Dan Robinson
Dr. Daniel B. Robinson is a Professor of Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy in the Faculty of Education at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where he also serves as Coordinator of the PhD in Educational Studies program. He has held several academic leadership positions, including Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Leadership and Chair of the Department of Teacher Education. Before entering academia, Dr. Robinson worked as a public school teacher and school administrator in Canada and Australia. He earned his PhD in Secondary Education from the University of Alberta in 2009, where he also completed his Master of Education and Bachelor of Education degrees.
Dr. Robinson's research focuses on physical education, physical literacy, health education, teacher education, and social justice in educational and sporting contexts. Much of his scholarship examines issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and culturally responsive teaching, with particular attention to gender equity, opportunities for students with disabilities, immigrant and newcomer populations, and Indigenous education. He has authored or co-authored more than 90 peer-reviewed journal articles, contributed numerous book chapters, and authored or edited three books, including Social Justice in Physical Education: Critical Reflections and Pedagogies for Change and Teaching Physical Education Today: Canadian Perspectives. He has also authored or co-authored numerous educational resources, including teaching manuals, instructional guides, and curriculum materials designed to support educators and promote quality physical and health education. His research has appeared in leading international journals, including European Physical Education Review, Teaching and Teacher Education, Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, and Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education. His scholarship has been supported by numerous competitive research grants and contracts, representing more than $3.4 million in funding from organizations including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Physical and Health Education Canada, and various provincial and community partners.
Beyond his research and teaching, Dr. Robinson has contributed to educational policy, curriculum development, and professional learning initiatives in Canada and internationally. His work has included consulting with the International Physical Literacy Association, contributing to Nova Scotia's Commission on Inclusive Education, collaborating with Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey, and leading physical and health education curriculum development in St. Kitts and Nevis. He has presented his research at numerous national and international conferences, delivered invited keynote addresses, and received recognition for his scholarly contributions, including St. Francis Xavier University's Research Award. Across his academic, professional, and community-engaged work, Dr. Robinson seeks to advance equitable, inclusive, and meaningful educational experiences for children, youth, teachers, and communities.
SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS (2023-2026)
Robinson, D. B., Barrett, J., Walters, W., & Harenberg, S. (2025). Game Changers: School sport as a resource of hope for students with disabilities. Pedagogies: An International Journal, 20(1), 32–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/1554480X.2024.2397531
Robinson, D. B., Gilham, C., Fuller, K., Randall, L., Carter, E., Rogers, S., & Vukosa, C. (2026). Trauma-informed practices and physical education: A scoping literature review. European Physical Education Review, 32(3), 491–509. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X251370270
Robinson, D. B., Gilham, C., Sulz, L., Morrison, H., Gleddie, D., Rogers, S., Kell, S., Fuller, K., & Ahmad, S. (in press). In-service and pre-service physical education teachers and resilience: A 25-year scoping review of literature. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education.
Robinson, D. B., Hadley, G. R. L., & Mitton, J. (2024). Single-sex schooling at an elite independent school: A multi-methods case study. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 70(1), 37–59. https://doi.org/10.55016/ojs/ajer.v70i1.76625
Robinson, D. B., Harenberg, S., Marshall, T., Rogers, S., Jutras, M., Hall, N., & Walters, W. (2026). Measuring physical literacy in Mi’kma’ki: An initial determination of Indigenous (Mi’kmaw) students’ physical literacy. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 85(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2026.2656073
Robinson, D. B., Harenberg, S., Walters, W., Barrett, J., Cudmore, A., Fahie, K., & Zakaria, T. (2023). Game Changers: A participatory action research project for/with youth with disabilities in school sport settings. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 5, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1150130
Robinson, D. B., & Mitton, J. (2025). History of single-sex education. In E. E. Blair & S. L. Deckman (Eds.), The Sage encyclopedia of education and gender (Vol. 2, pp. 671–674). Sage.
Robinson, D. B., & Randall, L. (2024). Religion in sport and physical education. In R. Marttinen, L. Alfrey, & M. Hemphill (Eds.), Routledge resources online: Sports studies. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367766924-RESS125-1
Robinson, D. B., Sulz, L., Morrison, H., & Jutras, M. (in press). A consideration of Canadian school administrators’ views about and influence upon health education. Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy.
