Conceptions of teaching: A profile of pre-service physical educators

Conceptions of teaching are mental models which people hold concerning teaching. Included in these models are specific thought representations related to the "action", "belief, and "intention" aspects of teaching. According to Pratt, "action" is primarily concerned with the role and responsibility of the teacher while teaching, "belief is the teacher's conviction that something is right or true in teaching, and "intention" is the what the teacher aims to achieve in the process of teaching. The purpose of this paper is to present a profile of pre-service physical educators' conceptions of teaching within Pratt's theoretical framework and to provide a point for discussion about the possible impact of these future physical educators in local schools.