Blog: Unpacking a simulation pedagogical approach to HPE

The name Health and Physical Education (HPE) itself points to a subject of ‘physical’ nature. Australia’s teacher education programs have a unique and important role to play in assisting pre-service teachers to deliver developmentally-appropriate HPE classes to ensure graduate teachers can deliver content efficiently when entering the teaching profession. HPE teachers need to be prepared to overcome challenges such as low levels of confidence in order to provide high quality planning of safe, structured and well managed lessons (De Corby, Halas, Dixon, Wintrup & Janzen, 2005). With the ‘physical’ nature of HPE classes and a growing externally-focused teaching and learning environment (especially in tertiary education systems), providing real-life HPE ‘practical’ experiences within an online environment can be challenging to facilitate for pre-service teachers.