Robinson, D. B., Sulz, L., Morrison, H., Wilson, L., & Harding-Kuriger, J. (2024). Health education curricula in Canada: An overview and analysis. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, 15(1), 77–91. https://doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2023.2178944
Robinson, D. B., & Walters, W. (in press). Designing and delivering extra-curricular physical activity programs for students with disabilities: Game Changers as a realized social justice imperative in some Canadian school communities. In R. Philpot, A. Ovens, & G. Gerdin (Eds.), Teaching for social justice in physical education: Why context matters. Routledge.
Robinson, D. B., & Walters, W. (2024). Infusing Indigenous content and Treaty Education in physical education teacher education: A collaborative self-study of teacher education practices (S-STEP). Studying Teacher Education, 20(3), 300–322. https://doi.org/10.1080/17425964.2023.2301650
Robinson, D. B., Weaving, C., & Spicer, C. (2023). #USportsSoMale: Gender (in)equity in Canadian interuniversity varsity sport. Journal of Intercollegiate Sport, 16(2), 231–261. https://doi.org/10.17161/jis.v16i2.18105
Barrett, J., Robinson, D. B., & Walters, W. (2024). Collaborating for (game) change(rs): Negotiating and building meaningful action research partnerships. Canadian Journal of Action Research, 24(3), 152–169.
Hadley, G., Robinson, D. B., & Mitton, J. (2025). Students’ perceptions of religion at an elite Catholic school. Journal of Religious Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40839-025-00285-0
Kell, S., Walters, W., & Robinson, D. B. (in press). Health and physical education (HPE): Teaching the whole student for lifelong wellness. In A. Choudhary (Ed.), Pedagogy unpacked: Methods of teaching impactful elementary education. de Sitter Publications.
Lockyer, K. J., & Robinson, D. B. (2025). Feelings, realizations, and reflections of a female physical education teacher confronting experiences of institutional(ized) gender inequality: An autoethnography. Education Sciences, 15(4), 441. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15040441
Mitton, J., Robinson, D. B., & Hadley, G. R. L. (2024). Exploring adolescents’ perspectives of single-sex schooling: Teetering amongst conflicting views. Gender and Education, 36(5), 413–433. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540253.2024.2352495
Morrison, H. J., Sulz, L., Robinson, D. B., & Kiama, E. W. (2026). Health education teachers’ views on supports and barriers to health education programs. Health Education, 126(1), 108–125. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-07-2025-0119
Roy, S., Urban, K., Walters, W., & Robinson, D. B. (2024). Physical and Health Education Canada mentorship program: A meaningful experience for mentors. PHEnex Journal/Revue phénEPS, 14(3), 1–19.
Sulz, L., Morrison, H., Robinson, D. B., & Barrett, J. (2025). Contemporary physical education curricula across Canada: An overview and analysis. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2025.2486622
Sulz, L., Morrison, H., Robinson, D. B, & Gleddie, D. (2026). Quality health education in Canada: A call to action. Health Education Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/00178969261500649/
Sulz, L., Morrison, H., Robinson, D. B., & Gleddie, D. (2026). The unstable foundation of health education in Canada. A critical consideration of health education teacher education (HETE) within Canadian universities. Teaching and Teacher Education, 181, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2026.105690
Sulz, L., Morrison, H., Robinson, D. B., & Kiama, E. (2025). Voices from the field: Teachers’ views on health education. Health Education, 126(2), 202–220.https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-05-2025-0056
Sulz, L., Robinson, D. B., Morrison, H., Read, J., Johnson, A., Johnston, L., & Frail, K. (2025). A scoping review of k–12 health education in Canada: Understanding school stakeholders’ perceptions. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, 16(1), 41–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2024.2311113
Taylor, M., & Robinson, D. B. (in press). Strategies for coaching youth athletes with attention-related challenges. Strategies: A Journal for Physical and Sport Educators.
Taylor, M. A., & Robinson, D. B. (2026). Coaching youth athletes with attention-related challenges: A 25-year scoping review of literature. International Sport Coaching Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2026-0040
Walters, W., Robinson, D. B., Barber, W., & Spicer, C. (2025). The physical, social, and professional isolation of physical education teachers. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, 16(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2024.2311116
Walters, W., Robinson, D. B., Barrett, J., Harenberg, S., Fahie, K., Zakaria, T., & Cudmore, A. (2024). Game Changers: Providing equitable sporting opportunities for students with disabilities. PHEnex Journal/Revue phénEPS, 14(2), 1–21.
Whiting, L., Robinson, D. B., & Mitton, J. (2024). Yoga in the early elementary classroom: A narrative inquiry. PHEnex Journal/Revue phénEPS, 14(3), 1–21.
