A Journey of Critical Scholarship in Physical Education Teacher Education

Abstract

Through a yearlong critical autoethnographic self-study, I deconstruct my experiences as a professional athlete, doctoral student in the field of physical education, and beginning teacher educator. By sharing reflective journal entries and critical dialogues with other critical scholars in physical education, I endeavor to illustrate how understanding our `storied' selves can awaken us to acknowledge and problematize our beliefs and practices for the improvement of teaching and learning. As such, in this chapter I have three aims: (a) to explain the nature and process of critical autoethnographic self-study methodology, (b) to highlight key moments when thinking about my `critical' pedagogy and practice changed, and (c) to identify some of the ways in which my professional knowledge of teaching practice has benefited from this form of inquiry. It is my hope that other teachers, students, and beginning teacher educators in the field of physical education are stimulated to reflect upon and share how their own personal and professional experiences have informed (and will inform) their teaching practice.