Investigation of the qualifications of special education teacher candidates in the application of adaptive physical education and sport

The aim of the study is to determine the teaching proficiency of the special education teacher candidates who will conduct the physical education class of the students with special needs in the segregated primary schools after graduation and to analyses the effects of demographic factors on the level of teaching efficacy. The sample group of the research consists of senior students of the special education department in Turkey. 563 teacher candidates were included in the study. "The Physical Education Teaching Efficacy Scale" was used to evaluate the proficiency of the participants. In addition, qualitative data were collected by asking open-ended questions about the participants' conduct of physical education lessons. T-test and one-way analysis of variance were applied in independent samples for data analysis. Result of the study, the physical education efficacy total scores of the participants, who took part in projects related to physical activity, made observations in physical education classes during internships, participated in physical activity/sports organization, did regular exercise/sports, and completed three courses in undergraduate education, were statistically significantly higher than those who did not (p<0.05). The results of the analysis of the qualitative data collected from the participants came to the fore in the themes that the adapted physical education lesson should be carried out together with the physical education teachers and that the candidates did not consider themselves sufficient to conduct the lesson alone. The results of the study reveal that educational arrangements (internship, class, projects, regular physical activity, etc.) are needed to reduce the barriers of demographic factors in increasing the physical education teaching proficiency of special education teacher candidates. Keywords: Adapted Physical Education and Sport, Special Education, Teacher Candidates, Qualification, Students with Special Needs, Demographic Factors.