Teaching quality has a clear impact on student success, but how can good teaching be defined? The pan-European QualiTePe research project aims to answer this question specifically for Physical Education. In order to systematically assess teaching and learning processes, it is necessary to determine what characterises good teaching. Numerous international empirical studies of the past two decades have consolidated teaching quality criteria into three generic dimensions:
• Classroom management that is clear, well-structured and designed to prevent disruptions
• A socio-emotional climate that promotes supportive, student-centred lessons
• The potential for cognitive activation. These three dimensions form an empirical model of interdisciplinary pedagogical principles
The first project phase explores the extent to which these pedagogical principles also apply to Physical Education lessons and how experts from various European countries understand what constitutes good teaching in the subject of Physical Education. These findings provide the basis for the QualiTePE conceptual framework.
In the next phase, the conceptual framework is used to develop the digital QualiTePE evaluation tool for teaching practice. The tool is intended for use in teacher training and professional development to enable criteria-based observation and assessment of the quality of Physical Education lessons.
The long-term introduction of the QualiTePE conceptual framework and evaluation tool into teacher training and professional development programmes is the focus of the third phase, in which QualiTePE resources (including handouts, presentations, video examples) are developed. These resources support instructors at higher education institutions in imparting the theoretical content of the framework to future teachers and in equipping them with the ability to put this knowledge into practice. The project thus makes a substantial contribution to enhancing teaching quality in Physical Education in Europe.
These objectives form the basis for the project’s three main questions:
• How can dimensions and criteria of high-quality Physical Education be structured in a conceptual framework that is accepted throughout the whole of Europe?
• How can quality criteria of effective Physical Education be digitally evaluated in teaching practice?
• How can the QualiTePE conceptual framework and the QualiTePE evaluation tool be implemented in teacher training programmes in Europe?
Eleven partner organisations are collaborating in the project, which receives Erasmus+ funding.
Université du Luxembourg
Department of Education and Social Work
Institute for Teaching and Learning
Dr. Alina Lemling
2, avenue de l’Université
L-4365 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxemburg
Universität Hamburg
Bewegungs- und Sportpädagogik
Prof. Dr. Erin Gerlach und Dr. Wiebke Langer
Mollerstrasse 10
20148 Hamburg, Deutschland
Pädagogische Hochschule Zürich
Forschungsgruppe Didaktik Bewegung und Sport
Prof. Dr. Christian Herrmann und Angelo Crapa
Lagerstrasse 2
8090 Zürich, Schweiz
Universidad de Sevilla
Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación
Prof. Dr. Francies Ries
C./ Pirotecnia, s/n
E – 41013 Sevilla, España
Fontys University of Applied Sciences
Dr. Menno Slingerland en Dr. Lars Borghouts
Theo Koomenlaan 3
5644 HZ Eindhoven, Nederland
Gothenburg University
Department of Food, Nutrition and Sport Sciences
Box 300
Läroverksgatan 5
405 30 Gothenburg, Sverige
Masaryk University
Faculty of Sports Studies
Marcela Janíková, Pavlína Vaculíková & Petr Vlček
Kamenice 753/5,
625 00 Brno, Česká republika
University of Ljubljana
Faculty of Sport
Gortanova ul. 22
1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija
Université de Strasbourg
Laboratoire E3S
Schnitzler Christophe & Lisa Lefevre
14, rue Descartes
67000 Strasbourg, France
University College Cork
School of Education Scoil an Oideachais
João Costa and Wesley O’Brien
2 Lucan Place
Western Road
Cork, Ireland
European Physical Education Association
Maison des Sports Josy Barthel,
3 Route d’Arlon,
L-8009 Strassen, Luxembourg
One of the main objectives of the QualiTePE project was to bring together experts from different European countries to develop a common understanding of high-quality physical education, culminating in the creation of the consensus-based QualiTePE framework. However, the answer to the question of what can be described as high-quality physical education depends on the educational objectives and subject-didactic concepts that are pursued in physical education in the national contexts.
For this purpose, a three-round Delphi study involving a group of 324 experts from 17 European countries was carried out to generate common expert opinions on the question: What are the most effective characteristics of teaching quality in PE? In three rounds of data-collection, conducted in the period from February 2022 to January 2023, participants with different levels of expertise on the quality of teaching in PE were asked to assess specific dimensions by rating and ranking 28 sub-dimensions via online questionnaires.
A high level of consensus with only slight differences (threshold of 90 %) was reached on a final ranked list of 20 sub-dimensions, which in turn were assigned to six overarching dimensions (Langer et al. [in prep.]). Based on these empirical results, we propose the content-based QualiTePE framework – the so-called QualiTePE framework. By informing the development of the digital QualiTePE evaluation tool for teaching practice, this framework can help to build a common understanding of good teaching in PE. At the same time, it offers concrete implications for teacher evaluation and future research. This framework promotes European standardization and enables quality assessments and verifiable improvements.
