Andrew Bennie | Western Sydney University (original) (raw)
Papers by Andrew Bennie
Received 11 July 2017 accepted 30 october 2017 KEYWORDS aboriginal sport; coaching; socio-ecologi... more Received 11 July 2017 accepted 30 october 2017
KEYWORDS
aboriginal sport; coaching; socio-ecological theory; mentoring; racism
ABSTRACT
Sport researchers have begun to appreciate the perspectives and experiences of Aboriginal athletes in various global communities, yet little is known about Aboriginal sport coaches. Considering sport can play a positive social, psychological, and physical role in the lives of Aboriginal people, it is problematic that there is a dearth of academic literature exploring the narratives of Aboriginal coaches. This is one of the rst studies to speci cally explore Aboriginal Australian peoples’ experiences in sport coaching roles. Using a socio-ecological framework to frame our discussions, we share the insights of 28 Aboriginal Australian sport coaches from a variety of team and individual sports as they describe an array of factors that facilitated and impeded their sport coaching journeys. By shedding light on these narratives this paper performs two main tasks. First, taking a qualitative approach, it gives agency and voice to Aboriginal people, long-neglected in academic sports scholarship. Second, it provides insights for coaches, athletes, academics, policy-makers, and sporting organisations interested in enhancing opportunities and developing pathways for Aboriginal people in sport coaching roles.
AbsTrACT Objective Quality physical education (PE) is the cornerstone of comprehensive school phy... more AbsTrACT Objective Quality physical education (PE) is the cornerstone of comprehensive school physical activity (PA) promotion programmes. We tested the efficacy of a teacher professional learning intervention, delivered partially via the internet, designed to maximise opportunities for students to be active during PE lessons and enhance adolescents' motivation towards PE and PA.
The purpose of this study was to develop and deliver a humanistic coaching workshop, as well as i... more The purpose of this study was to develop and deliver a humanistic coaching workshop, as well as investigate coaches' perceptions of this workshop and their experiences using humanistic coaching. Participants were 12 coaches of grade 7–11 basketball teams from schools in low socioeconomic communities in a major Canadian city. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and personal journals. An inductive thematic analysis revealed coaches perceived the workshop to be effective in teaching the humanistic principles and how to apply them in youth sport settings. The perceived strengths of the workshop included the group discussions, use of videos, practical coaching examples, and learning about the findings from empirical studies. The participants applied the humanistic principles with their teams by asking questions that guided athlete learning and by requesting feedback about various individual and team matters. Despite facing challenges such as increased time and effort to implement humanistic coaching principles, the participants reported positive outcomes in their athletes related to autonomy, communication, motivation, and willingness to help teammates. These results are discussed using literature on youth sport coaching, knowledge translation, and youth development through sport. Findings from this study can be used to enhance youth sport coach training protocols. William Falcão is a doctoral student in sport psychology in the Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education at McGill University. His research focuses on coaching strategies that promotes personal development, health, and well-being of athletes through sport. His research emphasizes the experiences of coaches and athletes in low-socioeconomic settings as well as the parasport context.
Previous research into sports officiating at the elite level has primarily addressed stressors 4 ... more Previous research into sports officiating at the elite level has primarily addressed stressors 4 that impact negatively on sports officials, including abuse, time pressures and fear of failure. 5
Representations of Aboriginal Australian peoples as genetically predisposed to sporting prowess a... more Representations of Aboriginal Australian peoples as genetically predisposed to sporting prowess are pervasive and enduring perceptions. This rhetoric belongs to a larger narrative that also describes a peculiarly Aboriginal style of play: full of flair, speed and 'magic'. Such imagery has informed a common perception that, in many team sports, Aboriginal athletes are biologically more suited to playing positions characterised by pace, trickery and spontaneity, rather than those that utilise leadership acumen and intellectual skill. There has been a great deal of academic research exploring how such essentialised and racialised representations play out for Aboriginal athletes. In this paper, however, we extend that research, examining how racialised representations of Aboriginal athletic ability affect Aboriginal coaches. Premised on interviews with 26 Aboriginal Australian coaches, we argue that representations of Aboriginal athletes as naturally suited to speed and flair, rather than leadership and sporting-intellect, help maintain an environment that limits opportunities for Aboriginal Australians seeking to move into sporting leadership roles, such as coaching. This paper sheds light on the ways in which racialised representations of Aboriginal athletes feed into a settler colonialist narrative that stymies opportunities for aspiring Aboriginal professional coaches, and speculates on the limitations of this approach, in challenging the political hegemony of settler colonialism.
