Unit:
Department of Physical Education & Sport Science
Title:
TEACHERS’ VIEWS ON THE SCOPE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Languages of Item:
English
Abstract:
On the occasion of the national ministerial announcement concerning the prospect of employing Physical Education (PE) teachers in early childhood education as specialists in the field of PE as opposed to non-specialist teachers, this research sought to investigate teachers’ views on this issue. Taking Lawson's (1983) theory of occupational socialization as a sensitizing framework, we examined whether teachers' specialization and experiences of participation in PE influenced their perspectives on early childhood PE teaching. Twenty in-service early childhood education teachers (N=10) and physical education teachers (N=10), men and women, participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews and the thematic analysis technique were used to generate data. The results showed that teachers’ early involvement with PE helped establish positive attitudes towards early childhood PE. However, all 20 participants assigned a functional-practical value to PE rather than an educational one, something which was attributed to socio-cultural influences. For all, their professional role and responsibilities were perceived as distinct in the case that the ministerial announcement is implemented. Accordingly, they advocated for the establishment of interdisciplinary professional training programs as a prerequisite for employing PE specialists in early childhood education. The emerging early childhood PE literature could open up a myriad of opportunities for research in this field, always keeping in mind that the learning needs and interests of young children stay in the foreground.
Authors:
Ioanna DIAMANTI,
Aspasia DANIA,
Fotini VENETSANOU,
Irene KAMBERİDOU
Journal:
Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences
Publisher:
Pamukkale University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Turkey
Keywords:
TEACHER EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, OCCUPATIONAL SOCIALIZATION, QUALITATIVE, RESEARCH
Main subject category:
Education - Sport science
Official URL (Publisher):
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1234072
References:
Diamanti, I., Danıa, A. , Venetsanou, F. & Kamberidou, I. (Forthcoming). TEACHERS’ VIEWS ON THE SCOPE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences, DOI: 10.54141/psbd.1234072 (Acceptance date April 25, 2023)
