PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS’ SUBJECTIVE THEORIES ABOUT INTEGRATING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) INTO PHYSICAL EDUCATION

ABSTRACT

As well as other school subjects, physical education (PE) is emerging in terms of integrating information and communication technology (ICT) into regular classes. Such innovative teaching practices that implement ICT in PE involve diverse parties that are affected by these teaching processes. Students, principals, districts, parents, administrators, policy makers, and last but least the PE teachers themselves are involved. Hence, each participating party has its own personal perceptions and attitudes towards ICT and PE. This study examined the subjective theories of PE teachers about integrating ICT into PE. PE teachers’ subjective theories that feature the following areas were covered: 1) student, 2) teaching, 3) teacher, 4) equipment, 5) computer literacy, 6) classroom management and organization, 7) social interaction, and 8) innovative and modern teaching. Within the framework of the research program “subjective theories” (RPST), PE teachers’ subjective theories were modeled into a questionnaire after being extracted from an expert group discussion. A total of 57 in-service secondary school PE teachers were surveyed using the developed instrument. The data was analyzed using standard statistical procedures. The analysis focused on the subjective theories themselves and their relation to gender, computer literacy, household computer ownership, and professional experience (years in service).