ABSTRACT
Teaching strategies using peers to influence student-learning outcomes are commonly used in physical education. Reciprocal peer learning is a teaching strategy where students work in pairs as tutor and tutee. Effective peer tutoring requires knowledge about the critical elements for correct performance (i.e. common content knowledge, CCK) and knowing how to detect and address common errors (i.e. specialized content knowledge, SCK). Research on training students for their task as tutor to increase peer learning effectiveness is limited.
This study documents an online approach to prepare students for their role as tutor during reciprocal peer learning. Also, it investigates the effect of online CCK + SCK-training versus online CCK-only training on (a) skill performance by tutees and error detection by tutors during peer learning; and (b) individual skill performance at a 1-week retention test.
Seventy-seven undergraduate students (25 female, 52 male) were randomly assigned to an online CCK + SCK (n = 37) or CCK-only (n = 40) training for learning Basic Life Support (BLS) as part of their curriculum. All participants learned online the correct procedure for BLS according to international guidelines (i.e. CCK). In the CCK + SCK condition, students additionally learned online to detect and correct four common errors related to chest compression. Following the online training all students learned BLS using reciprocal peer learning with manikins. For each student pair skill performance during practice by tutees was reported using digital manikins and error detection by tutors was collected using systematic observation of video recordings. One week following practice (i.e. retention), BLS-performance was assessed individually using a validated protocol.
During peer learning, SCK-trained tutees performed less unique errors (Mdn = 2 vs. 1, p < .05) and SCK-trained tutors detected a higher proportion of unique errors (Mdn 100% vs. 0%, p < .05) compared to CCK-only trained students. At retention, SCK-trained students outperformed the CCK-group for chest compressions with adequate rate (Mdn 91% vs. 69% p < .05) and complete release (Mdn 81% vs. 35% p < .05).
Teaching undergraduate students online to detect and correct errors positively impacted the quality of practice during peer learning and the performance at retention.
ABSTRACT
Background: Becoming a PE teacher is a multifaceted process that involves many complexities and contextual specificities. Entering their physical education teacher education (PETE) programme, student teachers are in a vulnerable position as they are uncertain of their professional subjectivities. During their PETE programme, students are introduced to different understandings and practises regarding the body. However, the importance of the body in the development of leadership and relational competence has not yet played a prominent role in PETE or its research.
Purpose: Drawing on the concept of embodied professional competence developed by Winther [(2012). Det Professionspersonlige – om kroppen som klangbund i professionel kommunikation. Værløse: Billesø & Baltzer], this paper aims to provide insight into the importance of unpacking embodiment with PETE students to develop their understanding of how their body influences their leadership [embodied professional competence]. More specifically, the question guiding this article is: How can a focus on bodily experiences contribute to developing PETE students’ embodied professional competence? Our overall goal has been to create a more embodied approach to working with PETE students to develop their (embodied) understanding of their professional development and (practice of) embodied pedagogies in physical education.
Methods: This is a combined teaching and research project focusing on PETE students’ professional competence. All PETE students participated in two teaching series involving them in micro-teaching and reflections upon their bodily experiences and communication while teaching. Hence, the data consists of the PETE students’ subsequent written reflections.
Findings: Analysis of the material revealed that reflecting upon their bodily experiences with micro-teaching requires the PETE students to be involved in a process of developing their embodied professional competence. Through the teaching series, they were given the opportunity to explore and learn how to teach. In a safe community, the PETE students could be vulnerable and make mistakes while developing their embodied professional competence.
Conclusions: We argue for the importance of integrating PETE students’ bodily experiences into the PETE programme. The study highlights that learning how to reflect upon bodily experiences and share them in a safe community provides an excellent starting point for further development of the PETE students’ professional teaching identities.