Background: Despite the health benefits of regular physical activity, most children are insuffici... more Background: Despite the health benefits of regular physical activity, most children are insufficiently active. Schools are ideally placed to promote physical activity; however, many do not provide children with sufficient in-school activity or ensure they have the skills and motivation to be active beyond the school setting. The aim of this project is to modify, scale up and evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention previously shown to be efficacious in improving children's physical activity, fundamental movement skills and cardiorespiratory fitness. The 'Internet-based Professional Learning to help teachers support Activity in Youth' (iPLAY) study will focus largely on online delivery to enhance translational capacity.
experience working with athletes and coaches to improve coaching practice and performance. He hol... more experience working with athletes and coaches to improve coaching practice and performance. He holds key appointments at international and local levels, including: executive board member of World Association for Basketball Coaches, and executive board member of Asia Association of Coaching Science. Freya MacMillan is a lecturer in health science at Western Sydney University. Her research focuses on the development and evaluation of lifestyle interventions using qualitative and quantitative research techniques. She also has expertise in conducting systematic reviews to guide the development of evidence-based interventions. Emma George is a lecturer in health and physical education at Western Sydney University. With a background in physical activity and health promotion, her research aims to promote lifelong physical activity and improve health outcomes in populations including middle-aged men, sport fans, older adults and culturally diverse groups. She has a particular interest in community engagement and health promotion initiatives delivered through sport.
BMC public health, 2016
School-based physical education is an important public health initiative as it has the potential ... more School-based physical education is an important public health initiative as it has the potential to provide students with regular opportunities to participate in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Unfortunately, in many physical education lessons students do not engage in sufficient MVPA to achieve health benefits. In this trial we will test the efficacy of a teacher professional development intervention, delivered partially via the Internet, on secondary school students' MVPA during physical education lessons. Teaching strategies covered in this training are designed to (i) maximize opportunities for students to be physically active during lessons and (ii) enhance students' autonomous motivation towards physical activity. A two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial with allocation at the school level (intervention vs. usual care control). Teachers and Year 8 students in government-funded secondary schools in low socio-economic areas of the Western Sydney regio...
School physical education (PE) aims to develop students’ knowledge and skills for lifelong partic... more School physical education (PE) aims to develop students’ knowledge and skills for lifelong participation in physical activity (PA). Unfortunately, many PE teachers report that motivating students is a significant challenge. The purpose of this study was to explore PE teacher perceptions about the effectiveness and acceptability of three self-determination theory-based motivational strategies on students’ PA, motivation, and learning during PE lessons. Thirteen PE teachers from five schools in Western Sydney, Australia, participated in this study. We carried out semi-structured post-lesson interviews with PE teachers to gather information about the perceived effectiveness and acceptability of the three intervention strategies and whether these were sustainable teaching methods: (1) explaining relevance; (2) providing choice; and (3) complete free choice. Analysis of interview data revealed that teachers believed each strategy successfully enhanced student PA, enjoyment, motivation, and student learning. The findings also showed that our motivational teaching strategies were acceptable when embedded within certain PE contexts. Overall, the results have implications for future pre-service and in-service PE teaching practice.
a department of Kinesiology, Wilfrid laurier university, Waterloo, canada; b department of Kinesi... more a department of Kinesiology, Wilfrid laurier university, Waterloo, canada; b department of Kinesiology and physical education, McGill university, Montréal, canada; c health and physical education, school of science and health, Western sydney university, Kingswood, australia ABSTRACT University student-athletes have reported difficulties balancing the rigours of academic study, athletics, and their personal lives. These challenges may be exacerbated for first-year athletes who are transitioning from secondary school into university. Given that coaches significantly influence their athletes' experiences, their coaching styles and support may ease this transition process. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to investigate university coaches' experiences and strategies used with first-year studentathletes. Eight highly successful and experienced university coaches of men's team sports participated in individual semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis revealed that coaches created a supportive team environment for first-year athletes by building trusting relationships with them, showing patience with their development, and encouraging leadership from senior athletes. To further facilitate first-year athletes' success in and out of sport, coaches helped them accept their role on the team and improve their physical conditioning. Coaches also monitored their academic progress and advocated the use of available university resources such as tutors and support programmes. The current results benefit both coaches and athletes by highlighting the common challenges of a first-year university athlete, as well as by offering useful coaching strategies that can help this transition.
