Preservice Teachers’ Content Knowledge in Physical Education Teacher Education Programs

Purpose : This study examined changes in common content knowledge (CCK) among preservice teachers in tennis and volleyball over time from entry to completion of physical education teacher education (PETE) programs in a convenient sample in the United States. Method : Six PETE programs for tennis and five for volleyball were the sites of the study. Participants (tennis n = 245; volleyball n = 238) were preservice teachers who had just entered a PETE program and who finished the first, second, and third years in a PETE program (sophomores and juniors). A demographic background survey and valid and reliable tennis and volleyball CCK tests were the instruments used for the study. Results : Descriptive statistics showed that preservice teachers scored well below the expected level of CCK (80%) in both content areas across the years. Discussion/Conclusion : PETE programs need to do a better job of teaching CCK.