PE Central: A Possible Online Professional Development Tool

Authors

  • Amber Hanson Brigham Young University
  • Todd R. Pennington Brigham Young University
  • Keven Prusak Brigham Young University
  • Carol Wilkinson Brigham Young University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18666/TPE-2017-V74-I3-7352

Keywords:

teacher-change, physical education, online learning

Abstract

Traditional professional development offerings for teachers often overlook the needs of the physical educator. Left to their own devices, PE teachers frequently turn to online resources (e.g., PE Central, PHE America [formerly pelinks4u], PHYSEDagogy, and SHAPE America’s Exchange and Teacher’s Toolbox) for professional growth support. Clearly these online offerings provide valuable resources to teachers, but it is unclear if any meet generally accepted definitions of what con-stitutes sanctioned professional development. The purposes of this study were to (a) describe pre- and in-service teacher usage of one of these websites, PE Central; (b) describe their satisfaction with PE Central; and (c) assess the relationship of these online resources to promote pro-visional teacher change, student engagement, and permanent teacher change. PE teachers (n = 418) responded to an online survey. Both pre- and in-service teachers averaged monthly usage and were more satisfied than not with the PE Central website. PE Central provided teachers some key elements of professional development and was posi-tively related to provisional teacher change but negatively associated with student engagement and permanent teacher change. Suggestions for making the site a resource for sanctioned professional development credit and associated future research possibilities are explored. 

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Author Biographies

Amber Hanson, Brigham Young University

Just completed MS degree at Brigham Young University

Todd R. Pennington, Brigham Young University

I am an associate professor in the Department of Teacher Education and teach in the Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program at Brigham Young University.

Keven Prusak, Brigham Young University

Associate Professor

Carol Wilkinson, Brigham Young University

Associate Professor

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Published

2017-09-20

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Section

Articles