Complementary interdisciplinary lesson pairing in which biology explains PE processes and PE visualises biology content

Design · All designs
Evidence · 3 claims (3 for) · 2 studies (1 causal, 1 qualitative), q2 · 1 of 2 report an effect size · 3 claims rest on one study

Description

In this pattern, two subjects' lessons are designed to complement each other: "the biology lesson supplies explanations for processes occurring in PE, whereas the PE lesson provides a visualisation of the theoretical biology content". The test group received interdisciplinary block-classes of three lessons a week in the fitness studio, combining a short theoretical introduction with a practical phase in which scientific input was applied to physical perceptions, observed and reflected upon. In combination the lessons offer a physical experience and critical reflection on what was learned theoretically and practically.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

• Both groups must deal with the same content so lessons differ only in teaching method

Constraints

• The pattern was studied in human biology topics such as muscle build-up, the cardiovascular system, nutrition and endurance training

Target Learners

• German grammar school students in fifth and sixth form

Learning Goals

• Connecting theoretical biology content with practical physical experience
• Applicable knowledge of training and human biology

Claims

• Idt Biology Pe Greater Knowledge Growth Than Subject Related [+M]
• The subject-taught control group showed no significant knowledge increase while the interdisciplinary test group did [+W]
• Students who transferred prior-domain knowledge tended to offer correct explanations in the other domain [+W]

Related Designs

Examples

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Key Sources

• Katharina Spintzyk, Friederike Strehlke, Stephanie Ohlberger, Bernd Gröben, and Claas Wegner. (2016). An Empirical Study Investigating Interdisciplinary Teaching of Biology and Physical Education. Science Educator, Vol. 25, No. 1. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=An+Empirical+Study+Investigating+Interdisciplinary+Teaching+of+Biology+and+Physical+Education

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	design
id	complementary-biology-pe-lesson-pairing
title	Complementary interdisciplinary lesson pairing in which biology explains PE processes and PE visualises biology content
description	In this pattern, two subjects' lessons are designed to complement each other: "the biology lesson supplies explanations for processes occurring in PE, whereas the PE lesson provides a visualisation of the theoretical...
status	review
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-11-01
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — katharina-spintzyk-2016

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