Physical education student teachers' experiences with and perceptions of teaching styles

Abstract

This study is aimed at examining physical education student teachers' experiences with, beliefs about, and intention to use Spectrum teaching styles in the future (Mosston & Ashworth, 2002). Two hundred and eighty eight Physicak Education student teachers participated in the study whereas data were collected using a modified and translated version of the questionnaire developed by Cothran, Kulinna, and Ward's (2000). Participants in the study reported that as primary and secondary education students they had been more frequently exposed to reproduction teaching styles in their physical education classes whereas exposure to what can be described as productive styles had been substantially less frequent. In terms of beliefs, student teachers participating in the study perceive that the reproduction teaching styles provide students with more opportunities for fun, learning skills, and motivation for learning. In addition, as physical education instructors in the future student teachers stated that they are keener on implementing teaching styles from the reproduction cluster. Finally, the finding of the study confirmed student teachers' conceptions about their students' learning process influenced by their prior experiences as school students. © JPES.