Experienced Physical Education Teachers’ Use and Perceptions of Teaching Styles during the Educational Reform Period

Abstract

In this study, experienced physical education teachers’ use of teaching styles and their value perceptions of teaching styles by sex, teaching level and possession of a graduate degree were examined. In addition, effect of teachers’ use of teaching styles on their related value perceptions was studied. Participants were 246 experienced physical education teachers with a mean age of 36.7 (SD=4.9) and an average teaching years of 12.7 (SD=4.6). According to the findings, mostly used and mostly valued styles were the teacher centered styles (p<.05). Sex, teaching level and possession of a graduate degree were not changing the use of styles and the value perceptions (p>.05). Teachers presented higher value to styles that they were using (p<.05). Teachers’ use of styles and related value perceptions are not meeting the new physical education program requirements of using learner centered approaches and teaching methods. Professional development programs should be prepared to meet this need.