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Exploring student reflection in physical education practice
No full textBackground In a recent publication [Bjørke, Lars, and Mikael Quennerstedt. 2023. ‘Reflecting on Student Reflections in Physical Education Practice: Moving Beyond a Theory-and-Practice Divide’. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 1–14. doi:1080/17408989.2023.2281913], we conceptualised how student reflection can be understood in a way that aligns with the practical, situated and embodied nature of physical education. Although this study clarified what reflection can be in physical education practice, new questions have emerged in the wake of our discussions. One such question involves how reflection can be explored methodologically. Indeed, through mapping existing methodologies used to explore student reflection in physical education practice, we identified an urgent need for researchers to develop more coherent and rigorous frameworks for exploring student reflection in physical education practice so that our field can move beyond making educated guesses about the potential role of student reflection in physical education practice and its relationship to education and learning. Purpose The purpose of this article is to suggest and discuss methodological tools to better explore and understand reflection within the context of physical education practice. Methodological considerations By outlining previous methodologies used to explore reflection in physical education, we identified three challenges that need to be addressed in research: (1) foregrounding student reflection as the object of knowledge in research, (2) theoretically opening up for student reflection as situated and embodied, and (3) methodologically delineating and empirically capturing student reflection. We address these three challenges by providing methodological examples of how researchers can position reflection theoretically, formulate research questions, generate and analyse data and make claims about student reflection in physical education practice. We then extend our suggestions and determine their usefulness for teachers interested in learning more about how reflection can make their pedagogical practices more educative. Conclusion We argue that there is an urgent need to foreground student reflection in physical education research and to develop more coherent and rigorous methodologies for empirically exploring student reflection that, over time, allows cumulative knowledge about the why(s), what(s) and how(s) of student reflection in physical education to be built
Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Endurance Athletes : Interpretation and Relevance of Measurements for Improving Performance and Health.
No full textBlood glucose regulation has been studied for well over a century as it is intimately related to metabolic health. Research in glucose transport and uptake has also been substantial within the field of exercise physiology as glucose delivery to the working muscles affects exercise capacity and athletic achievements. However, although exceptions exist, less focus has been on blood glucose as a parameter to optimize training and competition outcomes in athletes with normal glucose control. During the last years, measuring glucose has gained popularity within the sports community and successful endurance athletes have been seen with skin-mounted sensors for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The technique offers real-time recording of glucose concentrations in the interstitium, which is assumed to be equivalent to concentrations in the blood. Although continuous measurements of a parameter that is intimately connected to metabolism and health can seem appealing, there is no current consensus on how to interpret measurements within this context. Well-defined approaches to use glucose monitoring to improve endurance athletes' performance and health are lacking. In several studies, blood glucose regulation in endurance athletes has been shown to differ from that in healthy controls. Furthermore, endurance athletes regularly perform demanding training sessions and can be exposed to high or low energy and/or carbohydrate availability, which can affect blood glucose levels and regulation. In this current opinion, we aim to discuss blood glucose regulation in endurance athletes and highlight the existing research on glucose monitoring for performance and health in this population
Competition elements within physicaleducation : An interview study on physical education teachers' perspectives on competitive elements in physical education
No full textSyfte & Frågeställningar Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur idrottslärare som undervisar i idrott och hälsa iårskurs 4-9 ser på tävlingsinslag som ett pedagogiskt verktyg i sin undervisning. 1. Hur motiverar idrottslärare användningen av tävlingsinslag inom idrott och hälsa som ett pedagogiskt verktyg? 