Sport Education in a PETE Program

Overview & Synopsis

Can preservice students learn to teach alternative curriculum models based on book knowledge alone, or should they experience the models firsthand? Curricular models abound in the physical education profession (e.g., fitness, personal-social development, movement education, adventure education, sport education, multi-activity). Many prospective physical education teacher education (PETE) majors, however, have experienced only the multi-activity curricular model. Teacher education programs must provide an integrated curriculum in order to educate future teachers in various curricular models. This article describes how a PETE program provides modeling, discussion, and implementation of the sport education curricular model across the four-year program. Modeling of sport education is part of a basic activity course. Discussion of sport education takes place in a curriculum course. Implementation of sport education occurs in a field-based practicum experience. This integrative approach ties the concept of sport education across the curriculum and provides time for preservice teachers to assimilate the model.