Petra Guardiera

Dr. Petra Guardiera is a Senior Lecturer and the managing director of the Center for Sports Teacher Training (ZfSb) at the German Sport University Cologne. She has been a key figure in physical education teacher training, previously working at the Institute for Sports Didactics and School Sports from 2008 to 2022, where she led the Educational Sciences teacher training program from 2013 to 2023. Her academic work bridges research, teaching, and public engagement, with a focus on improving pedagogical practices in school sports.

Her research interests include:

• School Sports Research
• Teacher Professionalization
• Physical Education Didactics
• Digital Teaching Competencies
• Inclusive Education and Diagnostic Competence
• Performance Assessment in Physical Education

Her recent publications and projects highlight a strong trend toward digitalization in teacher education, curriculum innovation, and inclusive teaching practices. She has led and participated in multiple third-party funded projects such as 'Schulsport2030' and 'Development of Digital Teaching Competencies,' emphasizing sustainable and transfer-oriented educational development.

She has received significant recognition for her contributions:

• DSHS-Lehrpreis (2015, 2013)
• Innovationspreis NRW (2003)

Dr. Guardiera actively mentors through collaborative research and has supervised numerous joint publications and projects, particularly with Helga Leineweber and other colleagues. She has secured external funding and contributes to quality assurance in teacher training, especially during the practical semester. She is also deeply involved in academic and public outreach, organizing conferences, delivering guest lectures, and participating in media such as podcasts and public discussions on the role and challenges of school sports.

She leads and contributes to research teams and initiatives focused on:

• Diagnostic competence in teaching (DiaPro project)
• Digital transformation in higher education
• Inclusion and heterogeneity in school sports
• Curriculum development for digital competencies