Learning about meaningful physical education in physical education teacher education: two case studies of sustained implementation

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ABSTRACT How innovations are interpreted and implemented in teacher education programmes matters to how they are applied in school contexts. Implementation research can illuminate how innovations promote educational effectiveness [Century, J., & Cassata, A. (2016). Implementation research: Finding common ground on what, how, why, where, and who. Review of Research in Education, 40(1), 169–215]. Eight teacher educators explored how the Meaningful Physical Education (PE) pedagogical innovation was taken up and implemented across time in two physical education teacher education programmes. Data sources included two structured focus group interviews and sample course documentation and materials. Within-case analysis illustrates how attributes of the Meaningful PE innovation, organisational and contextual factors, and supports influenced implementation. The cross-case analysis explores how and why Meaningful PE was sustained. Notably, when Meaningful PE ideas were embedded within and across programme structures based on a shared vision, implementation was sustained. Moreover, Meaningful PE was vulnerable to organisational (e.g. personnel) and environmental changes that risked its inconsistent implementation. Grounding innovation elements in programme structures may help sustain a consistent implementation across time.