“A National Curriculum That Cannot Be Adapted to My Pedagogy Does Not Exist”: Assessment and Pedagogy in Norwegian Physical Education After Implementation of the National Curriculum of 2006

• In Event: Roundtable Session 24
  In Roundtable Session: Fitness, Health, and Physical Activity: Possibilities for Curriculum Change

Abstract

The NC06 (National Curriculum of 2006) brought new assessment regulations for Norwegian PE (Physical Education). Based on an embedded mixed methods approach we discuss how the implementations of NC06 influenced the pedagogy and assessment practices in PE. We use Bernstein's (1975) «three message systems» - "curriculum", "pedagogy" and "evaluation" – and Handal & Lauvås (1999) «praksisteori» (teachers’ believes) perspective, as a theoretical framework. Results show that half of the teachers changed assessment practices, but the changes went in different and sometimes conflicting directions, partly due to individual teachers’ believes. The three message systems affect each other and changes made are related to teachers’ believes. If there are conflicts between the systems, assessment seems to be the strongest.

Authors

• Trond Egil Arnesen, Stord Haugesund University College

• Petter Erik Leirhaug, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences

• Ann-Kristin Nilsen, Bergen University College