International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 2014
School physical education (PE) experiences play a critical role in adolescents' physical activity... more School physical education (PE) experiences play a critical role in adolescents' physical activity (PA) levels. Teachers are crucial to students' initial experiences in PA; however, limited research has explored teachers' perspectives about PA during PE using in-depth qualitative research techniques. We conducted interviews with 25 current Australian male and female PE teachers to investigate their perceptions about PA in secondary school PE (grades 7-12). Our findings indicated PA was a major focus for teachers during PE lessons; however, many physical and psychosocial factors underpinned practical classes. During PE lessons, PE teachers favoured game-based activities to promote PA while citing the traditional skill-drill approach as a strategy that limited PA. These findings highlight an ongoing shift in PE teaching towards a games-based approach and have several important implications for future teaching practice and research.
This paper examines perceptions of effective coaching and coach-athlete relationships within prof... more This paper examines perceptions of effective coaching and coach-athlete relationships within professional team sports in Australia. The findings are based on interviews with six male professional coaches and 25 players from cricket, rugby league, and rugby union. Qualitative data analysis reveals that relationships within professional sport settings are based on mutual respect, trust and honesty. The results also indicate that professional coaches and players describe two different types of coach-athlete relationships-the close, `family' oriented relationship or the `professional', arms-length relationship-both of which are considered equally effective as long as the coaches and athletes share the same attitude towards the relationship. These findings have implications for effective coaching and how coaches interact to develop relationships with their athletes. They demonstrate that if coaches are to be perceived as effective, it is crucial to consider individual athlete pre...
This study investigated the reasons why elite junior track and field athletes continue or discont... more This study investigated the reasons why elite junior track and field athletes continue or discontinue with elite level athletic participation during the transition years (18-24 years). Data was collected from 20 semi-structured interviews that were conducted with current and former elite track and field athletes, elite track and field coaches and Australian athletics administrators. Results indicated that a combination of psychological, social, economic, educational and political forces manifest extraordinary pressure on the athlete during the transition years, whilst also contributing to the phenomenon of elite athlete withdrawal. However, the results highlight that there are increasing opportunities for elite athletes to continue participating at an elite level during the transition years if the athlete is determined and supported in an appropriate manner. The participants provided recommendations for the administrators of the sport and advice to future athletes, parents and coach...
Environmental Health Perspectives, 2007
... Telephone: 44 1603 591004. Fax: 44 1603 593752. E-mail: Paul.Hunter/at/uea.ac.uk. The authors... more ... Telephone: 44 1603 591004. Fax: 44 1603 593752. E-mail: Paul.Hunter/at/uea.ac.uk. The authors declare they have no competing financial interests. Received April 19, 2007; Accepted September 24, 2007. This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. ...
In this paper, we investigate the effects of a community- and school-based service learning exper... more In this paper, we investigate the effects of a community- and school-based
service learning experience (SLE) on pre-service physical education teachers’
Indigenous knowledge, cultural competency and pedagogy. Informed by the
theoretical tenets of Indigenous research methodologies, experiential learning
and critical reflection, we examine 55 final-year pre-service physical education
teachers’ (age: 21.9 [8.3]; 10.7% low SES; 68% females) cultural learning and
competency in a core unit of study with a six-week SLE. Measures of their experiences
included reflective journals, multicultural teaching competency scales
and focus group interviews. Findings support the design of the SLE, with statistically
significant changes in pre-service teachers’ perceptions of their cultural
competency (p < 0.001). Pre-service teachers were able to challenge their
assumptions about Indigenous students, plan and implement student-centred and
culturally relevant pedagogies. Attention is drawn to the design of this SLE
and demonstrates the importance of using Indigenous community members
BMC public health, 2012
Background: The physical activity (PA) levels of many children and adolescents in Australia are c... more Background: The physical activity (PA) levels of many children and adolescents in Australia are currently insufficient to promote health benefits. Physical education (PE) programs aim to promote PA and reach nearly all school-aged children, but PA levels within PE lessons are often low. PE teachers may influence children's motivation to be physically active in PE lessons, but little is known about teacher strategies that effectively motivate children to participate in PA, and few intervention studies have examined motivational strategies in PE. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of three motivational strategies, each based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), on PA levels, and their hypothesized antecedents, during year 8 PE lessons.
