Dr Paul McMillan

Programme Director: MA Physical Education/ Lecturer in Physical Education

Biography

Background

Paul worked for six years as a Physical Education teacher in primary and secondary schools (August 2003 – August 2009). More recently, he was appointed as a teaching fellow (August 2009 – August 2017) then lecturer (August 2017 – present) at the Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh. While working as a teacher, he completed a Master’s Degree in Physical Education and Youth Sport on a part-time basis (University of Edinburgh, 2009). 

Paul's PhD (University of Edinburgh, 2016) was titled, 'Weaving a Pedagogical Web: A Qualitative Investigation of Secondary Physical Education Teachers' Practice'.  A related area of interest since PhD completion involves exploiting the potential of observation. Paul is currently researching 'Lesson Study' as a model of professional learning with teaching staff in secondary schools and with students across professional programmes at the Moray House School of Education and Sport. The Lesson Study model involves teachers in collective planning, observation, data gathering, and reflection on practice.   

Paul is currently Programme Director for the MA Physical Education programme and subject co-leader for the Physical Education strand of the PGDE (Secondary) programme.  

Responsibilities & affiliations

Paul is a member of PCRE: www.ed.ac.uk/education/pcre

His expertise is used to review articles for the following academic journals: Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education; European Physical Education Review; Professional Development in Education; Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice; International Journal for Lesson and Learning Studies; Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy.

Paul is the current Vice-president of the Scottish Educational Research Association (SERA) and acts as a trustee on the executive committee.

He currently serves as External Examiner for Primary ITE Physical Education at the University of Roehampton.

Undergraduate teaching

  • Education Studies 1A
  • Physical Education Curriculum and Pedagogy 1
  • Physical Education Curriculum and Pedagogy 2
  • Physical Education Curriculum and Pedagogy 4
  • Educational Studies 4

Postgraduate teaching

  • PGDE Physical Education (Secondary)
  • MSc Leadership and Learning
  • MSc Becoming a Teacher Educator
  • Doctor of Philosophy  (PhD) co-supervisor for Chenxi Yin – Draft thesis title 'Meaningfulness in Youth Sport - Stakeholder Perspectives ’?

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Areas of interest for supervision

Paul would welcome enquiries from students interested in pursuing MSc and PhD research in the areas of pedagogy, qualitative classroom research, and physical education.  

Research summary

  • Pedagogy
  • Classroom interaction
  • Lesson Study
  • Teacher vision 
  • Qualitative research methods

Project activity

  • Detangling Inclusion in Primary Physical Education (DIPPE) - Erasmus+ grant with partners from Luxembourg, Ireland, Slovakia, Spain and the Netherlands. 2019 - 2021
  • Meaningfulness in Youth Sport (MiYS) - Erasmus+ grant with partners from Ireland, Norway and Macedonia. 2021 - 2023
  • Lesson Study in Scottish Secondary Schools (LS-SSS) - Inovative Initiative (seedcorn) Funded Project. 2019 - 2021
  • Lesson Study in Initial Teacher Education (LS-ITE) - Principal's Teaching Award Scheme. 2020 - 2022. 
  • Making connections to the ‘real’ world: further developing teacher vision in Initial Teacher Education) - Principal's Teaching Award Scheme. 2023 - 2025. 

View all 18 publications on Research Explorer

  • McMillan, P., Munro, K., Carse, N., Jess, M. and Craig, M. (2023) Teacher Vision and Professional Practice in Schools: Negotiating Local & Global Challenges. Presentation at the Scottish Educational Research Association Conference, Queen Margaret University, 22-24 November.

  • McMillan, P., Carse, N., Jess, M., Craig, M. and Munro, K. (2023) Investigating the Role of Teacher Educators in the Development of Student Teachers’ Visions for Physical Education. Presentation at the European Educational Research Association Conference, University of Glasgow, 22-25 August.

  • McMillan, P., Mulholland, R., Jess, M., Carse, N., Mynott, J., Lunniss, J., Smedley,  B., Stepney, K., Docherty, J., McKay, J., Paris, G. and Kubo, K. (2022) Lesson Study as professional learning: supporting practitioners to embrace collaboration. Presentation at the Scottish Educational Research Association Conference, University of the West of Scotland, 23-25 November.

