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The purpose of this study was to explore and reveal naïve conceptions and misconceptions about energy embedded in elementary school students' prior knowledge. Students' performance on standardized knowledge test was used to classify students into low, median and high levels of knowledge about the cardiovascular system. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with students in each group to extract their understanding of energy in relation to food choices, physical activities, and exercises. Analysis of the interview data generated six categories of naïve conceptions and two categories of misconceptions. Different conceptual change theories, including Chi's ontological change theory, Ohlsson's resubsumption theory, and enculturation theory were used to analyze and understand these naïve conceptions and misconceptions and why they could be robust to change. The analyses confirm the need to adopt a multi-theoretical approach to the understanding of students' naïve conceptions and misconceptions (Chinn & Samarapungavan, 2009. Conceptual change-multiple routes, multiple mechanisms: A commentary on Ohlsson. Educational Psychologist, 44(1), 1-10). The findings encourage physical and health educators adopt different strategies to address the potential learning obstacles brought by students' naïve conceptions and misconceptions.

Based on the value orientation theory, the purpose of this study was to determine the impact of value orientation incongruence between physical education teachers and an externally designed curriculum on student learning in a concept-based fitness-centered physical education curriculum. Physical education teachers (n = 15) with different value orientations taught an externally designed, standards-based fitness/healthful living curriculum to their middle school students (n = 3,827) in 155 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade intact classes. A pre-post assessment design was used to determine whether student fitness/healthful living knowledge gains differed in terms of teachers' value orientations. An ANOVA on class means of residual-adjusted knowledge gain scores revealed no statistically significant differences based on value orientations. The evidence suggests that teacher value orientation impact may be mediated by curriculum impact. This finding supports the observation that a well-designed physical education curriculum may minimize the impact of teachers' diverse value orientations on the curriculum implementation and student learning.

The process of effective teaching--teaching that directly leads to student learning of standards-based content--is tenuous at best and easily disrupted by contextual and behavioral factors. In this commentary, I discuss the role of student support and mediation in teacher effectiveness and curricular reform. The most vocal students in physical education classes appear to thrive in the current multiactivity, recreation-oriented sport culture that dominates many U.S. physical education programs. They expect lessons with minimal skill and tactical instruction and with maximum opportunities to play ball. I also comment on Ward's emphasis on the value of content-rich definitions of teaching effectiveness and argue for additional disciplinary-based, concept-rich cognitive outcomes for physical education to complement and enrich skill, sport, and physical activity performance. I lend my voice to Rink's call for comprehensive measures of teacher accountability as the most critical next step in physical education reform. I conclude by contesting McKenzie and Lounsbery's accusation of "muddled goals" in physical education. Although physical education advocates may present diverse content perspectives," student learning" is the primary goal of physical education.

Teaching fitness-related knowledge has become critical in developing children's healthful living behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a science-based, constructivist physical education curriculum on learning fitness knowledge critical to healthful living in elementary school students. The schools (N = 30) were randomly selected from one of the largest school districts in the United States and randomly assigned to treatment curriculum and control conditions. Students in third, fourth, and fifth grade (N = 5,717) were pre- and posttested on a standardized knowledge test on exercise principles and benefits in cardiorespiratory health, muscular capacity, and healthful nutrition and body flexibility. The results indicated that children in the treatment curriculum condition learned at a faster rate than their counterparts in the control condition. The results suggest that the constructivist curriculum is capable of inducing superior knowledge gain in third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade children. (Contains 4 tables and 1 note.)

Background: Curriculum fidelity describes the extent to which a curriculum is implemented faithfully as planned. Curriculum fidelity issues may arise when teachers implement the curriculum inconsistently due to differences in philosophy, barriers in the setting, or other local concerns. Purpose: The study examined challenges that a teacher faced in implementing a constructivist physical education curriculum that had fidelity implications. Research design: Ethnographic case study design was employed in the research. Participants and setting: One physical education teacher, "Daniel", and his students in the third, fourth, and fifth grades participated in the study as they were involved in a curriculum intervention in a large urban school district in the US. Daniel's school was randomly assigned to an experimental group to implement a physical education curriculum based on health/fitness-related science. Data collection: The researchers observed 75 lessons taught by Daniel using non-participant observation techniques and conducted two structured interviews with Daniel and eight interviews with his students. Data analysis: Constant comparison with open and axial coding was used to analyze the observation and interview data. Findings: Two thematic challenges emerged: (1) school contextual constraints that limited the fitness science learning environment in physical education, and (2) Daniel's personal values and preference for a recreational rather than a science-based physical education program. These challenges impacted Daniel's decisions when teaching the curriculum. (Contains 1 note.)

