There are many expectations, opinions, and political structures associated with the subject of physical education in primary schools. Specifically, physical education is the only subject in school that focuses on movement, physical activity, and goals for the development of students' physical, athletic, social, and personal competencies. At the same time, physical education is attributed with a formative potential, where students must learn to navigate norms and values related to sports cultures, traditions, and practices, contributing to their development as free and independent individuals.
The purpose of the focus area is to strengthen subject didactic research within the field of physical education in primary schools. This ambition will be realized through 1) Practice research that contributes to investigating, problematizing, and further developing the subject of physical education and 2) Research for and with relevant professional education programs and professions. This ensures that all students have the opportunity for enriching experiences with body and movement and develop joy and desire to engage in sports and general physical activity.
We focus on the following topics:
- Conflicting understandings of the subject of physical education and their significance for how the subject is recontextualized.
- When students get hurt in physical education - pedagogical vigilance on the dark sides of the subject.
- Transition from student to physical education teacher.
- Model-inspired physical education teaching.
Focus Area Leaders
- Assistant Professor Anne Wolff Nilsson, Department of Sports Science and Biomechanics, SDU
- Associate Professor Andreas Bolding Christensen, Teacher Education, UCL