About
Dean Barker is professor of physical education at the Department of Primary and Secondary Teacher Education within the Faculty of Education and International Studies at Oslo Metropolitan University.
Research
His research focuses on student learning in physical education. Ongoing projects aim to develop pedagogical strategies for teachers, which will enhance students' learning experiences.
Dean Barker is also involved in critical investigations of physical education practices. These have a focus on movement capability, fat stigma, and health within the school subject.
Other research focuses on aspects of physical education teacher education (PETE) and the preparation of pre-service teachers for professional life.
Dr. Barker has authored or co-authored more than 60 papers published in peer-reviewed journals. He is also a regular reviewer and speaker at national and international scientific meetings.
Teaching
Dean Barker gives lectures and is responsible for PETE courses at bachelors and advanced levels. He is currently supervising six doctoral candidates.
Collaboration and assignments
Editorial board member for 'Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education'.
Editorial board member for 'Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy'.
Board member for the European Association for the Sociology of Sport.
Research groups
Publications and research
Scientific publications
Barker, Dean
; Caldeborg, A.; Quennerstedt, Mikael; Varea, V.
(2025).
How young migrants perceive school health education in Sweden.
Health Education Research.
Vol. 40.
https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyaf012
Barker, Dean
; Ekberg, J.-E.; Nyberg, Gunn; Larsson, H.
(2025).
What do you think you are doing? How physical education researchers make scientific contributions.
Sport, Education and Society.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2025.2465588
Fjellner, Robin Lindgren; Larsson, Håkan;
Barker, Dean
(2024).
Exploring the enacted content of the Practising Model: A Bildung theoretical perspective.
European Physical Education Review.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X241298629
Quennerstedt, Mikael;
Barker, Dean
; Johansson, Anna; Korp, Peter
(2024).
Teaching with the test: Using fitness tests to teach paradoxically in physical education.
European Physical Education Review.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X241283796
Nyberg, Gunn; Ekberg, Jan-Eric;
Barker, Dean
; Larsson, Håkan
(2024).
Power of movement capability.
Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education.
https://doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2024.2408313
Aasland, Erik
; Nyberg, Gunn;
Barker, Dean
(2024).
Enacting a new physical education curriculum: a collaborative investigation.
14 p.
Sport, Education and Society.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2024.2367752
Varea, V.; Caldeborg, A.;
Barker, Dean
; Quennerstedt, Mikael
(2024).
Health education in Swedish schools–what’s on offer?.
Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2024.2360905
Larsson, Håkan;
Barker, Dean
; Ekberg, Jan-Eric; Engdahl, Christopher; Frisk, Anders; Nyberg, Gunn
(2024).
Creative dance – practising and improving … what? A study in physical education teacher education.
17 p.
European Physical Education Review.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X241254284
Kamuk Storm, Louise; Munk Svendsen, Annemari; Stambulova, Natalia;
Barker, Dean
; Ronkainen, Noora; Bjørndal, Christian Thue; Larsen, Signe Højbjerre; Book, Robert; Kuettel, Andreas; Larsen, Carsten Hvid; Henriksen, Kristoffer
(2024).
Cultural leadership in physical education and youth sport: Consensus from a Nordic Think Tank.
Scandinavian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (SJSEP).
Vol. 6.
https://doi.org/10.7146/sjsep.v6i.141284
Barker, Dean
; Larsson, Nils Håkan Olof; Nyberg, Gunn
(2023).
How Movement Habits Become Relevant in Novel Learning Situations.
Journal of teaching in physical education.
Vol. 43.
https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2022-0272
