Nancy R. Francis
Professor
Kinesiology
Brock University
Canada
Biography
I am passionate about the potentially powerful role of movement- in whatever form it takes- in making our lives more meaningful. My roots are in children’s school physical education and dance education, both as movement forms with the potential to emancipate and empower participants. The cultural contexts of our movement experiences as situated in social settings intrigue me. Thus, my research has taken me into the historical (curriculum), Indigenous cultures, schools (meaningful movement via Kretchmar) and after- school settings, among others.
Research Interest
Pedagogical and curricular models in physical education; Physical literacy; Dance education
Publications
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Lathrop, A., & Francis, N. (2011). Children who drill, seldom are ill: The rise and fall of the ‘female tradition’ in Ontario elementary school physical education curriculum; 1890-1990. Historical Studies in Education, 23 (1), 61-80.
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Lu, C., Francis, N. & Lodewyk, K. (2013). Movement domains. In D. Robinson & L. Randall (Eds.), Teaching physical education in Canadian schools. Toronto: Thompson Books.
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Francis, N. & Lathrop, A. (2014). ‘Here we go ‘round the Mulberry bush’: Problematizing ‘progress’ in Ontario’s elementary school dance curriculum: 1900 to 2000. The Journal of Dance Education, 14, 27-34.
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Johnson, A. & Francis, N. (2014). Social development of primary aged children through a movement education program, published abstract, Global Summit on the physical activity of children, Toronto, ON. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2014, 11(Supp. 1), S126-S198
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Kilborn, M., Lorusso, J. & Francis, N. (2015). Physical education in Canada: An in-depth curricular analysis. European Physical Education Review.
