Core Courses - DPA Series (from intake 2005-06 onwards)

1st Year

This course emphasises concepts related to the broad field of physical education and sport.  It provides an overview of the disciplines that study the field's philosophical, historical, cultural, and sociological foundations and their applications to professional practice.  The course examines the structure of the Singapore Sports Council, National Sport Associations, Singapore Schools Sports Council and the Co-Curricular Activities Branch and their relationships in promoting participation in sports from recreational to high performance levels.  The daily work in physical education and sport, looking at the traditional field of teaching and coaching, is also highlighted.  Current issues and future directions in the field are also explored.

1st Year

DPA101 - Growth and Motor Development

No. of AUs = 2

This course is a study of physical growth and motor development, with particular emphasis on the growing years.  Attention will be focused on factors that impact physical growth and motor development, age-related changes and individual and gender differences in development, especially during puberty. Implications for the teaching of physical education will also be discussed.

1st Year

DPA102 - Anatomical and Biomechanical Foundations of Physical Activity

No. of AUs = 3

Structural anatomy deals with the knowledge and an understanding of the skeleton, joints and muscle structure that produces movement. The lever systems that effects movement will be discussed in this course. Biomechanics is the study of a biological system by means of mechanics. This course introduces the basic mechanical concepts and principles that govern human movement. The aim of this course is to expose students to qualitative analysis of sports using basic concepts of mechanics and anatomy.

2nd Year

DPA200 - Physiology of Exercise

No. of AUs = 2

The principal areas covered include the energy metabolism for exercise, aerobic performance and anaerobic performance, sex and age-associated differences in exercise performances and thermoregulation in the heat. The associated teaching implications will be brought to the fore. In addition, aspects of functional anatomy dealing with the various systems of the body and the part each plays in physical performance, health and fitness will be discussed in this course.

2nd Year

No. of AUs = 3

This course examines the foundations of sport and exercise psychology and the concepts and principles associated with skill acquisition.  Specifically, the course will focus on topics and issues related to the social psychological variables that influence participation in physical activity and sport, the sport and exercise environments within which participants operate, as well as selected outcomes of such participation.

1st Year

DPC100 - Principles of Games

No. of AUs = 2

This course is designed to introduce student teachers to the concepts, theories and principles underpinning games. The course will provide student teachers with a deeper understanding of the nature of games and will allow them to be more creative whilst adopting a more analytical approach to the study of specific games in the physical education programme.

1st Year

DPC101 - Instructional Methods in Physical Education

No. of AUs = 2

Foundation skills of planning, teaching and evaluating physical education for schools: content selection; organisation; instructional methods; task, time and student management systems; observation of student performance; feedback provision. Course format will include lectures, discussions, practical experiences, group work, and microteaching.

2nd Year

DPC200 - Instructional Strategies in Teaching of Physical Education

No. of AUs = 3

This course, second in a series, builds on foundation pedagogical knowledge and skills appropriate for school students.  It develops competence in a variety of teaching methods including inquiry, problem solving, group work and peer-teaching.  A concept approach to teaching games is emphasized.  The focus is on planning, teaching and evaluating situationally relevant lessons.  Student teachers will be encouraged to refine their own teaching through systematic observation.  Instructional strategies will include lectures, seminars, peer- and/or micro-teaching and assignments.

2nd Year

DPC201 -  Fitness & Conditioning

No. of AUs = 1

This course is designed to help student teachers understand the theoretical and practical considerations regarding physical fitness and its development.

1st Year

DPC162 - Basketball

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

A variety of practical applications including:
1) individual on-ball and off-ball skill development,
2) team/game situations and
3) delivery of a basketball class using action-station and team-teaching methods are used to improve skills and knowledge in basketball. Students will be able to assimilate that knowledge (apply it into the Physical Education pedagogy context) in a fun learning-oriented environment.

1st Year

DPC163 - Rugby

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

The form of Sport Education incorporating Games Concept Approach, Inquiry Based Learning, Hellison's Levels of Responsibility, Situated Learning, Problem Solving and Decision Making, Independent and Self Paced Learning will be explored.  Instructional characteristics will include: Festive atmosphere, Record keeping/ accountability/ statistical analysis/match reports, Consistent team with draft, Formal scheduled competition, Sport Education Roles, Modified Games. It is intended to combine Sport Education and Games Concept Approach as both programs provide a focus of student centeredness, and the development of games play through the early immersion of students into modified games situations.  The focus is not on traditional development of sports skills rather on wider learning outcomes.

1st Year

DPC164  - Badminton

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

Badminton is a game that volleys a shuttlecock across a net with rackets. In this course student teachers will be introduced to a variety of methods in which beginners could acquire the basic volleying skills in badminton (such as the net shots, drop shots and drives).  The aim of this course is to enable student teachers to improve their volleying skills in badminton so that they are equipped with adequate badminton skills and learning strategies to enable them to teach badminton in school.  The student teachers will also learn the basic rules of the game so that they will be able to umpire games in the competitions.

1st Year

DPC165 - Volleyball

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

This course is designed to equip teachers-to-be with the necessary basic skills and teaching points in order to teach volleyball in schools in Singapore. Special attention will be paid to acquiring the basic skills in volleyball i.e. forearm pass (dig), the face pass (volley), the serve (underarm and overhand), the spike and the block. Emphasis is placed on small-group activity and how to organize and conduct small-group activity in the school situation. Ample practice, reinforced with sound teaching points, is given to the use of the basic skill/skills in small-group game situations. Information about the latest rules of the game and referee hand signals will also be incorporated into the course.

1st Year

DPC166 -  Dance

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

Teaching methods and resource for the planning and instruction of folk and line dances in the primary and secondary school curriculum.  Student teachers will learn dances from different cultures reflecting a variety of styles and techniques. In addition, student teachers are introduced to the methods of leading creative dance experiences for children.  The teaching methods used enable the design of lessons appropriate for a wide range of ages, interests and developmental stages.  It also aims to give student teachers a chance to discover the creative juice in them and draw on the elements of dance to create their own dances.

1st Year

DPC167 - Track and Field

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

This course is designed to equip student teachers with the necessary knowledge and skills to teach selected Track and Field Events.

2nd Year

DPC260 - Soccer

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

This course is designed to impart basic soccer skills and knowledge to student teachers to be for the purpose of teaching children in a school setting. The emphasis of the course is on providing ample opportunities to play the game as well as to gain better knowledge on how to teach students.

2nd Year

DPC261 - Netball

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

The objective of this course is to learn the game of netball from the perspective of a player, teacher and coach.  The course will teach the basic skills of footwork, ball skills, goal shooting, and attacking/defending, as well as the application of these skills in game play.

2nd Year

DPC262 - Hockey

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

The game of Hockey, while inherently exciting, is usually poorly taught in schools and is consequently labeled a 'dangerous' game. The course aims to provide Physical Education teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to present the game in a safe yet enjoyable manner to their students.

2nd Year

DPC263 - Softball

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

This course is designed to impart basic softball skills and knowledge to student teachers for the purpose of teaching children in a school setting. The emphasis of the course is on providing ample opportunities to play the game as well as to learn how to demonstrate basic skills.

2nd Year

DPC264 - Tennis

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

This course is designed to assist student teachers develop their basic tennis skills to a level of efficiency which will enable them to introduce and teach the games to beginners in schools.

2nd Year

DPC265 - Curriculum Gymnastics

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

This course will introduce the curriculum gymnastics to participants by means of thematic movement concepts based largely on floor activities and incorporating small and large apparati. The aims of curriculum gymnastics will be espoused. The basic vocabulary of movement will be enhanced with emphasis on the cognitive and affective development through the appropriate use of pedagogical styles. Basic floor, kipping and vaulting skills will be taught with a focus on a mechanical understanding of the techniques involved as well as developing appropriate progression and competent spotting and an understanding of the biomechanical principles involved. Advances in video and computer technology will be introduced to student teachers to enhance their ability to analyse movement qualitatively.  It is hoped that participants will complete the course with a heightened level of confidence and personal conviction in teaching gymnastics in a safe and fun way.

2nd Year

DPC266 - Swimming

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

This course aims to develop introductory teaching skills and stroke competencies in swimming. Student teachers will learn how to teach swimming to beginners by employing basic learn-to-swim and lead-up activities. Student teachers will be expected to practise, acquire and, finally, demonstrate correct and efficient technique in at least three out of the four swimming strokes (frontcrawl, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly).  Other related skills of swimming such as floating, diving, and water games will also be introduced. Safety in and around swimming pools (and other aquatic environments) will be emphasized in this course. This course is primarily activity-based and hence, participation is required. Students will be required to be in proper swimming attire for each lesson.

The Practicum is a very important component of the diploma programme. Its principal function is to provide student teachers with the opportunity to develop teaching competencies in a variety of instructional contexts and at different levels, under the guidance and supervision of cooperating teachers and university lecturers. They will learn from experienced cooperating teachers about the schooling process and prepare themselves for their roles and responsibilities in teaching.

During the Practicum, student teachers will be able to use the knowledge and skills acquired in the subjects they read at the university, and have opportunities to integrate theory and practice in schools.

The Practicum is spread throughout the entire course of study and is developmental in nature. It comprises two school attachment periods, i.e., Teaching Assistantship (TA), Teaching Practice (TP).

1st Year

DPR100 - Teaching Assistantship (TA)

No. of AUs = 3

At the end of the first year, the student teachers will undergo a 5-week TA. Its purpose is to provide student teachers practical experience in helping their Cooperating Teachers (CTs) plan lessons, prepare resources, manage pupils.  They will also be given opportunities to observe their CTs teach and to do some guided teaching.

2nd Year

DPR200 - Teaching Practice (TP)

Pre-requisites: TA

No. of AUs = 12

TP is the last component of the Practicum. It is 10 weeks long - this duration will provide time for student teachers to have a more holistic school attachment experience which would include exploring other aspects of a teacher's life besides classroom teaching, for e.g., observing how CCAs are managed.