Valid and reliable tests of motor competence are necessary to allow researchers and practitioners to quantify levels of motor competence, identify skill deficiencies, and determine the effectiveness ...of motor skill interventions. The primary study aim was to systematically review the validity and reliability of scores derived from gross motor competence tests for typically developing child and adolescent populations. The secondary aim of this review was to identify the most prevalent motor skills assessed across all instruments. A search of seven electronic databases identified 57 different skill assessment tools from 107 studies. Construct validity was the most common measurement property examined (60 studies; 56%). Content validity (21 studies; 20%) was the least commonly explored measurement property. Scores derived from the Test of Gross Motor Development - second and third edition had the most support for validity and reliability. The most common skills included in these skill batteries were the overhand throw (n = 33), catch (n = 32), jump (n = 31) and hop (n = 26). Research efforts should focus on: (1) further investigation of measurement properties of existing tools rather than developing new assessments and (2) further investigation of existing tools and their measurement properties in adolescent populations.
Physical literacy (PL) in childhood is essential for a healthy active lifestyle, with teachers playing a critical role in guiding its development. Teachers can assist children to acquire the skills, ...confidence, and creativity required to perform diverse movements and physical activities. However, to detect and directly intervene on the aspects of children's PL that are suboptimal, teachers require valid and reliable measures. This systematic review critically evaluates the psychometric properties of teacher proxy-report instruments for assessing one or more of the 30 elements within the four domains (physical, psychological, cognitive, social) of the Australian Physical Literacy Framework (APLF), in children aged 5-12 years. Secondary aims were to: examine alignment of each measure (and relevant items) with the APLF and provide recommendations for teachers in assessing PL. Seven electronic databases (Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Complete, Education Source, Global Health, MEDLINE Complete, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus) were systematically searched originally in October 2019, with an updated search in April 2021. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed English language publications that sampled a population of children with mean age between 5 and 12 years and focused on developing and evaluating at least one psychometric property of a teacher proxy-report instrument for assessing one or more of the 30 APLF elements. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidance was followed for the conduct and reporting of this review. The methodological quality of included studies and quality of psychometric properties of identified tools were evaluated using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidance. Alignment of each measure (and relevant items) with the APLF domains and 30 elements was appraised. Database searches generated 61,412 citations; reduced to 41 studies that evaluated the psychometric properties of 24 teacher proxy-report tools. Six tools were classified as single domain measures (i.e. assessing a single domain of the APLF), eleven as dual-domain measures, and seven as tri-domain measures. No single tool captured all four domains and 30 elements of the APLF. Tools contained items that aligned with all physical, psychological, and social elements; however, four cognitive elements were not addressed by any measure. No tool was assessed for all nine psychometric properties outlined by COSMIN. Included studies reported a median of 3 out of nine psychometric properties. Most reported psychometric properties were construct validity (n = 32; 78% of studies), structural validity (n = 26; 63% of studies), and internal consistency (n = 25; 61% of studies). There was underreporting of content validity, cross-cultural validity, measurement error, and responsiveness. Psychometric data across tools were mostly indeterminate for construct validity, structural validity, and internal consistency. There is limited evidence to fully support the use of a specific teacher proxy-report tool in practice. Further psychometric testing and detailed reporting of methodological aspects in future validity and reliability studies is needed. Tools have been designed to assess some elements of the framework. However, no comprehensive teacher proxy-report tool exists to assess all 30 elements of the APLF, demonstrating the need for a new tool. It is our recommendation that such tools be developed and psychometrically tested.
It has been suggested that young people should develop competence in a variety of 'lifelong physical activities' to ensure that they can be active across the lifespan.
The primary aim of this ...systematic review is to report the methodological properties, validity, reliability, and test duration of field-based measures that assess movement skill competency in lifelong physical activities. A secondary aim was to clearly define those characteristics unique to lifelong physical activities.
A search of four electronic databases (Scopus, SPORTDiscus, ProQuest, and PubMed) was conducted between June 2014 and April 2015 with no date restrictions.
Studies addressing the validity and/or reliability of lifelong physical activity tests were reviewed. Included articles were required to assess lifelong physical activities using process-oriented measures, as well as report either one type of validity or reliability.
Assessment criteria for methodological quality were adapted from a checklist used in a previous review of sport skill outcome assessments.