  • Jess, M., Carse, N., McMillan, P., Day, S., Darling-Mcquistan, K., Hopper, T., Rhodes, J. and Arnold, S. (2022) Embracing the Shift to Complexity Thinking in Education. Presentation at the Scottish Educational Research Association Conference, University of the West of Scotland, 23-25 November.

  • Carse, N., Gray, S., Jess, M., McMillan, P., Lamb, C., Johnston, T. and Watson, C. (2022) Moving Physical Education in Scotland Forward: A Research Agenda for the 21st Century. Presentation at the Scottish Educational Research Association Conference, University of the West of Scotland, 23-25 November.

  • Meng, Horrell, A. and McMillan, P. (2022) Health First’ as a guiding principle for education and Physical Education teachers’ experiences of curriculum reform. Presentation at the Scottish Educational Research Association Conference, University of the West of Scotland, 23-25 November.

  • Adams, P., Carse, N. and McMillan, P. (2021) Developing Pedagogy: The Curious Case of Scotland. Symposium at the Nordic Educational Research Association, University of Southern Denmark, 3-5 November 2021.
  • Smedley, B., McMillan, P., Jess, M., Irvine, W., Murray, J., Stepney, K., Docherty, J and Arnold, L. (2019) Lesson Study as professional learning: empowering practitioners to produce and use evidence to inform practice. Presentation at the Scottish Educational Research Association Conference, University of Edinburgh, 20-22 November.
  • Carse, N., McMillan, P., Jess, M. and McIntyre, J. and Fletcher, T. (2018) Exploring the Collaborative in a Collective Self-Study, The 12th International Conference on Self-Study of Teacher Education Practices (S-STEP), Herstmonceux Castle, East Sussex, England, 15th-19th July 2018;
  • Carse, N., McMillan, P., Jess, M. and McIntyre, J. (2017) Developing Principles for Collaborative Professional Learning Through Self-Study, Scottish Educational Research Association (SERA) Annual Conference, Ayr, Scotland, 22nd-24th November 2017;
  • Jess, M., Carse, N. and McMillan, P. (2016) The School Physical Education Curriculum: An Overarching Educational Proposal, Australian  Association for Research in Education (AARE) Annual Conference, Melbourne, Victoria, 27th November - 1st December 2016;
  • Jess, M., McMillan, P. and Allison, P. (2016) Pedagogy: A More Complex Picture? Australian  Association for Research in Education (AARE) Annual Conference, Melbourne, Victoria, 27th November - 1st December 2016;
  • McMillan, P. (2016) Re-examining Physical Education Teachers' Practice: Sketching A 'Messier' Picture, Scottish Educational Research Association (SERA) Annual Conference, Dundee, Scotland, 23rd-25th November 2016;
  • McMillan, P. (2014) Early Secondary Physical Education: An Insight. Presentation as part of the 'Primary and Early Secondary Physical Education in Scotland: Moving Forward' Symposium at the Scottish Educational Research Association (SERA) Annual Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland, 19th-21st November 2014;
  • McMillan, P. (2013) “To See Oursels”: A Qualitative Investigation of Secondary Physical Education Teachers’ Practice in Scotland, International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education  (AIESEP), Warsaw, Poland, 4th – 7th July 2013.
  • Horrell, A. and McMillan, P. (2012) Physical activity a 'National Priority Performance Measure' without measurement. International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine in Sport Session, Glasgow, Scotland, 19th-24th July 2012;
  • Horrell, A. and McMillan, P. (2012) Physical activity a ‘National Priority Performance Measure' without measurement. British Educational Research Association at the University of Manchester, England, from 4th - 6th September 2012;
  • Horrell, A. and McMillan, P. (2011) SPARColl Conference. Poster Presentation. ‘Physical Activity: A National Priority Performance Measure Without Measurement. 23 September 2011 at Strathclyde University, Jordanhill Campus, Glasgow, Scotland;
  • McMillan, P. and Atencio, M. (2010) Sport Education in Secondary Physical Education. National Conference on Physical Education in Scotland: Entering a Decade of Complex Change. 26 March 2010.

Short Communications 

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