SPECTRUM COLLEAGUES
Kevin Morgan
Programme Director, MSc Coaching Science
UWIC, Cyncoed Campus, Cardiff, England
Email:
kmorgan@uwic.ac.uk
I was first introduced to the Spectrum of Teaching Styles during my undergraduate studies at the South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education in Cardiff, Wales, UK from 1983-1987 (now University of Wales Institute Cardiff – UWIC) where it featured as part of the undergraduate and post graduate teacher training programmes. We were trained to teach primarily using the reproductive cluster and I taught PE in Secondary schools in the UK for five years successfully using this range of teaching styles. I started lecturing in Higher Education at Bedford PE College, UK in 1993 on the teacher training (BEd) PE programme. This programme was strongly linked to the Spectrum and specific modules were taught on how to use the full range of teaching styles in both the reproductive and productive clusters in a range of physical activities. Teaching these modules strongly influenced my own delivery and opened up a whole range of teaching and learning experiences in PE that I had not previously engaged students in. As a consequence of this experience and my own interest in trying to find out the most effective ways of motivating pupils in PE lessons I embarked on a research agenda that linked motivational climate theory with teaching approaches, culminating in a MPhil. In 2000 I changed jobs and returned to UWIC to work on the PGCE PE and undergraduate Sport courses, where I continued my research agenda and completed my PhD. I maintained my interest in the Spectrum and motivational climate and one of the studies for my PhD focused specifically on the use of Spectrum teaching styles and pupils’ motivation in PE. During this time I also produced a track and field teaching resource pack titled ‘Athletics Challenges’ for both Primary and Secondary pupils, which was based on the findings of my research. In consultation with Sara Ashworth, who has kindly agreed to assist with this process, this resource pack is currently being revised to make it more Spectrum specific. The Spectrum continues to excite and challenge me in my delivery of undergraduate and post graduate PE modules and also as part of the MSc in Coaching Science where I firmly believe it has huge potential to advance the coaching styles of both participation and elite coaches.