International Research Project

International Project

Becoming an Agent in Physical Education: Exploring Student Agency through Cross-Cultural Inquiry

The Project

About the Project

The project is a 1.5-year doctoral research project starting in January 2027 and ending in June 2028.

This project brings together physical education teachers from Norway and Turkiye to create a dynamic international learning community.

What Is Student Agency?

In physical education lessons, we often encounter students with different interests, ideas, and needs. Some students want to set their own goals, while others suggest changing an activity, look for solutions to challenges, or explore new possibilities together with their peers.

But what can these moments tell us about how students shape their own learning? And how can we, as teachers, support these opportunities?

At the heart of our project is student agency, which goes beyond simply participating in activities. It is about how students make sense of their learning experiences, influence how their learning unfolds, and shape the learning environment around them.

However, student agency is not simply about giving students choices or asking for their opinions. Students' previous experiences, their relationships with others, and the opportunities offered by the learning environment are also important parts of this process.

Through this project, we aim to work together with PE teachers from Norway and Türkiye to explore how students can take a more active and meaningful role in their learning. And teachers can develop and try out new ideas in their PE lessons and reflect together on their experiences.

Be part of the project

Why Join the Project?

01

Professional Development

Reflect on your teaching, explore new ideas and develop practices in an international setting.

02

International Collaboration

Work and learn together with teachers from Norway and Türkiye.

03

Professional Portfolio

Document experiences, reflections and resources developed throughout the project.

Participation

What will your participation look like?

01

Regular Online Meetings

Meet online with PE teachers from Norway and Turkiye every 1–2 months to discuss ideas, experiences, and practices.

02

Practice Research

During the 3 semester research period, you can bring questions, experiences and reflections related to student agency in PE and explore, test, and develop ideas with teachers from Norway and Turkiye.

Project Design

Project Design

Overview of the 3 School Semesters

Overview of the 3 School Semesters
Resources

Shared Resource Hub

Go to Community →
01

Share & Learn

Share lesson ideas, templates and resources you develop during the project; explore and access materials created by other teachers and the researcher.

02

Adaptable Resources

Resources are not fixed. Adapt and develop them to fit your students, your content and your PE lessons.

Shared Resource Hub
People

Project Team

Mats Hordvik

Mats Hordvik

Professor
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences

Beril Kiraç

Beril Kiraç

PhD Researcher
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences

Øyvind Forland Standal

Øyvind Forland Standal

Professor
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences

Researcher’s Role
Research Process

Researcher’s Role

Facilitation of collaborative inquiry and online meetings
Support of teachers in planning, trying and reflecting on practices
Classroom observations (4-6 times in a year)
Interviews with teachers and students (2x in a year)
Collection of materials and reflection notes (e.g., lesson plans, reflections, student materials)
Research Ethics

Ethical Approvals

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Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of this incredible international project!