2. Hur ser idrottslärare på att skapa lärande med hjälp av tävlingsinslag? Metod Studiens ansats är kvalitativ i form av intervjuer med semistrukturerade frågor för att få frågeställningarna besvarade kopplat till studiens syfte. De teoretiska utgångspunkterna studien grundar sig i är de fyra A:n kopplat till tävling, det sociokulturella perspektivet på lärande samt det etiska perspektivet på lärande. Resultat Studiens resultat visade att de deltagande idrottslärarna hade olika synpunkter när det kom till tävlingsinslag i sin undervisning och menade att det viktigaste ansvaret ligger hos pedagogenatt om tävlingsinslag ska förekomma i undervisningen måste detta ske på ett sätt som är anpassat efter vilken elevgrupp man undervisar som idrottslärare. Slutsats Idrottslärarna motiverade att tävlingsinslag kan användas som ett pedagogiskt verktyg där det fulla ansvaret ligger hos den undervisande pedagogen. Om pedagogen känner sina elevgrupper kan undervisningen anpassas efter gruppens behov.Aim The purpose of this study is to investigate how teachers in physical education for pupils in 4th to 9th grade in Swedish elementary school view of using competition elements in their teaching. The questioning is: “How do teachers in physical education justify the use ofcompetition elements in physical education as a pedagogical tool?” and “How do physical education teachers view creating learning with the help of competitive elements?”. Method This study is a qualitative study based on semistructured interview questions to fulfill thestudys aim as closely as possible. The theoretical starting points on which the study is basedare the four A’s linked to competition and the ethical perspective on learning. Results The results of the study showed that the participating physical education teachers had different points of view when it came to competitive elements in their teaching and believed that the most important responsibility lies with the pedagogue, that if competitive elementsare to occur in the teaching, this must be done in a way that is adapted to the student groupyou teach as a physical education teacher. Conclusion The physical education teachers reasoned that competitive elements can be used as apedagogical tool where full responsibility lies with the teaching pedagogue. If the pedagogue knows its student groups, the teaching can be adapted to the group’s needs
Why can’t my kid play? : How the relation between coachers and parants-effect the adoltsents
No full textSyfte Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur relationen mellan föräldrar och tränare ser ut, samt hur det påverkar idrottsutövarna i deras idrott och skolgång. Ett flertal studier indikerar att relationen är något dålig och konflikt rik. Vilket är ett stort problem eftersom många av de som vistas i dessa miljöer är barn. Men hur sant är detta hur påverkar det miljön som unga idrottsutövare vistas i. Studien skall besvara följande frågeställningar. Hur stor är omfattningen avseende konflikter inom barn och ungdomsidrott i Stockholm? Finns det skillnader i förekomsten av konflikter i olika idrotter? Finns det skillnader i idrottsutövarnas upplevda stress och förekomsten av stress? Metod Studien utgår ifrån en kvantitativ metodologi, mer specifikt en enkätstudie. Studien bygger på existerande forskning, som berör barns stress i skolan och konflikter inom olika föreningsidrotter, för att se om det är ett genomgående problem eller något som kan förknippas med en sport. 73 stycken valde att delta i studien och fördelningen var 33 idrottsutövare, 24 föräldrar och 16 tränare. Till grund för analys och diskussion använde vi oss av det teoretiska ramverket positiv youth develmopment. Resultat Resultatet visar att majoriteten av både föräldrarna och tränarna upplever att det finns en bristfällig kommunikation gentemot den andra parten. Vidare beskriver tränarna hur de i större utsträckning hamnar i konflikter med föräldrar än tvärtom. Idrottsutövarnas resultat visar att majoriteten upplever sin idrott som stressande emellan åt, vilket är något som också påverkar dem i skolan. Slutsats Sammanfattningvis kan vi se att konflikter uppstår frekvent inom idrottande och att relationen mellan föräldrar och tränare är emellanåt dålig. Utav alla idrottsutövare anser majoriteten att deras idrottande påverkar deras skolgång och skapar en stress hos barnen. Nyckelord: Tränare, föräldrar, Ungdomsidrott, Barns utveckling, konflikterPurpose The purpose of the study is to investigate what the relationship between parents and coaches looks like, as well as how it affects the athletes in their sports and schooling. A number of studies indicate that the relationship is somewhat poor and conflict rich. Which is a big problem, as many of those in these environments are children. But how true is this, how does it affect the environment that young athletes stay in. As future physical education teachers and NIU coaches, what lessons can we learn from the study. The study shall answer the following questions. How big is the extent of conflicts in children's and youth sports (within individuals and teams) in Stockholm? Are there differences in the occurrence of conflicts in different sports (individual and team)? Are there differences in the athletes' perceived stress and the occurrence of stress? Method The study is based on a quantitative methodology, more specifically a quantitative survey study. The study is based on existing research, which contains children's stress at school and conflicts within various club sports, to see if it is a consistent problem, or something that can be associated with a single sport. 73 choose to participate in the study and the distribution was 33 athletes, 24 parents and 16 coaches. We just the theoretical framework positive youth development for the Analys and for a foundation for the discussion. Results The result shows that the majority of both parents and coaches feel that there is a lack of communication between the parties. Furthermore, the coaches describe how they end up in conflicts with parents to a greater extent than the other way around. The athletes' results showed that the majority experience their sport as stressful in between, which is something that also affects them at school. Conclusion All together, we can see that conflicts arise frequently in sports, and that the relationship between parents and coaches is sometimes poor. Out of all the athletes, the majority believe that their participation in sports affects their schooling and in turn creates stress. Keywords: Coaches, Parents, Youth sports, Childrens development, conflict