Movement skill assessments for eight different lifelong physical activities (badminton, cycling, dance, golf, racquetball, resistance training, swimming, and tennis) in 17 studies were identified for inclusion. Methodological quality, validity, reliability, and test duration (time to assess a single participant), for each article were assessed. Moderate to excellent reliability results were found in 16 of 17 studies, with 71% reporting inter-rater reliability and 41% reporting intra-rater reliability. Only four studies in this review reported test-retest reliability. Ten studies reported validity results; content validity was cited in 41% of these studies. Construct validity was reported in 24% of studies, while criterion validity was only reported in 12% of studies.
Numerous assessments for lifelong physical activities may exist, yet only assessments for eight lifelong physical activities were included in this review. Generalizability of results may be more applicable if more heterogeneous samples are used in future research.
Moderate to excellent levels of inter- and intra-rater reliability were reported in the majority of studies. However, future work should look to establish test-retest reliability. Validity was less commonly reported than reliability, and further types of validity other than content validity need to be established in future research. Specifically, predictive validity of 'lifelong physical activity' movement skill competency is needed to support the assertion that such activities provide the foundation for a lifetime of activity.
Self-perceptions such as perceived motor competence and psychosocial wellbeing have been identified as important to children’s physical activity. The study’s purpose was to explore whether perceived ...motor competence and psychosocial wellbeing were determinants of physical activity, one year after a baseline assessment.
Longitudinal study.
A total of 134 children (65.7% boys, 34.3% girls) aged 6–7 years at baseline (2016), and 7–8 years at follow-up (2017) were included in this study. Pearson’s correlations assessed associations at baseline and follow-up between moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) (accelerometers) and (i) total perceived motor competence and subdomains (the pictorial scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence) and (ii) psychosocial wellbeing and sub-domains — KidKINDL KINDer Lebensqualitätsfragebogen: Children Quality of Life Questionnaire (KINDLR). Variables identified as significant in Pearson’s correlations were included in mixed model analyses, adjusting for accelerometer wear time, sex and age.
Baseline perceived object control skills was associated with MVPA at follow-up (r=0.38, p<0.001), but perceived locomotor skills were not. Self-esteem was the only subdomain of psychosocial wellbeing that demonstrated significant association with MVPA at baseline (r=0.21, p<0.05). Perceived object control (B=1.36, p=0.019, 95% CI 0.23, 2.50) and self-esteem (B=0.32, p=0.001, 95% CI 0.13, 0.50) positively predicted MVPA; albeit with small effects.
Focusing on improving children’s perceived object control and self-reported self-esteem may contribute to children’s physical activity participation.
Physical literacy serves as the foundation for several skills or attributes needed for lifelong physical activity participation. Based on its connection to physical activity, physical literacy has ...been associated with a wide variety of positive health outcomes. While research suggests that teachers play a crucial role in fostering children’s physical literacy, however, few psychometrically sound measures have been designed for teachers to assess physical literacy in children. A teacher proxy-report instrument that assesses the four physical literacy domains (i.e., physical, psychological, social, and cognitive), along with the comprehensive set of 30 elements proposed by the Australian Physical Literacy Framework, could provide a useful metric for teachers to assess children’s physical literacy levels. Accordingly, this article provides a rationale for developing such a tool for physical literacy assessment, focusing on children aged 5–12 years, using Sport Australia’s definition and framework for physical literacy.
Regular physical activity provides physical, mental and cognitive benefits for children. However, globally, only 20% of children meet the recommended levels of physical activity and, on average, ...students sit for three-quarters of the school day. Active breaks are a well-tested component of many school-based physical activity interventions, but there are many barriers to the sustainable implementation of active breaks by teachers in schools. To overcome these barriers, the narrow, traditional idea of the 'brain break' needs to be reconceptualized, where active breaks are viewed as being separate from learning and teaching, and where physical activity is perceived as an interruption to learning. This article presents the TransformUs Active Break (TAB) model, which positions active breaks as part of an overall approach to proactive classroom management and as a key contributor to effective teaching. The TAB model comprises five types of active breaks, each serving a specific educative function-structure, transition, manage, energize and learn. The model demonstrates how active breaks can be integrated meaningfully into lessons to enhance teaching and learning as an effective approach for sustained school-based physical activity.
Introduction
TransformEd targets initial teacher education (ITE) to equip future teachers with innovative strategies that increase physical activity in the Primary school classroom.
Methods
This ...hybrid implementation-effectiveness trial investigated the effects of the TransformEd program when embedded in ITE degrees at two Australian universities (University 1 Single Unit offering; University 2 Dual Unit offering) over a 12-week period, on pre-service teachers’ perceived competence, confidence, and willingness to deliver active pedagogies, in comparison with a third ‘usual practice’ control university.
