Curriculum Decisions Made by Secondary Teachers and Comparison With Students' Preferences

• In Event: Research on Learning and Instruction in Physical Education Poster Session

Abstract

Framed by Sirotnik and Oakes (1981) four contextual domains (i.e., personal, instructional, institutional, societal) this study sought to increase understanding of what impacts teachers’ curriculum decision-making and how the activities chosen relate to students interests. Teachers (N=76) and students (N=258) from 12 purposely selected secondary schools located in a large school district in the United States (US) participated by answering a questionnaire. Teachers indicated that curriculum decisions were influenced by personal, instructional and institutional factors and favored primarily team sports, with some fitness activities and individual sports incorporated. Students reported most engagement with jogging/running, walking, basketball, and cycling outside of school. To improve student attitude in secondary programming, this mismatch of offerings and interests may need to be addressed.

Authors

• Dominique Banville, George Mason University

• Pamela Hodges Kulinna