Preservice Physical Education Teachers’ Perceptions of Competence in Selecting Teaching Techniques: Teacher Training in Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine preservice physical education teachers’ perceived competence in selecting teaching techniques according to certain variables. The research was designed as a descriptive study using a screening model. The study universe consisted of a total of 348 preservice physical education teachers studying in different departments. The “Scale of Preservice Teachers’ Perceived Competence in Selecting Teaching Techniques” was used as the data collection tool. For analysis of the data, frequency and percentage distribution, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, t-test and one-way analysis of variance values were used. The level of significance was taken as p < 0.05 for all tests. The results obtained in the study revealed that according to the evaluation of the scale score intervals, the participants’ mean scores (4.24±0.36) for perceptions of competence in selecting teaching techniques were high. According to the subdimensions, mean scores of 4.30±0.38 in the positive prediction subdimension and 4.11±0.39 in the negative prediction subdimension were obtained. No difference was found between groups according to the gender variable. According to the variable for type of department attended, it was seen that students in the coaching department who obtained the right to become teachers via certificate programmes had lower perception levels. Another finding of the study was that as grade level increased, participants’ levels of perceived competence increased. As a result of the research, recommendations are offered regarding the need for preservice teachers, from their selection onwards, to be educated with programmes which give priority to domain-specific practices, and for certificate programmes that grant the right to become a teacher through short-term training to be reviewed.