OPİNİONS OF PHYSİCAL EDUCATİON AND SPORTS TEACHER CANDİDATES ON THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE PROFESSİON

Abstract

The main purpose of this research is to determine the views of physical education and sports teacher candidates about the current situation and future of their profession. The current study employed the phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research designs. This study was conducted with twenty-four physical education and sports teacher candidates living in different regions of Turkey, of different genders, ages, and academic grade point averages between the years 2020-2021. The participants of the current study were selected by using the maximum variation sampling method, one of the purposive sampling methods. The data were collected by using the personal information form prepared by the researchers and a semi-structured interview form administered online. In the analysis of the collected data, content analysis method was used. The findings obtained as a result of the research were examined within the framework of four main themes: the importance of physical education and the sports teaching profession, the image of the profession, the features required by the profession, and the opinions on the profession depending on technological developments. These findings obtained in the current study were discussed in reference to the literature and suggestions were made in light of the findings.