Indetermination in creative dance : On creative dance teaching in physical education teacher education
No full textThe overall aim of this thesis is to explore how creative dance in Swedish physical education teacher education (PETE) can be taught and experienced. PETE holds a responsibility to extend preservice teachers’ movement repertoires and plays a crucial role to provide opportunities for the future physical education (PE) teachers to gain experience and knowledge of dance teaching. Creative dance is part of the teaching area of dance in PE and often a new experience for students when entering PETE programs. The research literature is scarce, in a Scandinavian context as well as internationally, about creative dance teaching in PETE. This doctoral project, guided by Deleuzian scholarship, includes three studies, a literature review, an interview study and a pedagogical intervention study. These three studies resulted in one article in the form of an unpublished manuscript and three published articles. The first article, the manuscript, explores how theoretical approaches are used in studies of creative dance teaching in PE and PETE. The second article explores how PE teacher educators describe their teaching of creative aspects of dance in PETE. The third article explores what PETE students express and experience when participating in mirror assignments during creative dance lessons and what insights can be made regarding creative dance teaching. The fourth article explores how human and non-human materialities play a part in movement exploration in creative dance in PETE and pedagogical implications in creative dance teaching. The thesis offers four key insights. The first insight is that PE teacher educators have specific ideas about creative aspects of dance and about teaching creative dance. The second insight is that inspiration from Deleuze’s philosophy can support and extend ideas about teaching mirror assignments in creative dance lessons in PETE. The third insight is that teaching mirror assignments in creative dance lessons in PETE can make students’ expressions and experiences involve indetermination. The fourth insight is that a post-anthropocentric and Deleuzian approach can be seen to extend notions of creative dance teaching in PETE. My thesis shows various ways how teaching can encourage PETE students to engage with a teaching area that can be unfamiliar to them. The pedagogical insights presented in this thesis can support PE teacher educators and PE teachers when considering teaching creative dance
How is the physical education profession doing? : A qualitative study on how the status of the profession is portrayed in newspapers from 2013- 2023
No full textSyfte och frågeställningar Syftet med studien är att undersöka idrottsläraryrkets status utifrån dess framställning i svensk dagspress. Utgångspunkten grundar sig i följande frågeställningar: 1) Hur framställs idrottsläraryrkets funktioner i svenska dagstidningar?, 2) Vilka positiva och negativa konnotationer knyts till idrottsläraryrket?, 3) Vilka förändringar av idrottsläraryrket och dess status framträder i materialet över tid? Teori och metod Uppsatsen skrevs utifrån en kvalitativ, diskursanalytisk metod varvid 65 artiklar ur blandade svenska tidningar selekterades ut som empiri. Till grund för metoden togs Peter Svenssons (2019) femstegs-modell i beaktning för att i slutändan kunna lokalisera kategorier och teman som konstrueras av de funna attributens regelbundna och gemensamma drag i empirin. Resultat I resultatet framkom fyra övergripande diskurser och fem underdiskurser som på olika sätt visar idrottsläraryrkets funktioner och hur dessa kan påverka yrkets status. Kopplat till idrottsläraryrkets funktioner framkom diskursen om hälsofrämjaren med två övergripande uppgifter – främja ett livslångt aktivt liv för eleverna samt hjälpa eleverna att prestera och få bättre betyg i skolan. Kopplat till yrkets status framkom diskurser om yrket som ett viktigt och givande yrke, en negativ arbetsmiljö med diverse underdiskurser samt hur ämnet marginaliseras, bland annat i relation till övriga ämnen. Främst framkom negativa attribut i relation till yrkets status. Förändringar över tid tyder på att elevers kondition har blivit sämre vilket kan påverka idrottsläraryrket, likväl som att idrottslärarnas auktoritet har försämrats i lektionssammanhang och att lönerna har blivit sämre. Det har också skett en förflyttning i lektionsinnehållets fokus från tävling och prestation till hälsa och välbefinnande. Slutsats Som slutsats kan dras att tidningar har en påverkan på vad som når ut till samhällets befolkning, likväl som att idrottslärarna har en påverkan på hur yrkets status framställs genom vad de väljer att delge i artiklar och intervjuer. I konstruktionen av yrkets status har både positiva och negativa framställningar förekommit, vilka påverkar yrkets status.Aim and research questions The study aimed to investigate how the profession of physical education teaching is portrayed in newspapers and its subsequent influence on