Received 11 July 2017 accepted 30 october 2017 KEYWORDS aboriginal sport; coaching; socio-ecologi... more Received 11 July 2017 accepted 30 october 2017
KEYWORDS
aboriginal sport; coaching; socio-ecological theory; mentoring; racism
ABSTRACT
Sport researchers have begun to appreciate the perspectives and experiences of Aboriginal athletes in various global communities, yet little is known about Aboriginal sport coaches. Considering sport can play a positive social, psychological, and physical role in the lives of Aboriginal people, it is problematic that there is a dearth of academic literature exploring the narratives of Aboriginal coaches. This is one of the rst studies to speci cally explore Aboriginal Australian peoples’ experiences in sport coaching roles. Using a socio-ecological framework to frame our discussions, we share the insights of 28 Aboriginal Australian sport coaches from a variety of team and individual sports as they describe an array of factors that facilitated and impeded their sport coaching journeys. By shedding light on these narratives this paper performs two main tasks. First, taking a qualitative approach, it gives agency and voice to Aboriginal people, long-neglected in academic sports scholarship. Second, it provides insights for coaches, athletes, academics, policy-makers, and sporting organisations interested in enhancing opportunities and developing pathways for Aboriginal people in sport coaching roles.
AbsTrACT Objective Quality physical education (PE) is the cornerstone of comprehensive school phy... more AbsTrACT Objective Quality physical education (PE) is the cornerstone of comprehensive school physical activity (PA) promotion programmes. We tested the efficacy of a teacher professional learning intervention, delivered partially via the internet, designed to maximise opportunities for students to be active during PE lessons and enhance adolescents' motivation towards PE and PA.
The purpose of this study was to develop and deliver a humanistic coaching workshop, as well as i... more The purpose of this study was to develop and deliver a humanistic coaching workshop, as well as investigate coaches' perceptions of this workshop and their experiences using humanistic coaching. Participants were 12 coaches of grade 7–11 basketball teams from schools in low socioeconomic communities in a major Canadian city. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and personal journals. An inductive thematic analysis revealed coaches perceived the workshop to be effective in teaching the humanistic principles and how to apply them in youth sport settings. The perceived strengths of the workshop included the group discussions, use of videos, practical coaching examples, and learning about the findings from empirical studies. The participants applied the humanistic principles with their teams by asking questions that guided athlete learning and by requesting feedback about various individual and team matters. Despite facing challenges such as increased time and effort to implement humanistic coaching principles, the participants reported positive outcomes in their athletes related to autonomy, communication, motivation, and willingness to help teammates. These results are discussed using literature on youth sport coaching, knowledge translation, and youth development through sport. Findings from this study can be used to enhance youth sport coach training protocols. William Falcão is a doctoral student in sport psychology in the Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education at McGill University. His research focuses on coaching strategies that promotes personal development, health, and well-being of athletes through sport. His research emphasizes the experiences of coaches and athletes in low-socioeconomic settings as well as the parasport context.
Previous research into sports officiating at the elite level has primarily addressed stressors 4 ... more Previous research into sports officiating at the elite level has primarily addressed stressors 4 that impact negatively on sports officials, including abuse, time pressures and fear of failure. 5
Representations of Aboriginal Australian peoples as genetically predisposed to sporting prowess a... more Representations of Aboriginal Australian peoples as genetically predisposed to sporting prowess are pervasive and enduring perceptions. This rhetoric belongs to a larger narrative that also describes a peculiarly Aboriginal style of play: full of flair, speed and 'magic'. Such imagery has informed a common perception that, in many team sports, Aboriginal athletes are biologically more suited to playing positions characterised by pace, trickery and spontaneity, rather than those that utilise leadership acumen and intellectual skill. There has been a great deal of academic research exploring how such essentialised and racialised representations play out for Aboriginal athletes. In this paper, however, we extend that research, examining how racialised representations of Aboriginal athletic ability affect Aboriginal coaches. Premised on interviews with 26 Aboriginal Australian coaches, we argue that representations of Aboriginal athletes as naturally suited to speed and flair, rather than leadership and sporting-intellect, help maintain an environment that limits opportunities for Aboriginal Australians seeking to move into sporting leadership roles, such as coaching. This paper sheds light on the ways in which racialised representations of Aboriginal athletes feed into a settler colonialist narrative that stymies opportunities for aspiring Aboriginal professional coaches, and speculates on the limitations of this approach, in challenging the political hegemony of settler colonialism.
