Research at the Nexus Between Physical Education and Environmental Education: A Narrative Integrative Review Through a Physical Literacy Lens

Following inter-/transdisciplinary ideas, environmental education inherently collaborates with other subjects, including physical education. As the work with other subjects might be jeopardised by differing worldviews and paradigms, it is worth illuminating compatible and incompatible positions for...

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Main Authors: Johannes Carl, Kathryn Riley, Jacqui Peters, Peta J. White
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-03-01
Series:Australian Journal of Environmental Education
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0814062625000060/type/journal_article
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author Johannes Carl
Kathryn Riley
Jacqui Peters
Peta J. White
author_facet Johannes Carl
Kathryn Riley
Jacqui Peters
Peta J. White
author_sort Johannes Carl
collection DOAJ
description Following inter-/transdisciplinary ideas, environmental education inherently collaborates with other subjects, including physical education. As the work with other subjects might be jeopardised by differing worldviews and paradigms, it is worth illuminating compatible and incompatible positions for inter-/transdisciplinary work. In physical education, the concept of physical literacy (PL) has recently gained considerable attention and adopts a student-centred perspective on human existence and learning. Therefore, the goal of the present narrative integrative review was to review the existing literature at the nexus between physical education and environmental education through a PL lens (five pre-defined concept assumptions). After screening for eligibility, a total of 129 articles were assigned to five different thematic categories: (a) conceptual discussion/argumentative patterns, (b) curricular discussion and international comparisons, (c) programming/intervention content, (d) teacher and enabler perspectives and (e) student outcomes/perspectives. The synthesis revealed that PL can harmonise with the educative work when respecting the disciplinary interests of both physical education and environmental education. However, few intervention studies translate the holistic PL claims into interventions. Accordingly, evaluations with teachers or students less frequently integrated holistic learning experiences in line with PL. In summary, previous research at the nexus has not yet exhausted its full inter-/transdisciplinary potential.
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spelling doaj-art-a7dec6c2d1124bf1aef3cc70f1bfc5df2025-08-20T04:02:37ZengCambridge University PressAustralian Journal of Environmental Education0814-06262049-775X2025-03-014142210.1017/aee.2025.6Research at the Nexus Between Physical Education and Environmental Education: A Narrative Integrative Review Through a Physical Literacy LensJohannes Carl0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7393-0450Kathryn Riley1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7555-9237Jacqui Peters2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5586-6379Peta J. White3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0225-5934Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, AustraliaFaculty of Education, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaSchool of Education, Centre for Regenerating Futures, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, AustraliaSchool of Education, Centre for Regenerating Futures, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, AustraliaFollowing inter-/transdisciplinary ideas, environmental education inherently collaborates with other subjects, including physical education. As the work with other subjects might be jeopardised by differing worldviews and paradigms, it is worth illuminating compatible and incompatible positions for inter-/transdisciplinary work. In physical education, the concept of physical literacy (PL) has recently gained considerable attention and adopts a student-centred perspective on human existence and learning. Therefore, the goal of the present narrative integrative review was to review the existing literature at the nexus between physical education and environmental education through a PL lens (five pre-defined concept assumptions). After screening for eligibility, a total of 129 articles were assigned to five different thematic categories: (a) conceptual discussion/argumentative patterns, (b) curricular discussion and international comparisons, (c) programming/intervention content, (d) teacher and enabler perspectives and (e) student outcomes/perspectives. The synthesis revealed that PL can harmonise with the educative work when respecting the disciplinary interests of both physical education and environmental education. However, few intervention studies translate the holistic PL claims into interventions. Accordingly, evaluations with teachers or students less frequently integrated holistic learning experiences in line with PL. In summary, previous research at the nexus has not yet exhausted its full inter-/transdisciplinary potential.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0814062625000060/type/journal_articleEnvironmental educationhealthinterdisciplinarylearningphysical educationphysical literacystudents
spellingShingle Johannes Carl
Kathryn Riley
Jacqui Peters
Peta J. White
Research at the Nexus Between Physical Education and Environmental Education: A Narrative Integrative Review Through a Physical Literacy Lens
Australian Journal of Environmental Education
Environmental education
health
interdisciplinary
learning
physical education
physical literacy
students
title Research at the Nexus Between Physical Education and Environmental Education: A Narrative Integrative Review Through a Physical Literacy Lens
title_full Research at the Nexus Between Physical Education and Environmental Education: A Narrative Integrative Review Through a Physical Literacy Lens
title_fullStr Research at the Nexus Between Physical Education and Environmental Education: A Narrative Integrative Review Through a Physical Literacy Lens
title_full_unstemmed Research at the Nexus Between Physical Education and Environmental Education: A Narrative Integrative Review Through a Physical Literacy Lens
title_short Research at the Nexus Between Physical Education and Environmental Education: A Narrative Integrative Review Through a Physical Literacy Lens
title_sort research at the nexus between physical education and environmental education a narrative integrative review through a physical literacy lens
topic Environmental education
health
interdisciplinary
learning
physical education
physical literacy
students
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0814062625000060/type/journal_article
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AT jacquipeters researchatthenexusbetweenphysicaleducationandenvironmentaleducationanarrativeintegrativereviewthroughaphysicalliteracylens
AT petajwhite researchatthenexusbetweenphysicaleducationandenvironmentaleducationanarrativeintegrativereviewthroughaphysicalliteracylens