4423 Tuesday 2nd August Pre-thoughts

Hi there!

I am really looking forward to class today. I know and understand that the content of 'unit planning' might seem boring at first but this is where you can do so much planning that makes and values the educative component of physical education. It is done here, in line with your philosophy of teaching and of the profession (see they are linked!) that you take control of your destiny.

In our discussion last week we talked about the issues that are likely to challenge us and face us in our careers, especially as beginning teachers of physical education. WE discussed occupational socialisation, survival, multi-activity curriculums and so much more. Here is the chance to put your (our) spin on how you want to teach. This is an important pre-cursor to the actual content that you are likely to deliver. I am really hoping that some really rich discussion about the topics of Principles of Learning and Teaching (POLT), the VELS, models-based practice and unit planning are forthcoming.

Using the case studies towards the end, I hope that if provides some 'real-life' examples of what you are going to face in ~6months time. There are likely to be thousands of different examples of these scenarios that you could create in your head before you begin to teach - and I hope that you do. I see this process as only dipping your feet in the water. Much of the work that you have looked at in terms of research (Penney and Chandler; Penney and Jess; Brown and Payne; O'Connor, Ward and Payne; Kirk; Tinning; others) are all trying to get the academic and practitioner community to think/act in this process of unit(/curriculum) planning. But you know what....you as the practitioner can quite easily engage with this process and undertake self-study or action research. You do not need to be an academic to make it real. Take for example sport education. Siedentop first wrote about this in the late 70s and early 80s, but it did not really take hold in the academic community and with teachers until much much later...As I said before this is only the first part of the planning/teaching (for your future process). Discuss, debate, talk, engage, reflect, discuss and debate and reflect some more. Ask questions, but most of all be creative (for those of you who have not viewed Sir Ken Robinson it is a must!). Don't let literature hinder your thought process if there is something that you think could be done better!

I really hope that today's class turns out in the way that I hope, because as I mentioned am looking forward to it immensely.

See you later, Trent.