One of the most important elements to developing and sustaining a high quality standards-based physical education program is on-going sustainable professional development. Time and again, physical educators are often engaged in professional development that does not address the instructional methods, strategies or content knowledge that is necessary to impact student achievement within physical education. In order to address the systemic change that is necessary to continue the advancement of physical education, it is essential that physical educators are engaged in high quality and sustainable professional development.
Professional development is a process not a product. In order for professional development to be effective, it must be more than a single event… the process must be developed upon five guiding principles. These principles are:
1. Investigation—teachers are provided with in-depth content knowledge that is based upon scientific research and best practices.
2. Reflection—teachers are guided to develop questions that lead to a reflection of their professional content knowledge and instructional practices.
3. Application—teachers are provided with the on-going support and resources to implement the new content knowledge and/or instructional strategies.
4. Collaboration—teachers are provided with the opportunity to work with other professionals to capture and share the learning and move towards a collective vision.
5. Evaluation/Assessment—teachers are engaged in an evaluation process of their content knowledge and implementation of instructional strategies as it relates to the content of the professional development.
Physical education is a distinct discipline with standards and in-depth content knowledge that are essential to the future of the health and physical well-being of today’s youth. Professional Development Topics