KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEFS UNDERLYING CURRICULAR EXPERTISE

Curricular expertise is reflected in teachers' abilities to select and convey content appropriate to the learner within a particular context ual setting and situation. Teachers' knowledge and beliefs are instrum ental in the curriculum decision-making process. Knowledge is often de fined as factual information that has been agreed upon by scholars wit hin a discipline. Beliefs are more personal and experiential in origin and appear to influence what and how knowledge will be used. Beliefs may also play a part in knowledge disavowal. Disavowal occurs when ind ividuals choose to reject information that might otherwise change curr ent practice. The acceptance or rejection of new knowledge is instrume ntal in curriculum innovation and in the enhancement of student learni ng in physical education.