Enhancing affordance perception in pre-service physical education teachers: effects of content knowledge, motor experience and visual experience programs
IntroductionThis study examined the effects of educational programs focused on content knowledge, motor experience, and visual experience on the perceptual skills of pre-service physical education (PE) teachers. Based on an ecological approach, perceptual skill in PE teachers refers to their ability...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1583448/full |
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| author | Mariëtte van Maarseveen Jonas Leenhouts Annemarie de Witte Eline Flux Hemke van Doorn John van der Kamp John van der Kamp |
| author_facet | Mariëtte van Maarseveen Jonas Leenhouts Annemarie de Witte Eline Flux Hemke van Doorn John van der Kamp John van der Kamp |
| author_sort | Mariëtte van Maarseveen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThis study examined the effects of educational programs focused on content knowledge, motor experience, and visual experience on the perceptual skills of pre-service physical education (PE) teachers. Based on an ecological approach, perceptual skill in PE teachers refers to their ability to perceive teaching affordances, i.e., the possibilities for teaching actions within the environment.MethodsA total of 60 PE pre-service teachers (age M = 21.0, SD = 2.3, 32% female) participated in educational cricket programs designed to enhance teaching skills. Participants were divided into three experimental groups (content knowledge, motor experience, visual experience) and one control group. Pre- and post-tests involved watching cricket scenarios to assess affordance perception, with gaze behavior tracked through eye-tracking technology.ResultsIn the post-test, participants demonstrated faster intervention times, reduced uncertainty, and a broader, more differentiated perception of affordances. This highlights improved adaptability in teaching environments. Although group differences were modest, the visual experience groups showed a larger increase in affordances related to facilitating learning than other groups. Across all groups, participants implemented more selective, impactful interventions, and relied less on verbal guidance.DiscussionThese findings suggest that structured education fosters more confident, adaptive teaching styles, with small but meaningful effects depending on the type of educational content. However, the study's short duration and reliance on video-based assessments may have limited its ecological validity. This highlights the need for teacher education rooted in authentic, interactive settings. Overall, this study demonstrates the value of incorporating content knowledge, motor experience and visual experience into PE teacher education programs to enhance pre-service teachers’ perceptual skills and improve the quality of physical education teaching. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-33e6246267c94a32955f91e76e27aa06 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj-art-33e6246267c94a32955f91e76e27aa062025-08-20T02:37:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672025-07-01710.3389/fspor.2025.15834481583448Enhancing affordance perception in pre-service physical education teachers: effects of content knowledge, motor experience and visual experience programsMariëtte van Maarseveen0Jonas Leenhouts1Annemarie de Witte2Eline Flux3Hemke van Doorn4John van der Kamp5John van der Kamp6Research Centre for Human Movement, School and Sport & PETE Faculty, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Zwolle, NetherlandsFaculty of Health, Nutrition & Sports - Research Group Healthy Lifestyle in a Supporting Environment, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, The Hague, NetherlandsFaculty of Health, Nutrition & Sports - Research Group Healthy Lifestyle in a Supporting Environment, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, The Hague, NetherlandsFaculty of Health, Sports, and Physical Activity; Research Group Physical Activity in and Around School, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam, NetherlandsFaculty of Health, Sports, and Physical Activity; Research Group Physical Activity in and Around School, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam, NetherlandsResearch Centre for Human Movement, School and Sport & PETE Faculty, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Zwolle, NetherlandsFaculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsIntroductionThis study examined the effects of educational programs focused on content knowledge, motor experience, and visual experience on the perceptual skills of pre-service physical education (PE) teachers. Based on an ecological approach, perceptual skill in PE teachers refers to their ability to perceive teaching affordances, i.e., the possibilities for teaching actions within the environment.MethodsA total of 60 PE pre-service teachers (age M = 21.0, SD = 2.3, 32% female) participated in educational cricket programs designed to enhance teaching skills. Participants were divided into three experimental groups (content knowledge, motor experience, visual experience) and one control group. Pre- and post-tests involved watching cricket scenarios to assess affordance perception, with gaze behavior tracked through eye-tracking technology.ResultsIn the post-test, participants demonstrated faster intervention times, reduced uncertainty, and a broader, more differentiated perception of affordances. This highlights improved adaptability in teaching environments. Although group differences were modest, the visual experience groups showed a larger increase in affordances related to facilitating learning than other groups. Across all groups, participants implemented more selective, impactful interventions, and relied less on verbal guidance.DiscussionThese findings suggest that structured education fosters more confident, adaptive teaching styles, with small but meaningful effects depending on the type of educational content. However, the study's short duration and reliance on video-based assessments may have limited its ecological validity. This highlights the need for teacher education rooted in authentic, interactive settings. Overall, this study demonstrates the value of incorporating content knowledge, motor experience and visual experience into PE teacher education programs to enhance pre-service teachers’ perceptual skills and improve the quality of physical education teaching.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1583448/fullphysical education teacher educationperceptual skillsecological psychologyteaching affordanceseducational programs |
| spellingShingle | Mariëtte van Maarseveen Jonas Leenhouts Annemarie de Witte Eline Flux Hemke van Doorn John van der Kamp John van der Kamp Enhancing affordance perception in pre-service physical education teachers: effects of content knowledge, motor experience and visual experience programs Frontiers in Sports and Active Living physical education teacher education perceptual skills ecological psychology teaching affordances educational programs |
| title | Enhancing affordance perception in pre-service physical education teachers: effects of content knowledge, motor experience and visual experience programs |
| title_full | Enhancing affordance perception in pre-service physical education teachers: effects of content knowledge, motor experience and visual experience programs |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing affordance perception in pre-service physical education teachers: effects of content knowledge, motor experience and visual experience programs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing affordance perception in pre-service physical education teachers: effects of content knowledge, motor experience and visual experience programs |
| title_short | Enhancing affordance perception in pre-service physical education teachers: effects of content knowledge, motor experience and visual experience programs |
| title_sort | enhancing affordance perception in pre service physical education teachers effects of content knowledge motor experience and visual experience programs |
| topic | physical education teacher education perceptual skills ecological psychology teaching affordances educational programs |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1583448/full |
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