Background: Despite the health benefits of regular physical activity, most children are insuffici... more Background: Despite the health benefits of regular physical activity, most children are insufficiently active. Schools are ideally placed to promote physical activity; however, many do not provide children with sufficient in-school activity or ensure they have the skills and motivation to be active beyond the school setting. The aim of this project is to modify, scale up and evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention previously shown to be efficacious in improving children's physical activity, fundamental movement skills and cardiorespiratory fitness. The 'Internet-based Professional Learning to help teachers support Activity in Youth' (iPLAY) study will focus largely on online delivery to enhance translational capacity.
experience working with athletes and coaches to improve coaching practice and performance. He hol... more experience working with athletes and coaches to improve coaching practice and performance. He holds key appointments at international and local levels, including: executive board member of World Association for Basketball Coaches, and executive board member of Asia Association of Coaching Science. Freya MacMillan is a lecturer in health science at Western Sydney University. Her research focuses on the development and evaluation of lifestyle interventions using qualitative and quantitative research techniques. She also has expertise in conducting systematic reviews to guide the development of evidence-based interventions. Emma George is a lecturer in health and physical education at Western Sydney University. With a background in physical activity and health promotion, her research aims to promote lifelong physical activity and improve health outcomes in populations including middle-aged men, sport fans, older adults and culturally diverse groups. She has a particular interest in community engagement and health promotion initiatives delivered through sport.
BMC public health, 2016
School-based physical education is an important public health initiative as it has the potential ... more School-based physical education is an important public health initiative as it has the potential to provide students with regular opportunities to participate in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Unfortunately, in many physical education lessons students do not engage in sufficient MVPA to achieve health benefits. In this trial we will test the efficacy of a teacher professional development intervention, delivered partially via the Internet, on secondary school students' MVPA during physical education lessons. Teaching strategies covered in this training are designed to (i) maximize opportunities for students to be physically active during lessons and (ii) enhance students' autonomous motivation towards physical activity. A two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial with allocation at the school level (intervention vs. usual care control). Teachers and Year 8 students in government-funded secondary schools in low socio-economic areas of the Western Sydney regio...
School physical education (PE) aims to develop students’ knowledge and skills for lifelong partic... more School physical education (PE) aims to develop students’ knowledge and skills for lifelong participation in physical activity (PA). Unfortunately, many PE teachers report that motivating students is a significant challenge. The purpose of this study was to explore PE teacher perceptions about the effectiveness and acceptability of three self-determination theory-based motivational strategies on students’ PA, motivation, and learning during PE lessons. Thirteen PE teachers from five schools in Western Sydney, Australia, participated in this study. We carried out semi-structured post-lesson interviews with PE teachers to gather information about the perceived effectiveness and acceptability of the three intervention strategies and whether these were sustainable teaching methods: (1) explaining relevance; (2) providing choice; and (3) complete free choice. Analysis of interview data revealed that teachers believed each strategy successfully enhanced student PA, enjoyment, motivation, and student learning. The findings also showed that our motivational teaching strategies were acceptable when embedded within certain PE contexts. Overall, the results have implications for future pre-service and in-service PE teaching practice.
a department of Kinesiology, Wilfrid laurier university, Waterloo, canada; b department of Kinesi... more a department of Kinesiology, Wilfrid laurier university, Waterloo, canada; b department of Kinesiology and physical education, McGill university, Montréal, canada; c health and physical education, school of science and health, Western sydney university, Kingswood, australia ABSTRACT University student-athletes have reported difficulties balancing the rigours of academic study, athletics, and their personal lives. These challenges may be exacerbated for first-year athletes who are transitioning from secondary school into university. Given that coaches significantly influence their athletes' experiences, their coaching styles and support may ease this transition process. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to investigate university coaches' experiences and strategies used with first-year studentathletes. Eight highly successful and experienced university coaches of men's team sports participated in individual semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis revealed that coaches created a supportive team environment for first-year athletes by building trusting relationships with them, showing patience with their development, and encouraging leadership from senior athletes. To further facilitate first-year athletes' success in and out of sport, coaches helped them accept their role on the team and improve their physical conditioning. Coaches also monitored their academic progress and advocated the use of available university resources such as tutors and support programmes. The current results benefit both coaches and athletes by highlighting the common challenges of a first-year university athlete, as well as by offering useful coaching strategies that can help this transition.