Results
There was a favourable intervention effect on the total teacher perceptions score among pre-service teachers in University 1 compared to the control group pre-service teachers. Further, there was a significant intervention effect on reduced perceived barriers to active strategies in University 1, and a significant increase in perceived effects of active strategies on Primary school student outcomes in University 2. Qualitative data suggested the program strengthened the connection between theory and practice (i.e., how pre-service teachers are educated in university and the way they teach in Primary schools). The program was motivating to both lecturers and pre-service teachers, resulted in them reflecting on their own teaching practice, and helped with pre-service teacher engagement.
Discussion
Recommendations for improvement included stronger and more explicit alignment with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
Background/aim
Parent proxy reports are well used in occupational therapy, yet historically parent report instruments of motor skill have not required parents to report on the same motor skills that ...their children are assessed on. The aim was to examine how well a parent report of children's fundamental movement skill (FMS) was associated with children's actual FMS.
Method
A sample of 100 children aged 7–9 years from Melbourne, Australia, were recruited. Parents/guardians completed proxy report (parent version of the ‘Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence’ (PMSC)) and children's actual motor skills were assessed (‘Test of Gross Motor Development’ 3rd edition (TGMD‐3)). Data were first analysed using Pearson's correlation coefficients and then hierarchical linear stepwise regression was conducted with actual skill as the outcome variable in each model.
Results
The PMSC‐Parent (r = 0.36, P < 0.001) was moderately associated with children's actual skill. After age and sex adjustment, the PMSC‐Parent explained 11.4% of variance in total skills. Parent report of their children's object control scores (PMSC object control scale) was significantly associated with children's actual object control (B = 0.36, P < 0.001) and explained 11.3% of the variance. Parent report of children's locomotion scores (PMSC locomotion scale) was associated with children's actual locomotor skills (B = 0.27, P = 0.007) and explained 6.2% of the variance.
Conclusion
Parents are able to report to some degree on their children's FMS competency, in particular, their object control competence. Parent proxy report of FMS may help inform occupational therapists to identify children with low FMS competency to develop interventions targeting FMS.
Physical literacy (PL) has generated substantial international interest across sport, health and education sectors. Teachers play a crucial role in supporting children's PL growth. Despite PL ...featuring in several physical education curricular texts, research into teacher understanding and perception of the concept is scarce. This study aimed to explore the understanding and perception of PL among Australian teachers of health and physical education (including generalists and specialists).
Utilizing an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study design, the first phase involved an online survey of 174 Australian teachers. The survey, developed from relevant literature, aimed to elicit an understanding of teachers' awareness, understanding, and perceptions of PL, and comprised a combination of open-ended, yes/no, Likert, and multiple-choice response options. The second phase involved semi-structured telephone interviews with nine survey participants, to build on survey responses. Interviews lasting on average 37 (range 28-58) minutes were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. For quantitative data, bivariate comparisons were made using chi-square tests to examine the relationships between teacher training (generalist versus specialist), age group, years of teaching experience, and teacher PL understanding. Interview data were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach to identify emergent theme clusters.
Respondents (n = 122, male 48.4%) were mostly specialist trained teachers, with 10-14 years of teaching experience. Quantitative findings revealed that while most teachers were aware of PL, many only partially understood the concept, often interpreting it as an understanding of bodily movements and/or the benefits of physical activity participation. There were no differences in PL understanding by teacher training, age group, or years of teaching experience. Two main themes, identified from qualitative interviews, which provided further explanation of teachers' understanding and perception of PL were: (a) 'physical literacy has been a bit of a buzzword': perceptions of the PL concept and (b) 'It's a concept that needs to be ingrained': implementing PL in schools. Teachers acknowledged the potential importance and applicability of PL, however, expressed scepticism (e.g. buzzword) about the concept. Narrow understanding of the concept persisted during interviews. In terms of its implementation within schools, teachers highlighted the need for curriculum alignment, provision of resources and professional development opportunities, and policy changes. In recognizing these implementation strategies, teachers further noted potential barriers that could hinder PL implementation including time constraints, workload and busyness, and the lack of prioritization of physical education (PE) within schools.
Study findings revealed the urgent need to clarify the concept of PL for teachers given their critical role in ensuring effective and successful translation of research into educational practice. Resources, professional dialogue, and continuing professional development opportunities can support teachers' overall understanding and implementation of PL. This is important for potentially maximizing children's PL development across the lifespan.
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