Supporting and training for physical education teacher supervisors: The experience of Louvain Catholic University (Belgium)

In Francophone Belgium, the initial training of collegiate institute teachers is piloted by the Decret de la Communaute francaise, which made it mandatory for student teachers to complete 60 hours of practice teaching in a classroom provided by an approved supervising teacher (ST). University supervisors must make three visits. There are two parts to ST training at the Louvain Catholic University (UCL). The first involves support from university supervisors during their visits to the schools. Their job is essentially to make observations and collect information about the competencies of the student teacher. They also interact with the supervising teacher about his or her job. The second part consists of an annual morning meeting for supervising teachers and student teachers. The meeting's program has several goals: to create a common professional culture and a connection between the supervising teachers, to raise awareness about action theories, and to stimulate the sharing of practices and discussions between the supervising teachers and the student teachers. This article describes two parts of the training in the context of our university. It then discusses perceptions the supervising teachers have about their profession and the training they receive. There is evidence of a humanistic style of supervision and the evocation of didactic skills developed though interaction.