Action Research in Initial Teacher Training: The Pathways of Physical Education Trainee Teachers

Abstract

This study proposes to investigate the development of trainees' individual trajectories in their pedagogical action. Action research methodologies were adopted and anchored in self-regulated learning. Participants were Brazilian trainees of the degree in Physical Education. The process of action research with these trainees consisted of four stages, which occurred between the action and the investigation of the planned and implemented activities. Semi-structured interviews were done in the last stage of action research and content analysis was performed with the data. The results showed changes regarding the individual careers of trainees in the behavioral and metacognitive dimension. We concluded that action research is an important strategy for teacher initial education that may lead to changes that help the professional development of teachers of physical education.