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Evaluation Project Background Of Physical Education Essay

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Evaluation Project Background

While the term physical literacy is gaining attention in the US as a goal for physical education (PE), physical literacy (PL) has been used within physical education in other countries such as Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The internationally accepted definition of PL is “the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life” (Whitehead, 2013). The conception of physical literacy in the US derives from the need to address increasing rates of obesity in youth. Physical education curriculum provides an indispensable opportunity in the establishment of physical literacy, however the aim of PL is to move beyond specific proficiency in specific activities to inclusiveness of all abilities and focuses on competencies in a variety of movements and environments.

In 2014, Society of Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) America released the National Standards & Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education. One of the key changes to this third iteration of the national standards was the incorporation of the term physical literacy based on the founding work of Margret Whitehead (2001, 2007, and 2010). Based on Whitehead’s model, SHAPE America identified the following elements for developing PL in PE programs in the US (adapted from Roetert & MacDonald, 2015):

1. A positive attitude towards physical activity through having

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