The Influence of Beliefs on the Professional Perspective of (Prospective) Physical Education Teachers
Katrin Strub's Dissertation Proposal
Physical education stands out among other subjects primarily due to the different physical environment in which it takes place, as well as the requirement that teachers develop not only physical and motor skills but also cognitive and social skills. To meet these requirements, certain skills of physical education teachers are discussed. These include the skills of selective attention, pedagogically grounded interpretation, and decision-making, which are (or can be) developed to meet the described requirements and are summarized under the concept of the “professional gaze.” Studies have already identified various forms of expertise, knowledge, and experience as factors influencing the “professional perspective,” but beliefs and experiences are also considered as additional potential influencing factors.
However, the exact extent to which the professional perspective of (prospective) physical education teachers differs based on varying beliefs has not yet been sufficiently clarified and will be examined through this research. Interviews conducted following the presentation of video vignettes depicting various everyday teaching situations form the methodological basis of the project. The interviews are supplemented with eye-tracking to gather and discuss even more data and insights. The aim of the research is to gain insights into the extent to which biographical factors influence the development of the professional gaze and, consequently, to derive insights for the training of physical education teachers.