the status of the profession. The research questions were: 1) How are the functions of the physical education teaching profession portrayed in Swedish newspapers?, 2) What positive and negative connotations are associated with the physical education teaching profession?, 3)What changes in the profession of physical education teacher and its status emerge in the material over time? Theory and method The paper employed a qualitative, discourse-analytical method, selecting 65 articles from various Swedish newspapers as empirical material. The methodology was based on Peter Svensson's (2019) five-step model, aiming to identify categories and themes constructed by the regular and common features of the found attributes in the empirical data. Results Four main discourses and five sub-discourses emerged, illuminating the functions of the physical education teaching profession and its impact on professional status. Linked to the profession's functions, a discourse on health promotion highlighted tasks such as fostering students' lifelong physical activity and aiding academic performance. Regarding professional status, discourses covered the profession's importance and rewards, a negative work environment, and the subject's marginalization compared to others. Negative attributes, especially regarding professional status, were prominent. Changes over time indicated declining student fitness affecting the profession, reduced teacher authority, and lower salaries. A shift from competition to a greater focus on health in teaching was also observed. Conclusion In summary, newspaper articles and teachers' communication through them influence how society perceives the physical education teaching profession. The results also suggest a connection between the content of newspaper articles, public interest, and the historical context and its events. The construction of professional status has involved both positive and negative representations which can influence the status of the profession
What is appealing about snus? : A quantitative study on high school students usage and reasons for using snus
No full textBackground: The use of snus among Swedish youth has increased, posing a potential risk of long-term consequences in adulthood. Objective & Research Questions: The aim of the study is to analyze snus usage among high school students and identify influencing factors as well as reasons for quitting. The research questions investigate the prevalence of snus use, differences based on gender and socioeconomic background, disparities in self-esteem between snus users and non-users, and factors motivating students to quit snus. Method: The study adopts a cross-sectional design and employs a survey to collect data from respondents. The method involves convenience sampling from four high schools, and the survey's validity was established through a pilot study. A total of 112 high school students participated in the survey, and the analyses included t-tests and chi-square tests. Results: The results reveal that the majority of high school students, 65.2%, have used snus primarily due to influence from friends. No significant differences were observed in terms of ethnicity, self-esteem, or gender-related snus habits, except for a higher percentage of boys citing friends outside of school as a reason compared to girls. Respondents considering quitting mention economic and health-related reasons as motivations. Conclusion: Elevated snus use among high school students highlights the need for preventive interventions, which may need to be tailored differently. The study's limitations, including overrepresentation of high socioeconomic status, require cautious interpretation. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the importance of continued research to promote a healthy lifestyle among youth.Bakgrund: Snusanvändningen hos svenska ungdomar har ökat. Det är något som har risk att ge långvariga konsekvenser i vuxenlivet. Syfte & frågeställning: Studiens syfte är att analysera snusanvändning bland gymnasieelever och identifierapåverkande faktorer samt orsaker till att sluta. Frågeställningarna undersöker prevalensen av snusanvändning, skillnader baserat på kön och socioekonomisk bakgrund, skillnader i självkänsla mellan snusare och icke-snusare samt faktorer som motiverar elever att sluta snusa. Metod: Studiens är av en tvärsnittsdesign och har använt enkätundersökning för att samla in data frånr espondenterna. Metoden inkluderade bekvämlighetsurval från fyra gymnasieskolor och enkäten validerades genom en pilotstudie. Totalt deltog 112 gymnasielever i enkäten och analyserna omfattade t-test och chi-tvåtest. Resultat: Resultaten visar att majoriteten av gymnasieeleverna har snusat 65,2% främst på grund avpåverkan från vänner. Inga signifikanta skillnader kunde observeras mellan etnicitet, självkänsla eller könsskillnader och snusvanor. Förutom att en större andel killar angav vänner utanför skolan som en anledning jämfört med tjejer. Respondenter som överväger att sluta nämner ekonomiska och hälsomässiga skäl som motiveringar. Slutsats: Hög snusanvändning bland gymnasieelever pekar på behovet av preventiva insatser och att dessa insatser kan behövas varieras beroende på elevgrupp. Studiens begränsningar, inklusive överrepresentation av hög socioekonomi, kräver försiktig tolkning. Avslutningsvis betonar studien vikten av fortsatt forskning för att främja en hälsosam livsstil bland ungdomar
Universal healthy school start intervention reduced the body mass index of young children with obesity.
