Research
Our research themes, projects and publications.
Research themes
Our research can be categorised into four broad themes detailed below. For each of these themes, we adopt a critical perspective in order to understand, challenge, create knowledge and transform practice.
Health and wellbeing
Our research in this area critically explores different conceptualizations of health and wellbeing and their impact on curriculum and pedagogy, as well as pupil and teacher learning and wellbeing.
Professional learning
Our research in this area involves working with pre-service and in-service physical education teachers to support their professional learning. This work covers a broad range of topics and is guided by lesson study and self-study research.
Physical education and sport pedagogy
Our work in this area fundamentally focuses on what teachers do and the impact this can have on pupil learning and embodiment. We critically explore the ways in which teachers plan and deliver their lessons in order to promote embodied and inclusive learning environments. We also work with teachers to support their use of various teaching models in line with curriculum objectives and the needs of their pupils.
Digital cultures
Our research in this area explores how and why teachers engage with digital technology to promote learning. We also explore the ways in which young people engage with digital technology and social media for their learning, their bodies and their health and wellbeing.
Current and recent research projects
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented disruptions to teaching and posed urgent questions regarding its impact on learners in all levels of education. This project, funded by British Academy (BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grant #SRG20\201530), seeks to explore how teachers work collaboratively with others and use technology to support students during the crisis, so as to identify essential skills, resources, and support that can enable teachers to act as agents of change in difficult times. This project involves Dr Justine MacLean and Dr Natasa Pantic alongside researchers from Monash University Dr Yi-Shan Tsai (project lead), Dr Michael Phillips, Prof Dragan Gašević and Ana Hibert.
This is a European project that aims to co-develop and evaluate innovative pedagogical ideas relating to critical digital health in schools and specifically in physical education. This project involves Dr Shirley Gray and Dr Sarah MacIsaac alongside researchers from England, Spain, Italy and Finland, who together engage in collaborative research that seeks to educate teachers and young about leading healthy lifestyles within our digital society. Further information on the Critical Digital Health Pedagogies for PE Teachers website.
Critical Digital Health Pedagogies for PE Teachers project website
The overall aim of the Meaningfulness in Youth Sport (MiYS) project was to promote more equal opportunities in youth sport by identifying, refining and promoting accessible pedagogies focused on meaningfulness. These pedagogies were targeted to support coaches to facilitate children’s meaningful engagement in youth sport through the following objectives:
- Convene a network including partners from different European countries (Ireland, Norway, Scotland, North Macedonia) with expertise on meaningfulness, youth sport and professional development.
- Collaborate within the network to develop pedagogies of meaningfulness in youth sport for children aged 6-12 years.
- Facilitate collaboration between volunteer coaches/parents and academics to implement and refine pedagogies of meaningfulness in youth sport with children aged 6-12 years.
- Provide for academics and youth sport coaches/parents to share their learning and experiences of using pedagogies of meaningfulness.
To find out more about the project and access the resources for this project, visit the Meaningfulness in Youth Sports and Learning about Meaningful PE websites.
Dr Shirley Gray, Dr Nicola Carse and Stephanie Hardley from the University of Edinburgh are working with colleagues from Loughborough University and Cardiff Metropolitan University to explore and understand PE curricula across the UK. We aim to uncover the factors that shape PE curricula and learn how this influences the practices of teachers in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. The long-term goal of this project is to work with PE teachers to develop their capacity to contribute to curriculum development in the future.
Selected recent publications
Exploring pre-service physical education teachers' trauma-related learning experiences in schools
Embracing complex adaptive practice: The potential of lesson study
More projects and publications
For more examples of projects and publications, see our members' profiles. Access their profiles via their names on our People page.