Influence of an Elementary Methods Course and Early Field Experience on Preservice Teachers’ Value Orientations
in Journal of Teaching in Physical EducationClick name to view affiliation
Purpose: To determine the influence of an elementary methods course and early field experience on eight preservice teachers’ (PTs’) value orientations. Method: The theoretical perspective employed was occupational socialization. Data were collected with the short form of the value orientation inventory and five qualitative techniques (formal and informal interviews, nonparticipant observation, critical incidents, and stimulated recall). The value orientation inventory profiles for the instructor and PTs were visually inspected for similarities and changes. Analytic induction and constant comparison were employed to analyze the qualitative data. Results: Value orientations of PTs with teaching and moderate coaching orientations were influenced by the methods course and early field experience, while those of PTs with strong coaching orientations were not. Factors leading to this evolution were the curriculum model employed, the instructor, and PTs’ increased confidence and knowledge of students. Summary and Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of faculty facilitating reflection on connections between instructional models and value orientations and how these relate to PTs’ beliefs.
May and Curtner-Smith are with the Department of Kinesiology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA. Wind is with the Department of Educational Studies in Psychology, Research Methodology, and Counseling, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA.
© 2023 Human Kinetics