title: Changes in physical activity levels, lesson context, and teacher interaction during physical education in culturally and linguistically diverse Australian schools.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent data show that only 15% of Australian adolescents participate in adequate amounts of physical activity (PA) and those students from Asian and Middle-Eastern backgrounds in Grades 6-12 are significantly less active than their English-speaking background peers. Schools have recently been recognised as the most widely used and cost-effective setting for promoting PA among youth and one domain within schools where PA can occur regularly for all youth, regardless of cultural background or socio-economic status, is during physical education (PE).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study describes changes in physical activity (PA), lesson context and teacher interaction in physical education over the first two years in culturally and linguistically diverse secondary schools. Grade 7 PE classes in six schools were randomly observed using systematic direct observation (n = 81) and then followed up over the same period (n = 51) twelve months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant decline in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during PE (MD = -4.8%; p = .777), but a significant decline and medium negative effect in time spent in vigorous physical activity (VPA) (MD = -7.9%; p = .009) during PE was observed. Significant declines and large negative effects over time in percentage of PE time spent in management (MD = -8.8%; p < .001) and the number of observations where teachers promoted PA (MD = -20.7%; p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decline of VPA and teacher promotion of PA in culturally and linguistically diverse schools is of concern. Given the declines in VPA and the increases in time spent in game play, further research is needed to ascertain whether PE instruction could be improved by focussing on skill instruction and fitness in a games-based PE instruction model. Further research for increasing teacher promotion of PA during PE is needed.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement Studies, Faculty of Education, Charles Sturt University, Allen House, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. ddudley@csu.edu.au
authors.forename: Dean A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dudley
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Okely
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Wayne G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Cotton
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caputi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012574:Schools; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data