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Adopting a models-based approach to teaching physical education

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journal contribution
posted on 2017-12-11, 13:45 authored by Ashley CaseyAshley Casey, Ann MacPhail
Background: The popularised notion of Models-based practice (MBP) is one that focuses on the delivery of a model, e.g. Cooperative Learning, Sport Education, Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility, Teaching Games for Understanding. Indeed, while an abundance of research studies have examined the delivery of a single model and some have explored hybrid models, few have sought to meaningfully and purposefully connect different models in a school’s curriculum (see Kirk, 2013; Lund and Tannehill, 2015; Quay and Peters, 2008). Significantly none, to date, have empirically investigated broader notions of MBP that make use of a range of different pedagogical models in/through the PE curriculum (Kirk 2013). Aim: To provide a first empirical insight into using a MBP approach involving several models to teach physical education. At its heart, this paper presents the reader with the realistic and nuanced challenges that arise in striving towards, engaging with, planning for, and enacting a broader, multimodel notion of MBP. Method: While the study itself was broader, we focus primarily on three units (one using Cooperative Learning, one using a Tactical Games / Cooperative Learning hybrid and a third using Sport Education) taught to boys in two different age groups (i.e. 11-12 and 14-15). Two analytical questions inform and guide our enquiry: (1) What do we learn about MBP implementation through this project that would help other physical education practitioners implement a multimodel MBP approach? and (2) What are the key enablers and constraints of early MBP implementation? Data sources included (a) 21 semi-structured interviews with student groups, (b) teacher post lesson and post unit reflective analyses, (c) daily teacher reflective diaries and, (d) teacher unit diaries. Data were analysed comparatively considering the two analytical questions. Results: The data analysis convey strong themes around the areas of teacher and student prior learning, working toward facilitating a change in practice, sufficient time to consider changes in practice, and changing philosophies and practices. The results suggest that the consistent challenge that arose for the teacher towards the goal of adopting a MBP approach was the reduction of their overt involvement as a teacher. While the teacher bought into the philosophy of multimodel MBP they were continually frustrated at not progressing as quickly as they would like in changing their practice to match their philosophy. Conclusions: Despite their best intentions, early attempts to use a multimodel MBP approach were limited by the teacher’s ability to re-conceptualise teaching. The teacher made ‘rookie mistakes’ and tried to transfer their normal classroom practice onto paper handouts while simultaneously inviting students to play a more central role in the classroom. In considering this journey, we can see an indication of the investment needed to implement a MBP approach. Pedagogical change in the form of MBP is a process that needs to be supported by a community of practice intent on improving learning across multiple domains in physical education.

History

School

  • Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Published in

Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy

Volume

23

Issue

3

Pages

294 - 310

Citation

CASEY, A. and MACPHAIL, A., 2018. Adopting a models-based approach to teaching physical education. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 23(3), pp. 294-310.

Publisher

© The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Publisher statement

This work is made available according to the conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence. Full details of this licence are available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Acceptance date

2017-12-05

Publication date

2018-02-13

Notes

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.

ISSN

1740-8989

eISSN

1742-5786

Language

  • en