Bildung: A German student-centered approach to health and physical education

Abstract

Theoretical foundations are fundamental to research in health and physical education. They reflect historical and cultural ideas and values. In this article, we seek to introduce the philosophy of Bildung from the Nordic-German cultural region to an English-speaking audience as one theoretical foundation for student-centered teaching. Bildung focuses on the student and his or her self-formation processes in health and physical education. Bildung refers to the holistic development of cognitive, physical, emotional, social, and esthetic capacities. It is an active and reflective process that centers on the inner development of individuality and is realized by individuals as they perceive, interpret, and respond to their realities and, in turn, shape the world in which they live. In this article, we also discuss parallels with social-constructivist approaches to health and physical education, especially with the concept of social and emotional learning.