References
Langer, W., Scheuer, C., Schnitzler, C., Lefèvre, L., Bailey, R., & Gerlach, E. [in prep.]. Quality in Physical Education: A European Delphi Study. Manuscript in Preparation.
In the QualiTePE project, a subject-specific QualiTePE questionnaire was developed on the basis of the theoretical framework of teaching quality in Physical Education (QualiTePE framework). For this purpose, the characteristics and dimensions formulated in the QualiTePE framework for good Physical Education were operationalised. The basis for this is the already validated instrument QUALLIS. The aim is to develop economic questionnaires for the formative evaluation of Physical Education in order to measure and improve the quality of teaching. The QualiTePE questionnaires describe the quality of Physical Education lessons through the assessment of (a) teachers, (b) observers and (c) pupils on specific teaching characteristics. The questionnaires and the analyses of the surveys are written in the national languages of the project countries: Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish. To date, there are no validated questionnaires that allow a subject-specific and multi-perspective evaluation of Physical Education and take into account the different subject-specific didactic discourses within Europe.
For a successful formative evaluation of Physical Education, it is important that the preparation, evaluation and interpretation can be carried out by teachers, observers and pupils in a short period of time. Data collection in the context of Physical Education must meet the high standards of data protection legislation in the partner countries involved. In addition, the digital implementation of the online survey must not place any special demands on the end device (computer, tablet, smartphone). The digital QualiTePE evaluation tool ensures this and brings together the various QualiTePE questionnaires in their different language versions and perspectives (teachers, observers and students) and makes them available to all partner countries as freely combinable templates. Teachers can manage the questionnaires themselves in the QualiTePE evaluation tool by creating class-related QR codes or web links. Survey data is collected automatically so that teachers can analyse it in real time during Physical Education lessons. This minimises teacher workload, increases user-friendliness and lowers the barriers to voluntary, formative evaluation. To date, there is no similar interactive tool for evaluating the quality of PE lessons, which promises great potential for innovation and digitalisation in school sport. We also see potential for transferability in the use of the QualiTePE evaluation tool in the context of extracurricular sport. In the future, it should be discussed whether the concept of the QualiTePE digital evaluation tool can also be applied to other subjects, in order to enable a subject-specific evaluation across several subjects using the same digital evaluation tool.
The following link will take you to the QualiTePE tool:
https://qualitepe.phzh.ch
The following link will take you to the QualiTePE scale documentation:
https://zenodo.org/records/11911262
The following link will take you to the technical manual and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12514452
The QualiTePE handbook supports you in applying the QualiTePE framework and the QualiTePE tool in physical education. The aim is to reflect on and improve the quality of physical education. The handbook aims to show that it is not so complicated to reflect on and develop physical education. It offers practical tips, step-by-step instructions and support for individuals, teams and organisations who want to improve their physical education.
The handbook is aimed at
•Teacher training colleges, University of Teacher Education and universitie
•Teacher trainers
• Teacher education researchers
• PE teachers
• Student teachers
• Non-governmental organisations such as research and teacher associations
• Stakeholders and policy makers in the field of teacher education
The QualiTePE framework is more than a set of principles. It is a comprehensive system that brings together good practice, proven methods and a spirit of continuous improvement in physical education. Whether you are an experienced teacher who wants to improve your methods, or a newly qualified teacher who wants to build a solid foundation for quality management in physical education. The handbook provides you with the necessary tools, strategies and understanding to successfully apply the QualiTePE building blocks.
As you read through the handbook, you will find that it combines theoretical knowledge with practical applicability. We invite you to explore the different parts of the handbook and use the QualiTePE framework as a guide for developing your own physical education programme.
The links below will take you to the QualiTePE handbooks:
English: Handbook and Guidance Material for the Implementation of the QualiTePE Framework and Instrument https://zenodo.org/records/13772862
German: Handbuch und Leitfaden für die Anwendung des QualiTePE-Rahmenkonzepts und -Instruments https://zenodo.org/records/13358776
French: Guide et documents d’orientation pour la mise en oeuvre du cadre et de l’instrument QualiTePE https://zenodo.org/records/13149417
Spanish: Manual y material de orientación para la implementación del marco e instrumento QualiTePE https://zenodo.org/records/13361245
Czech: Manuál a pokyny pro implementaci rámce a nástroje QualiTePE https://zenodo.org/records/13360824
Dutch: Handleiding en ondersteunend materiaal voor de implementatie van het QualiTePE raamwerk en instrument https://zenodo.org/records/13145815
Slovenian: Priročnik in navodila za uporabo modela in digitalnega orodja QualiTePE https://zenodo.org/records/13145914
Swedisch: Handbok and vägledande material för implementeringen av QualiTePE ramverk och verktyg https://zenodo.org/records/13134268
The QualiTePE YouTube Channel offers tutorial videos in different languages on how to use the QualiTePE tool:
