ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the knowledge, skills and understanding (KSU) needed by beginning physical education teachers in order for them to develop into high-quality teachers who teach effectively to support pupils' learning. Perhaps the most commonly used categorisation of knowledge needed for teaching is the seven knowledge bases identified by Shulman. They are: content knowledge; general pedagogical knowledge; curriculum knowledge; pedagogical content knowledge; knowledge about learners and their characteristics; knowledge of educational contexts; and knowledge of educational ends, purposes and values. Supporting a beginning teacher's development of KSU can include processes such as observation by the mentor of a beginning teacher's lesson, followed by feedback, and so on. Collaborative learning has been based largely, although not exclusively, on Vygotsky's social constructivist theory. The chapter concludes by offering some guiding principles to consider when identifying, developing and measuring the KSU of a beginning teacher.
