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I received my PhD in applied health sciences, specializing in social and cultural health studies, from Brock University in 2021, preceded by a Bachelor of Physical Education in 2017.
Prior to joining Laurier, I was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Teacher Education and Outdoor Studies at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences in Oslo, Norway.
My research interests lie primarily in understanding the ways young people experience meaningfulness in movement (for instance, in physical education, youth sport and other movement-based contexts) and identifying practical tools by which movement practitioners (such as teachers and coaches) can help foster meaningful movement experiences for participants. A secondary line of my research has focused on supporting movement practitioners in their professional learning journey. I have experience with a variety of qualitative research methodologies and methods.
- International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP) Early Career Scholar Award (2023)
- Physical and Health Education Canada Research Council Emerging Scholar Award (2021)
- SSHRC Storytellers Finalist (2019)
- Jack M. Miller Excellence in Research Award (2018)
- Governor General's Silver Medal (2017)
I am on leave for the 2024-2025 school year but anticipate that I will have research assistantship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in the subsequent school year.
I am willing to supervise graduate students in areas related to applied movement in various contexts (e.g. teaching, coaching, movement pedagogy, meaningfulness, motivation). Contact me for more information.
Hordvik, M. & Beni, S. (2024). Signature pedagogies of physical education teacher education and continuous professional development: A scoping review. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy. Advance online publication.
Beni, S., Ní Chróinín, D. & Fletcher, T. (2023) Teachers’ sensemaking in implementation of Meaningful Physical Education. Physical Education & Sport Pedagogy. Advance online publication.
Beni, S., Fletcher, T., Ní Chróinín, D. (2022) ‘It’s not a linear thing; there are a lot of intersecting circles’: Factors influencing teachers’ implementation of Meaningful Physical Education. Teaching and Teacher Education, 117(C), 103765.
Fletcher, T., Ní Chróinín, D., Gleddie, D., & Beni, S. (Eds.). (2021). Meaningful Physical Education: An approach for teaching and learning. Abingdon: Routledge.
Beni, S., Fletcher, T., Ní Chróinín, D. (2021) ‘Teachers’ engagement with professional development to support implementation of Meaningful Physical Education. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 41(4), 570-579.
Beni, S., Ní Chróinín, D., & Fletcher, T. (2021). ‘It’s how PE should be!’ Classroom teachers’ experiences of implementing Meaningful Physical Education. European Physical Education Review, 27(3), 666-683.
Beni, S. (2021). ‘It’s messy and it’s frustrating at times, but it’s worth it.’ Enacting a pedagogy of facilitation of a professional learning community for teachers. Studying Teacher Education, 17(3), 273-291.
Beni, S., Ní Chróinín, D., & Fletcher, T. (2019). A focus on the how of meaningful physical education in primary schools. Sport, Education, & Society, 24(6), 624-637.
Beni, S., Fletcher, T., & Ní Chróinín, D. (2018). Using features of meaningful experiences to guide primary physical education practice. European Physical Education Review, 25(3), 599-615.
Beni, S., Fletcher, T., & Ní Chróinín, D. (2017). Meaningful experiences in physical education and youth sport: A review of the literature. Quest, 69(3), 291-312.