Transnational Exchange on the Future of Sport Pedagogy
Over 200 participants, including a panel of speakers representing educational and sports institutions in Canada, Ireland, Macao, and Taiwan attended the 2023 International Conference of Taiwan's Sport Pedagogy Development and Physical Literacy Assessment, hosted by NTNU on November 26.
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Education (MOE)’s Sports Administration, and co-Organized by the NTNU Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences (DPESS), and the Taiwan Society for Sport Pedagogy (TASSP), discussions focused on the development of literacy-oriented physical education and related issues, with the aim of aligning Taiwan’s sports education with global standards.
In recent years, curriculum reform in Taiwan has focused on the integration of “self-motivation, interaction, and mutual benefit” into Taiwan’s primary and secondary school PE curriculum, and adopting the international concept of “physical literacy.”
The conference featured two forums, thematic lectures, and a variety of presentations, and opened with a welcome address by Li-Heng Wang, Chief of the School P.E. Section at the MOE Sports Administration.
The first forum focused on the developmental context, research process, and international outlook of sports pedagogy in Taiwan, and featured a panel of speakers from leading universities in Taiwan, moderated by Professor Ching-Ping Lin, director of of the MOE Sports Administration Quality Physical Education (QPE) Development Plan.
The second forum, which centered on “The Practice and Challenges of Physical Literacy Assessment,” challenged conventional assessment methodology and advocated for dynamic and feedback oriented approaches. Distinguished speakers from prominent universities and organizations in Taiwan, Canada, Macao, and Ireland contributed their experiences and innovative methods in the assessment of physical literacy in their respective countries. A international perspective provided attendees with significant insights to developing sports curricula in their own countries.
Highlights included Drew Mitchell, CEO of Sports for Life Society Canada, who shared Canada’s strategies for improving healthy populations and sports achievements. Ann MacPhail from the University of Limerick, Ireland, discussed the transformative role of assessment in student learning in physical education.
The symposium included a poster design competition, awards and certificates of merit for outstanding doctoral theses to acknowledge and encourage future academic research production. This event marks a pivotal step in shaping the future of sports education in Taiwan and underscores the importance of international collaboration in this field.