. However, cooperating teachers can negatively influence faculty’s role in HRFT preparation; (c) PPETs explored the use of HRFT in PETE programs through peer teaching and testing activities; and (d) field-based experiences in local schools for HRFT preparation were lacking. The findings of the study provide PETE programs with insights on how to better prepare PPETs for HRFT in the future.
Pre-service physical education teachers’ experience of fitness testing in educational settings
(2023-04-19) Doherty, Brooke Elizabeth; Keating, Xiaofen; Salinas, Cinthia; Davila, Denise; Naumann, Tracey
Health-related fitness testing (HRFT) is not often utilized in the college setting, despite studies showing a sharp decline in physical activity (PA) between high school and college. The designed goal of HRFT is to motivate students to lead healthy and active lives. In K-12, research has identified the school physical education (PE) teachers as having a vital role in administering and setting the tone for the testing process. Due to the impact that PE teachers can have on their students, it is important to examine pre-service physical education teachers (PPETs)’ experiences and preparation of HRFT implementation. However, to date, our understanding about this topic is very limited. As such, there is a need to examine this strand of research to understand if PPETs are adequately prepared to administer HRFT, in a state where has required HRFT by the state of law. The purpose of this study was to investigate PPETs’ previous and current perceptions on HRFT in schools and their level of readiness for implementing HRFT in the field. Guided by the dilemma theory, through semi-structured interviews, field observations, online discussions, and an online questionnaire, data were gathered from three PPETs enrolled in a large state university. A constant content comparison method was used to analyze the data. The following themes emerged. The first main theme, highlighting the conceptual dilemma, positive fitness testing perceptions based on appreciation for PA in K-12 programs with the lack of a thorough understanding about the real purposes of fitness testing, had one subtheme: (a) outstanding fitness testing and PA experience from athletics instead of PE, and lack of a deep understanding of the purposes of fitness testing. The second main theme, related to both the conceptual and pedagogical dilemmas, PETE provided strong content knowledge and teaching practices concerning HRFT in PE programs had two subthemes: (a) PPETs understand the fitness testing content and (b) PPETs learned how to grade student fitness testing performance. The third and final main theme, grounded in the pedagogical, cultural, and political dilemmas, lack of preparation for administering fitness testing in the field had three subthemes: (a) PPETs struggle to identify potential barriers and solutions with stakeholders and administration, (b) PPETs lack differentiation skills and motivation, and (c) PPETs had few opportunities to observe cooperating teachers (CTs’) HRFT practice during their student teaching. The results showed that the PPETs each had a positive experience HRFT as a child and developed content knowledge and teaching skills through the Physical Education Teacher Education program at their university. However, significant gaps in their learning were identified, most notably due to a lack of HRFT observations and field experience during their student teaching. It is concluded that the PPETs are not well prepared to administer HRFT on their own in the field or accommodate for a diverse group of students with different backgrounds and interests.