PE2030: Digital support and innovative tools for the PE Teacher of the future
The physical education teacher plays a crucial role in a world where young people are increasingly inactive. Supporting and motivating students to lead active and healthy lifestyles is a challenge. Quality physical education (PE) lessons aim to foster lifelong physical activity, but topics are often presented superficially, with insufficient practice opportunities. Teachers also report difficulties in delivering high-quality content due to the diversity of movement domains they must teach (Herold & Waring, 2018).
Strong subject knowledge is key for effective teaching outcomes (Kim, 2020; Kim et al., 2023; Ward et al., 2015). Professional development can support teachers in this area, and well-structured programs focused on subject expertise improve teaching practices and student outcomes. Currently, professional development often relies on teachers' own initiatives and practical training sessions.
In the digital age, a scientifically based online tool for professional development is crucial. Digital tools can reach many teachers and offer extensive professional development opportunities. The "Leerlijnen in de Lichamelijke opvoeding" (LiLO) tool was developed as an open-access platform for PE teachers and students, offering digitized content maps with exercise videos and detailed descriptions. Six movement domains are currently available.
This research aims to further develop LiLO based on scientific research and collaborative training, enhancing subject content and pedagogical skills. This development will aid teacher professionalization and potentially improve student learning outcomes.
The first step is to understand PE teachers' needs for technological support in acquiring specific knowledge. Based on a feasibility study using the "think aloud" method, LiLO will expand with more content maps and explore innovative technologies to further improve teaching effectiveness. The impact of these innovations will be measured in three schools through an effectiveness study, assessing student skills taught by LiLO-using teachers.