Observations and interviews with white high school physical educators and minority students examined perceptions of power and conflict. Both groups noted conflicts of interest related to the value of an educational focus for the class. Both parties attempted to use their resources and power to achieve their valued goals. (SM)

Observations of and interviews with urban high school teachers and students examined situational and personal contextual factors that enhanced or minimized student engagement in physical education. Results indicated that, in contexts promoting engagement, teachers treated students humanely and equitably, expressed concern and interest in them, and provided a sense of safety. (SM)

Physical education teachers who exhibited one of two orientations (disciplinary mastery/learning process or ecological integration/social reconstruction) were interviewed to examine the extent to which their value orientations influenced their stated goals for student learning and their expectations for academic performance and behavior. Goals and expectations differed according to orientation. (SM)

Study investigated the extent to which predominantly white teachers in predominantly African-American schools made consistent curricular and instructional decisions reflecting educational value orientations. The Values Orientation Inventory examined teachers' priorities for learning. Most teachers considered the social reconstruction value orientation a high priority. No significant racial differences surfaced. (SM)

Discusses the development of content knowledge in movement-based curricula. Researchers examined knowledge structures in groups of preservice physical educators, comparing them with those of elementary physical educators expert in movement-based approaches. Results suggest declarative knowledge develops in complexity from novice to expert within the parameters of a concept-based movement curriculum. (SM)

Examined students' opportunities to use thinking skills in physical education programs. Results indicated that teachers used deductive and inductive strategies to encourage student metacognition. Teachers encouraged students to focus attention, compare, and analyze. (BC)

Ninety physical education teachers completed the Value Orientation Inventory to determine the extent to which they made consistent decisions regarding student learning goals within five educational value orientations. Results indicated that 97 percent made consistent curricular and instructional decisions within one or more value orientations. (SM)

Based on the value orientation theory, the purpose of this study was to determine the impact of value orientation incongruence between physical education teachers and an externally designed curriculum on student learning in a concept-based fitness-centered physical education curriculum. Physical education teachers (n = 15) with different value orientations taught an externally designed, standards-based fitness/healthful living curriculum to their middle school students (n = 3,827) in 155 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade intact classes. A pre-post assessment design was used to determine whether student fitness/healthful living knowledge gains differed in terms of teacher's value orientations. An ANOVA on class means of residual-adjusted knowledge gain scores revealed no statistically significant differences based on value orientations. The evidence suggests that teacher value orientation impact may be mediated by curriculum impact. This finding supports the observation that a well-designed physical education curriculum may minimize the impact of teacher's diverse value orientations on the curriculum implementation and student learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights events and issues in the development of physical education as a school subject. From the origin of physical culture in the German and Swedish "Battle of the Gymnastics Systems" to the advent of the New Physical Education in 1927, physical education curriculum has been a contested terrain. This remains true today as physical educators must compete for school funding and other resources with highly valued subject areas. Unfortunately, serious contextual constraints continue to hamper the efforts of highly motivated, effective physical educators to teach physical education content in schools. Perhaps in the future, better opportunities can be found in other venues where physical education can one day be perceived as a high need, high demand priority for children and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on physical educators' value orientations has identified five orientations: disciplinary mastery, learning process, self-actualization, social responsibility, and ecological integration. An interpretive research design was used to compare the extent to which 2 physical education teachers' content differed because of their value orientations. Findings revealed that the 2 teachers established curriculum goals and emphasized aspects of the physical education content that were associated with their individual value orientations. Dan, a learning-process-oriented teacher, stressed teaching students learning skills by breaking down movement skills into simple elements. John, a social-responsibility oriented teacher, emphasized teaching social responsibility through physical activities. Both teachers viewed learning physical activities as a means to develop students' analytic or social skills. However, philosophical differences were found in how curricular goals and content were determined. The findings suggest that clarifying teachers' value orientations should be considered an appropriate initial step in curriculum innovation and change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examined content and task decisions of 11 urban secondary physical educators who placed a high priority on social curriculum goals. Transcript data from a stimulated-recall protocol were analyzed using constant comparison to determine the extent to which content and task decisions represented social justice and reform goals of social reconstruction or of citizenship and positive interaction more consistent with social responsibility. Results suggested that teachers' content decisions were consistent with the goals of cooperation, teamwork, and involvement within the social responsibility value orientation. Task structures for middle school programs involved large group activities, while high school tasks focused on individual activities performed as a member of a small group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years, pedagogical scholars and physical education (PE) teachers have worked to enhance effective teaching and learning environments. Yet for some children, youth, and young adults, many of the benefits associated with a physically active lifestyle remain elusive. Enhancing programming and performance to meet physical activity goals may require moving programsbeyond“effective.” It will require teachers and program leaders to focus programmatic attention on strategies to actually increase students’ out-of-class physical activity behavior. Transformative PE provides physical activity content within a nurturing and motivating environment that can change students’ lives. It focuses on PE students’ role in cognitive decision making, self-motivation, and their search for personal meaning that can add connection and relevance to physical activities. In this SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical EducatorsResearch Quarterly for Exercise and SportLecture, I have synthesized the research on these topics to emphasize useful findings applicable to teachers’ everyday planning and teaching. Using sport, physical activity, dance, and adventure activities as the means to an end for personal and social growth, we can meet our commitment to effective standards-based education while preparing students for a lifetime of physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Describes physical educators' value orientations for curricular decision making in urban and rural teaching settings. Role of beliefs in curricular decision making; Priority on self-actualization and social responsibility; Differences in school contexts in urban and rural schools.

Discusses the domain specifications and content representativeness of the revised value orientation inventory (VOI) for physical education teachers. VOI revision process; Disciplinary mastery; Learning process; Self-actualization; Ecological integration; Social reconstruction.