The Spectrum of Teaching Styles

SITL Board Member, Dr. Nikolaos Digelidis, will be presenting "Inclusion in Sport and Physical Education: It's All Related with How We Teach" at the 3rd International Congress on Health, Physical Education, Dance and World" at the Turkish Olympic Committee from June 24-28.

Abstract:
Inclusion in sport and physical education constitutes a multifaceted moral and pedagogical imperative that extends well beyond the mere physical accommodation of diverse learners. This presentation examines the conceptual foundations of inclusion and argues that meaningful inclusive practice is inextricably linked to the instructional frameworks and decision-making structures that teachers and coaches employ in their daily practice.

Drawing on Mosston's Spectrum of Teaching Styles (1966; Mosston & Ashworth, 2008), the presentation demonstrates how the distribution of decision-making authority between teacher and learner has direct implications for participation, autonomy, and belonging. Specific teaching styles examples are examined — including the Command, Practice, Reciprocal, Self-Check,
Inclusion, Guided Discovery, and Divergent Discovery styles — and are evaluated against six key principles for inclusive pedagogy: (1) positive attitude toward diversity, (2) physical and psychological access to participation, (3) meaningful learner choice, (4) positive social interaction, (5) promotion of self-regulation, and (6) differentiation and individualization of learning tasks.

The presentation further situates inclusive pedagogy within the broader values of Olympism — excellence, friendship, and respect — contending that the aspirational goals of sport cannot be realized without a conscious commitment to equity and belonging. Challenges related to cultural diversity, implicit values in the hidden curriculum, and persistent stereotypes in physical education
settings are discussed, alongside empirical findings on the effects of varying teaching styles on students' intrinsic motivation and academic learning time.

The presentation concludes that inclusion is not just an abstract ideal but an achievable outcome, contingent upon the informed, reflective, and ethically grounded pedagogical choices of teachers and coaches. A framework for translating inclusive values into concrete instructional practice is proposed, with implications for teacher education and professional development in physical education and sport.

Ready to apply for our Scholarship? Scan the QR or go to https://spectrumofteachingstyles.org/index.php?id=2026 for more detailed information and application packets!

SITL has officially published the Conference Proceedings from our 1st International Conference on the Spectrum of Teaching Styles. You can find it on spectrumofteachingstyles.org in our article database and soon Google Books. Join our network of colleagues to stay up to date on the current research!

The Sara Ashworth Graduate Student Assistantship Award Scholarship was started in 2025. Since then, Spectrum Institute has awarded 3 Professors and their Students to research the Spectrum of Teaching Styles. Join the previous winners: spectrumofteachingstyles.org

Professors, apply now for the 2027 Scholarship - a Spectrum advisor can apply for research funding for their master or doctoral students working Spectrum of Teaching Styles based research. Scan for more details!

The SITL Board held it's monthly meeting last Friday, discussing the myriad proposals that came about from the 1st International Conference for SoTS. There'll be some exciting collaborations, expansions to grants, and new opportunities for students and professors alike in the coming years.