‘In, through and about’ movement: is there a place for the Arnoldian dimensions in the new Australian Curriculum for Health and Physical Education?

Abstract

Arnold's dimensions of movement, commonly known as education ‘in, through and about’ movement, serve as one of five propositions in the development of a new national curriculum document for Health and Physical Education. The purpose of this article is to examine these dimensions, before undertaking an interrogation of their usefulness in the new curriculum. Examples from New Zealand and extracts from the draft curriculum paper will be used to frame a critical review of the intended enactment of Arnold's dimensions in the new curriculum. Within the draft curriculum document there appears to be uncertainty about how Arnold's dimensions and his language underpin and should be translated into the key ideas of the movement and physical activity strand. Discussion highlights that the text can therefore be seen as sending ‘mixed messages’ to those already familiar with such conceptualizations for physical education. This said, the new curriculum is identified as providing important opportunities for ongoing theoretical and practical work with these seminal dimensions as a reference point for curriculum planning.