Becoming a health and physical education teacher: Student teacher ‘performances’ in the HPE subject department office

This study considered how physical education teacher education students ‘perform’ their ‘selves’ within subject department offices during the practicum or ‘teaching practice’. The research was framed by a conceptual framework informed by the work of Goffman on ‘performance’ and ‘front’. The findings revealed three common performances across the whole group across all sites. These were: performance of sports talk, bodily performances, and performance of masculine repertoires. Such performances were considered to be inconsistent with the coursework ideals and principles within the teacher education programme but in step with the general ethos of most PE department offices.

The social tasks of learning to become a physical education teacher: Considering the HPE subject department as a community of practice

Initial teacher education (ITE) students participate in various workplaces within schools and in doing so, form understandings about the numerous, and at times competing, expectations of teachers’ work. Through these experiences they form understandings about themselves as health and physical education (HPE) teachers. This paper examines the ways communities of practice within HPE subject department offices function as sites of workplace learning for student teachers. In particular this research focused on how ITE students negotiate tacit and contradictory expectations as well as social tasks during the practicum and the ways in which their understandings are mediated through participation in the workspace. Qualitative methods of survey and semi-structured interview were used to collect data on a cohort of student teachers during and following their major (10 week) practicum experience. Analysis was informed by theories of communities of practice (Wenger, 1998), workplace learning (Billett, 2001), and social task systems (Doyle, 1977). It was evident that considerable effort, attention, and energy was expended on various interrelated social tasks aimed at building positive relationships with their supervisor and other HPE teachers at the school. The social dynamics were highly nuanced and required a game-like approach. In our view the complexity that student teachers must negotiate in striving for an excellent evaluation warrants specific attention in physical education teacher education (PETE) programs. This study raises questions regarding our responsibilities in sending student teachers into contexts that might even be described as toxic. We offer some suggestions for how PETE might better support students going into practicum contexts that might be regarded as problematic workplaces.

The Department of Transportation long-range forecast model. Final report.

Transportation Department, Office of Intermodal Transportation, Washington, D.C.

A comprehensive policy to ameliorate adverse effects of transportation facilities. Appendix.

Transportation Department, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety, and Consumer Affairs, Washington, D.C.

Rolling resistance of tires measured under transient and equilibrium conditions on Calspan's tire research. Final report.

Transportation Department, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Systems Development and Technology, Washington, D.C.

A summary of opportunities to conserve transportation energy. Final report. Revised.

Transportation Department, Office of Transportation Energy Policy, Washington, D.C.

Truck noise IV-G. Field test results on a heavy duty, diesel truck having reduced noise emissions. Seventh report.

Transportation Department, Office of Noise Abatement, Washington, D.C.

An implementation guide for juvenile holdover programs.

Mode of access: Internet.

An investigation of truck size and weight limits - technical supplement. Volume I: analysis of truck payloads under various limits of size, weight and configuration. Final report.

Transportation Department, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, Washington, D.C.

An investigation of truck size and weight limits - technical supplement. Volume 2: truck and rail cost effects of truck size and weight limits. Final report.

Transportation Department, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, Washington, D.C.

An investigation of truck size and weight limits - technical supplement. Volume 3: truck and rail fuel effects of truck size and weight limits.

Transportation Department, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, Washington, D.C.

Application of active and passive suspension techniques to improve high speed ground vehicle performance - phase II. Final report.

Transportation Department, Office of University Research, Washington, D.C.

The development of UTCS/NETSIM/ICG: an integrated urban traffic control system - network simulation - interactive computer graphics program. Final report.

Transportation Department, Office of University Research, Washington, D.C.

The benefits from improved investment rules: a case study of the interstate highway system. Final report.

Transportation Department, Office of University Research, Washington, D.C.

The interstate highway trade-in program. Volume 1 - assessment. Final report.

Transportation Department, Office of University Research, Washington, D.C.