No full textAIM: To evaluate the effect of a universal, school-based family support programme on body mass index (BMI) of children aged 5-7 years, using pooled data from three trials. METHODS: The programme has three to four components and is delivered during the first school year. It aims to promote healthy dietary and physical activity behaviours, and secondarily prevent unhealthy weight gain. Three cluster-randomised controlled trials were conducted between 2010 and 2018 in low and mixed socioeconomic status areas in Sweden. Weight and height were measured. Multiple mixed linear regression analysis was performed on the pooled data. RESULTS: In total, 961 children were included (50% girls, mean age 6.3 years). The post-intervention effect on BMI z-score in all children was small, but in those with obesity at baseline, we observed a significant, clinically relevant, decrease in BMI z-score (-0.21). This was most pronounced in children with a non-Nordic born parent (-0.24). Five to six months after the intervention, decreases were no longer statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The intervention resulted in changes in BMI comparable to obesity treatment programmes focusing on behaviour change. However, the effect attenuated with time suggesting the programme should be sustained and evaluated for a longer time
Accelerometer-based physical activity is associated with the gut microbiota in 8416 individuals in SCAPIS.
No full textBACKGROUND: Previous population-based studies investigating the relationship between physical activity and the gut microbiota have relied on self-reported activity, prone to reporting bias. Here, we investigated the associations of accelerometer-based sedentary (SED), moderate-intensity (MPA), and vigorous-intensity (VPA) physical activity with the gut microbiota using cross-sectional data from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study. METHODS: In 8416 participants aged 50-65, time in SED, MPA, and VPA were estimated with hip-worn accelerometer. Gut microbiota was profiled using shotgun metagenomics of faecal samples. We applied multivariable regression models, adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and technical covariates, and accounted for multiple testing. FINDINGS: Overall, associations between time in SED and microbiota species abundance were in opposite direction to those for MPA or VPA. For example, MPA was associated with lower, while SED with higher abundance of Escherichia coli. MPA and VPA were associated with higher abundance of the butyrate-producers Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Roseburia spp. We observed discrepancies between specific VPA and MPA associations, such as a positive association between MPA and Prevotella copri, while no association was detected for VPA. Additionally, SED, MPA and VPA were associated with the functional potential of the microbiome. For instance, MPA was associated with higher capacity for acetate synthesis and SED with lower carbohydrate degradation capacity. INTERPRETATION: Our findings suggest that sedentary and physical activity are associated with a similar set of gut microbiota species but in opposite directions. Furthermore, the intensity of physical activity may have specific effects on certain gut microbiota species. FUNDING: European Research Council, Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, Swedish Research Council, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation
Cardiorespiratory fitness and the association with galectin-1 in middle-aged individuals.
No full textGalectin-1 plays a functional role in human metabolism and the levels are altered in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study investigates the association of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with galectin-1 and the interconnection with body fatness. Cross-sectional data from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS) pilot was analyzed, including a sample of 774 middle-aged individuals. A submaximal cycle ergometer test was used to estimate CRF as an indirect measure of the physical activity (PA) level. Serum-galectin-1 concentration was determined from venous blood collected after an overnight fast. Body mass index (BMI) was used as an indirect measure of body fatness. CRF was significantly associated with galectin-1, when controlled for age and sex (regression coefficient (regr coeff) = -0.29, p<0.001). The strength of the association was attenuated when BMI was added to the regression model (regr coeff = -0.09, p = 0.07), while the association between BMI and galectin-1 remained strong (regr coeff = 0.40, p<0.001). CRF was associated with BMI (regr coeff = -0.50, p<0.001). The indirect association between CRF and galectin-1 through BMI (-0.50 x 0.40) contributed to 69% of total association (mediation analysis). In group comparisons, individuals with low CRF-high BMI had the highest mean galectin-1 level (25 ng/ml), while individuals with high CRF-low BMI had the lowest level (21 ng/ml). Intermediate levels of galectin-1 were found in the low CRF-low BMI and high CRF-high BMI groups (both 22 ng/ml). The galectin-1 level in the low CRF-high BMI group was significantly different from the other three groups (P<0.001). In conclusion, galectin-1 is associated with CRF as an indirect measure of the PA level through interconnection with body fatness. The size of the association is of clinical relevance