The formation of pedagogical competences through practice as a curricular component in the initial training in physical education

Abstract

The current study aims at identifying the pertaining elements of activities from pedagogical practices as curricular components, which contribute to the formation of pedagogical competences for the student-teachers during the initial training in Physical Education. Ten teacher-trainers responsible for the sports modules in the Physical Education degree course at University of Caxias do Sul (Universidade de Caxias do Sul) - RS and ten graduate student-teachers participated in the study. The tools used for information gathering were document analysis and interviews done with the student-teacher and the teacher-trainer. This study showed the importance of doing practical activities in the training of teachers, both the sports activities and, fundamentally, the pedagogical practices done with colleagues and mainly in the community. The planning of classes, the possibility of closeness to the school context, the follow-up from the teacher-trainer, the reflections and discussions of the pedagogical practices, the slow and gradual participation in the teaching world as a preparation for the supervised placements, and the discovery of a teaching vocation were all considered the constituent elements of practice as the curricular components which most contribute to the development of pedagogical competence of the student-teacher.