The topic of the present article is observed teaching practice in Physical Education in a Norwegian context. The research question is: What characterizes Physical Education sessions, in the form of lesson signatures? The term lesson signature is used to refer to an aggregate number of observed and completed education sessions that are intended to reveal specific “outer” patterns. The empirical data on which the article is based was obtained from the project Kvalitet i opplæringa (KIO) in primary and secondary school. Momentary time sampling was used as the observation method, and an observation form with fixed categories was employed. The signatures generally show that the teaching sessions are divided into professional time (75 %) and non-professional time (25 %). The students are actually physically active for between 15-35 minutes, which is just under half of the session. The signature also reveals that the teaching is characterized by teacher-centered, full-class teaching and instruction.
Utbildning och Lärande. Tidskrift.