PEPAYS Ireland Forum 2018

Time slot

9.20am - Introduction to the day

9.30am - 10.25 - Keynote: Experiencing unprecedented changes in school physical education

Suzanne Hargreaves, a physical education teacher for 26 years before working at Education Scotland, shares her experiences of navigating considerable changes to the physical education curriculum in the Scottish school system that are closely aligned to, and in some instances informed, the recent changes to school physical education in Ireland. Suzanne will share her experiences of dealing with the reality of such changes as a physical education teacher. She will consider how her work as a Senior Education Officer with Education Scotland heightens her awareness of the plights of physical education teachers as they negotiate unprecedented changes in school physical education provision. Suzanne will also consider the extent to which evidence has been collected in the Scottish context to inform support practices and structures to those dealing with such changes in school physical education.

10.30am - 11am - Principles of effective assessment

This session will share what research determines as principles of effective assessment and examples of such in international physical education contexts. The focus will then turn to focusing on the assessment of Irish school physical education given the recent introduction of classroom-based assessments, portfolios, written exams, practical performance and physical activity project.

11.10am - 12.10pm - Parallel research presentations (see groups below)

An opportunity for those involved in research related to physical education, physical activity and youth sport to share their work with colleagues.

12.15pm - 1pm Lunch

1.05pm - 2.05pm Panel meeting with representation from IPPEA, JCT, NCCA, PEAI, PETE Ireland and PDST

This session will provide an opportunity for attendees to hear from stakeholders involved in Irish physical education and to pose questions to panel members.

2.10pm - 3pm Researching primary physical education, junior cycle PE, SCPE and LCPE

This session will provide updates on current research and initial findings being undertaken in primary physical education, junior cycle physical education, SCPE and LCPE. This will not only update attendees on current research activity but also begin to identify further research opportunities as we continue to understand and evaluate the reality of teaching Irish physical education curricula. The session will also encourage consideration of associated changes that need to be made in Irish physical education teacher education programmes.

3.05pm - 3.55pm Active research opportunities for physical education teachers and stakeholders

This session will encourage attendees to consider opportunities to undertake small-scale research projects aligned to their ongoing experiences with teaching physical education. Some examples of such research will be shared with attendees. Consideration will also be given to how teachers wishing to undertake such work could gain recognition for their work under the Cosán, the national framework for teachers’ learning.

3.55pm Closing remarks

Parallel research presentations

Group 1:

• Moving Well-Being Well: Getting Ireland’s Children Moving - Stephen Behan, Sarahjane Belton, C. Peers, N. O’Connor, Johann Issartel, Dublin City University
• Physical Activity Parenting and Children’s Physical Activity in Ireland - Rhoda Sohun, Ann MacPhail, and Ciarán MacDonncha, University of Limerick
• The Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity Study (CSPPA17-18) – Cormac Powell, University of Limerick; Catherine Woods, University of Limerick; Jean Saunders, University of Limerick; Sarahjane Belton, Dublin City University, Wesley O’Brien, University College Cork, and Marie Murphy, University of Ulster
• Students, Teachers and School Management Perceptions of the Student Led Approach in the Post-primary Schools Active School Flag Programme – Fiona McHale, University of Limerick; Kwok Ng, University of Limerick; Catherine Norton, University of Limerick; Donal O’Shea, University College Dublin; Catherine Woods, University of Limerick
• Engagement with the Active School Flag: A School’s Perspective - Jamie McGann, Dublin City University; Sarah Meegan, Dublin City University; Elaine Murtagh, Mary Immaculate College; Catherine Woods, University of Limerick; Sarahjane Belton, Dublin City University
• An Evaluation of the Year 3 Implementation of Project Spraoi on the Health of Irish Children: A Step Back Approach - Conor Hammersley, Cork Institute of Technology

Group 2:

• The Influence of Within-sport Specialisation on Performance and Retention in Track and Field Athletics in the United Kingdom - Philip Kearney, University of Limerick; Tom Comyns, University of Limerick; and Philip Hayes, Northumbria University, UK
• Factors and Actions to Prevent Dropout in Youth Sport: Results of a Rapid Review and Expert Opinions - Joey Murphy, University of Limerick; Catherine Woods, University of Limerick; Dorien Dijk, Centre for Sport Netherlands; and Jan Seghers, KU Leuven
• Including Students with Disabilities in Post Primary PE: An Exploration of Student and Teacher Voices - Ona McGrath, University College Cork
• Action Research in Physical Education: One Teacher’s Approach to Inclusion of a Child with SEN - Catherine Mc Bride, St. Patrick’s BNS; Susan Marron and Frances Murphy, St. Patrick’s College, Dublin City University
• Intervention Process and Preliminary Findings of Project FLAME - Diarmuid Lester and Wesley O’Brien, University College Cork

Group 3:

• Teacher Educators Supporting Primary Generalists Learning to Teach PE - Frances Murphy, Susan Marron, Maura Coulter, St. Patrick’s College, Dublin City University
• Post-primary Students’ Attitudes Towards and Experiences of Health Related Physical Fitness Tests in School-based Physical Education Programmes - Brendan O’ Keeffe, Alan Donnelly and Ciaran MacDonncha, University of Limerick
• Measuring Health-related Fitness in a School-based Setting - Úna Britton, Johann Issartel, Gerry Fahey, Gerry Conyngham, Sarahjane Belton, Dublin City University
• Conceptualising examinable physical education in the Irish context: the development of Leaving Certificate Physical Education - Dylan Scanlon, Ann MacPhail, Antonio Calderon, University of Limerick
• Moving Physical Education to Greater Prominence in Primary Schools. A Case study on the Implementation of the Active Schools’ Flag Programme in a Primary School - Muireann Kelleher and Bronagh McGrane, Dublin City University

Posters to be presented:

• Feasibility Study for Improving Health Behaviours and Health Literacy in School-aged Children: Healthy Ireland Demonstration Project – Kwok Ng, University of Limerick; D. O’Shea, Dublin City University; Fiona McHale, University of Limerick; Catherine Woods, University of Limerick
• Gaelic4Girls’ (G4G) - A Multi-component Community Sports-based Exploratory Intervention for Increased Physical Activity Participation - Orlagh Farmer, Wesley O’ Brien and Kevin Cahill, University College Cork
• Promoting ‘I can do gymnastics’ in My Primary PE Class - Shelley Finnerty and Frances Murphy, St. Patrick’s College, Dublin City University
• Examination of How a Wearable Fitness Tracker can Affect PA Levels and PA Motivation in Irish Secondary School Students - Pádraig Bolger, Sarahjane Belton, and Johann Issartel, Dublin City University
• Enhancing Fundamental Movement Skills While Encouraging Student Voice - Cathal Óg O’Sullivan, Melissa Parker, and Tom Comyns, University of Limerick
• The Efficacy of the Project FLAME Intervention in the Development of Adolescent PL - Brian Donovan, University College Cork; Wesley O’Brien, University College Cork; Sarahjane Belton, Dublin City University