Core Courses - QPA 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

This course is designed to understand the relation between physical growth and motor development in children and adolescent. Various topics including stages, age related changes, individual differences, and gender differences in relation to growth and motor development will be covered during the course. In addition, interventional strategies to facilitate growth and motor development will be discussed. Implications for the teaching of physical education will be emphasized throughout the course.

1st Year

QPA522 - 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. Biomechanics is the study of a biological system by means of mechanics. This course introduces the basic mechanical and anatomical concepts and principles that govern human movement. The aim of this course is to enable student teachers to perform qualitative analyses of human movement using basic concepts of mechanics and anatomy in the context of PE and sports.

1st Year

QPA523 - Physiology of Exercise

No. of AUs = 2

The principal areas covered include 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 associated exercise parameters and the part each plays in physical performance, health and fitness will be discussed in this course.

2nd Year

QPA621 - Foundations of Psychology & Motor Learning in Physical Activity

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

QPC520 - Principles of Games

No. of AUs = 2

This course is designed to introduce student teachers to the management strategies and theories underpinning the teaching of games. A broad spectrum of lead-up games will be presented covering four classifications of invasion, net/barrier, striking/fielding and target to provide a systematic and creative understanding of the transferability of principles. Game-sense will be developed through an eclectic conceptual development using elements of  'play practice', sport education, and tactical approaches.

1st Year

QPC521 - Instructional Methods in Physical Education

No. of AUs = 2

This course covers the foundation skills of planning, teaching and evaluating physical education including: content selection and development; organization; instructional strategies; time on task, and student management systems; observation of student performance; and feedback provision. Course format will include lectures, discussions, practical experiences, group work, and microteaching in a neighbourhood school.

2nd Year

QPC620 - 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. Emphasis is placed on Mosston's teaching styles as well as concept approach to the teaching of games. The focus is on planning, teaching and evaluating situationally relevant lessons.  Student teachers will be encouraged to refine their own teaching through systematic observation and analytic reflection.  Course content will be presented through lectures, seminars, practical workshops, peer- and/or micro-teaching assignments in a neighbourhood school.

2nd Year

QPC621 -  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. Equal emphasis will be given to health related as well as performance related components of physical fitness. Various methods of training and testing for the components of physical fitness will be dealt with in practicals. Planning and writing training plans will be the concluding part of this course.

1st Year

QPC562 - 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. Student teachers will have the opportunity to complete the International Rugby Union (IRB) level 1, The Australia Rugby Union SMART Program and gain recognition by the Singapore Sports Council as registered coaches.

1st Year

 QPC563 - 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

QPC566 -  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.  Teachers will learn dances from different cultures reflecting a variety of styles and techniques. In addition, 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

 QPC567 - Track and Field

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

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

Biomechanical, physiological, anatomical, pedagogical and social issues and concepts will be used to show the link between the sciences and Track and Field events. The benefits of track and field as a vehicle for fun and fitness, as well as growth and development will be emphasised.

In the second part of this course, basic coaching of Track & Field events will be emphasized so as to enable teachers to take charge of Track & Field as a CCA in the schools.

1st Year

QPC568 - Soccer

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

This course is designed to impart basic soccer 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 gain better knowledge on how to teach students.

1st Year

QPC569 - Netball

Pre-requisites: *apply

No. of AUs = 2

The course is designed to impart basic netball skills and knowledge to teachers for the purpose of teaching children in a school setting. The course will teach the basic skills of footwork, ball skills, goal shooting, and attacking/defending, as well as the application of these skills and game/concepts/tactics in game play.

2nd Year

QPC662 - 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

QPC663 - 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

QPC664 - 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

QPC665 - 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. In addition, 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.  Participants will enhance self-confidence to teach gymnastics in a safe and fun way.

2nd Year

QPC666 - 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.

2nd Year

  QPC667 - 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.

2nd Year

 QPC668 - 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.

The Practicum is a very important component of the PGDE 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 will comprise a 5-week Teaching Practice 1 (TP 1), conducted at the end of year 1, and a 10-week Teaching Practice 2 (TP 2), conducted in  the second year of study. In the course of the two attachments, the student teachers will build up their skills and knowledge in a step-wise manner. Firstly they will develop planning and delivery skills, followed by classroom management and evaluation skills. In addition, to ensure that the student teachers have a holistic experience, they will also be provided opportunities to explore other aspects of a teacher's life besides classroom teaching, for e.g., observing how CCAs are managed.

1st Year

QPR521 - Teaching Practice 1

No. of AUs = 5

2nd Year

QPR620 - Teaching Practice 2

Pre-requisites: TP 1

No. of AUs = 10