International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 2014
School physical education (PE) experiences play a critical role in adolescents' physical activity... more School physical education (PE) experiences play a critical role in adolescents' physical activity (PA) levels. Teachers are crucial to students' initial experiences in PA; however, limited research has explored teachers' perspectives about PA during PE using in-depth qualitative research techniques. We conducted interviews with 25 current Australian male and female PE teachers to investigate their perceptions about PA in secondary school PE (grades 7-12). Our findings indicated PA was a major focus for teachers during PE lessons; however, many physical and psychosocial factors underpinned practical classes. During PE lessons, PE teachers favoured game-based activities to promote PA while citing the traditional skill-drill approach as a strategy that limited PA. These findings highlight an ongoing shift in PE teaching towards a games-based approach and have several important implications for future teaching practice and research.
This paper examines perceptions of effective coaching and coach-athlete relationships within prof... more This paper examines perceptions of effective coaching and coach-athlete relationships within professional team sports in Australia. The findings are based on interviews with six male professional coaches and 25 players from cricket, rugby league, and rugby union. Qualitative data analysis reveals that relationships within professional sport settings are based on mutual respect, trust and honesty. The results also indicate that professional coaches and players describe two different types of coach-athlete relationships-the close, `family' oriented relationship or the `professional', arms-length relationship-both of which are considered equally effective as long as the coaches and athletes share the same attitude towards the relationship. These findings have implications for effective coaching and how coaches interact to develop relationships with their athletes. They demonstrate that if coaches are to be perceived as effective, it is crucial to consider individual athlete pre...
This study investigated the reasons why elite junior track and field athletes continue or discont... more This study investigated the reasons why elite junior track and field athletes continue or discontinue with elite level athletic participation during the transition years (18-24 years). Data was collected from 20 semi-structured interviews that were conducted with current and former elite track and field athletes, elite track and field coaches and Australian athletics administrators. Results indicated that a combination of psychological, social, economic, educational and political forces manifest extraordinary pressure on the athlete during the transition years, whilst also contributing to the phenomenon of elite athlete withdrawal. However, the results highlight that there are increasing opportunities for elite athletes to continue participating at an elite level during the transition years if the athlete is determined and supported in an appropriate manner. The participants provided recommendations for the administrators of the sport and advice to future athletes, parents and coach...
Environmental Health Perspectives, 2007
... Telephone: 44 1603 591004. Fax: 44 1603 593752. E-mail: Paul.Hunter/at/uea.ac.uk. The authors... more ... Telephone: 44 1603 591004. Fax: 44 1603 593752. E-mail: Paul.Hunter/at/uea.ac.uk. The authors declare they have no competing financial interests. Received April 19, 2007; Accepted September 24, 2007. This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. ...
In this paper, we investigate the effects of a community- and school-based service learning exper... more In this paper, we investigate the effects of a community- and school-based
service learning experience (SLE) on pre-service physical education teachers’
Indigenous knowledge, cultural competency and pedagogy. Informed by the
theoretical tenets of Indigenous research methodologies, experiential learning
and critical reflection, we examine 55 final-year pre-service physical education
teachers’ (age: 21.9 [8.3]; 10.7% low SES; 68% females) cultural learning and
competency in a core unit of study with a six-week SLE. Measures of their experiences
included reflective journals, multicultural teaching competency scales
and focus group interviews. Findings support the design of the SLE, with statistically
significant changes in pre-service teachers’ perceptions of their cultural
competency (p < 0.001). Pre-service teachers were able to challenge their
assumptions about Indigenous students, plan and implement student-centred and
culturally relevant pedagogies. Attention is drawn to the design of this SLE
and demonstrates the importance of using Indigenous community members
BMC public health, 2012
Background: The physical activity (PA) levels of many children and adolescents in Australia are c... more Background: The physical activity (PA) levels of many children and adolescents in Australia are currently insufficient to promote health benefits. Physical education (PE) programs aim to promote PA and reach nearly all school-aged children, but PA levels within PE lessons are often low. PE teachers may influence children's motivation to be physically active in PE lessons, but little is known about teacher strategies that effectively motivate children to participate in PA, and few intervention studies have examined motivational strategies in PE. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of three motivational strategies, each based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), on PA levels, and their hypothesized antecedents, during year 8 PE lessons.