Getting the Tip of the Pen on the Paper: How the Spectrum of Teaching Styles Narrows the Gap between the Hope and the Happening
Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 2022, Volume 41, Issue 4, Pages 640-649
University of Southern Queensland
Flinders University
University of Canberra
University of Canberra
Purpose: In response to the limitations with what has been termed a “traditional” Physical Education method, in the last decade Models-Based Practice (MBP) has emerged as an alternative. However, these limitations were recognized by Mosston in 1966 and from which The Spectrum of Teaching Styles (The Spectrum) was presented as a means toward a more obvious educative focus in Physical Education. We propose that The Spectrum provides a bridge between the hope and happening of MBP suggested by Casey and colleagues. Method: Using a qualitative narrative approach, we construct a fictional discussion between two academics (one from a country with centralized, mandated curriculum and one without) through which to navigate the mythical island of quality Physical Education in order to analytically frame The Spectrum and the “happening” of teacher’s implementation of MBP. Use of a fictional dialogue as a qualitative instrument enabled us to be provocative through the posing of questions in a novel fashion. Results: We suggest adopting a nonversus perspective reorients the view of model fidelity and, The Spectrum provides the “how” or micropedagogies to close the gap between the “hope” and the “happening.” Conclusion: This conversation is timely considering reservations about the successfulness of “second-generation” MBP exist in the literature and evidence of the continuation of the historically common Physical Education method despite its well-recognized limitations.
Physical Education Teachers’ Use of Digital Game Design Principles
Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 2021, Volume 40, Issue 1, Pages 1-9
Associate Professor, College of Education, Psychology, and Social Work, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia.
Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Arts and Education Department, Charles Sturt University, Australia.
Senior Lecturer (Health and Physical Education), School of Education, University of Southern Queensland, Australia.
Assistant Professor, Department of Health & PE and Teacher Education, University of Canberra, Australia.
Purpose: The research applies a multidisciplinary perspective to create knowledge and insight about the opportunities that digital game design principles offer to physical education (PE) pedagogy. <br>Methods: Data were initially collected through an appreciative inquiry (AI). AI offers an alternative research perspective to critical theory that has dominated the investigation of the work of PE teachers. This study uniquely used AI with a narrative approach and multidisciplinary analysis to examine two teachers’ use of digital game design pedagogy in PE. Results: It was found that the teachers were motivated to use digital game design principles to provide students with means to solve problems, manage learning motivations, evaluate progress, and gain control over their learning in ways that are not normally associated with the common PE method. Conclusion: The two examples provided illustrate the generative potential of AI research combined with a multidisciplinary perspective directed at examples of pedagogical change in PE.
Higher-Order Factors and Measurement Equivalence of the Spectrum of Teaching Styles’ Questionnaire across Two Cultures
Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 2021, Volume 40, Issue 2, Pages 245-255
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece.
Faculty Member, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece.
Faculty Member, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece.
Vice Chairman, Faculty of Sports Sciences - Physical Education and Sports Department, Pamukkale University, Turkey.
Professor Emeritus, College of Health Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, U.S.
Purpose: This study aimed to test the invariance of perceptions of the Spectrum teaching styles across Turkish and Greek preservice physical education teachers and to examine whether the styles could be classified into two clusters through self-determination theory. Greek (n = 298) and Turkish (n = 300) preservice teachers participated. Method: Cothran, Kulinna, and Ward’s questionnaire based on teachers’ use of and beliefs about teaching styles was used to examine their perceptions of the styles. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis revealed 11 factor indices and parameter estimates, suggesting that the 11-factor model fit the data. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis established metric measurement invariance across samples. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis showed that, for all higher-order models, the minimum requirement for invariance factor loading was met. The model comparison revealed that the styles could be categorized into four clusters from less to more autonomy-oriented. Conclusion: These findings might be useful to practitioners who want to use teaching styles in the promotion of students’ motivation in physical education.