Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Glenn Hushman

Publication Date

8-27-2009

Abstract

Socialization is the process of gathering knowledge and constructing it in a social context. This gathering of knowledge is often acquired formally through an educational process or informally by interaction with other people (Capel, 2007). A physical education teacher goes through a socialization process where beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and teaching philosophies are influenced. The purpose of this study was to examine how pre-service teachers application of theory and practice learned during the professional teacher education program (PETE) was influenced by aspects of socialization while immersed in the student teaching practicum. Data were collected using a variety of qualitative techniques and analyzed using standard interpretive methods. Results revealed three major themes, 1) experiences in the recruitment phase and professional phase of the socialization process may have a profound influence, whether negative or positive, on how new practice and theory learned during the PETE program is applied during the student teaching practicum, 2) the transfer of theory learned during the PETE program to a realistic, practical educational setting may be greatly influenced by the environmental aspects and cooperating teacher at the student teaching placement and 3) the exiting theories of socialization may have a relationship with the theory of the conceptual change process. Implications for physical education suggest PETE programs need to address student misconceptions in order to assure transfer of quality physical education theories and practices to the student teaching practicum.'

Keywords

Physical education teachers--In-service training--Social aspects, Physical education teachers--Training of--Social aspects, Student teachers--Attitudes, Professional socialization

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Physical Education, Sports and Exercise Science

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences

First Committee Member (Chair)

Madsen, Anne

Second Committee Member

Barnes, John

Third Committee Member

Keyes, Tom

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