Tim Hopper

Dr. Tim Hopper is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Victoria whose scholarly work focuses on teacher education, physical and health education (PHE), and applying complexity theory to teaching and learning. A global consultant known for his expertise in game-centered approaches, he has notable international experience, including consulting for the USTA, Singapore PE and Sport national body and delivering keynote presentations on game-based approaches to PHE instruction in various countries.

Research interests

• School integrated teaching education
• Teacher games for understanding (TGfU)
• Digital portfolios and assessment for learning
• Qualitative research methods and genres
• Complexity thinking and education

Selected publications

Alexander, S. A., & Hopper, T. (2025). Climbers’ Insights on the Health Benefits of Their Sport: Combining Photovoice and Confessional Tale Genres. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 9(4), 255–286. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/17235

Hopper, T. (2025). Tennis: Complexity thinking and emergent learning in a play-practice-play approach (Canada). In C. Farias, S. Pill, & L. Griffin, Game-based Approaches in Physical Education (1st ed., pp. 183–197). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032723327-17

Srinivasa Gopalan, S., Skaug, E., Richardson, J., & Hopper, T. (2025). Intergenerational Perspectives From Elite Female Athletes’ Experiences With the Menstrual Cycle: Weaving in Confessional Insights From a Male Researcher With Emerging Co-Researchers. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 54(2), 224–251. https://doi.org/10.1177/08912416241308572

Zondervan, R., & Hopper, T. F. (2024). A case study of promoting equity, inclusion, diversity through emerging decolonizing PHE practices: How do teacher candidates respond? In J. Burke, M. Cacciattolo, & D. Toe (Eds.), Inclusion and Social Justice in Teacher Education. Springer, Switzerland.

Hopper, T. (2024). Dr Tim Tennis—YouTube. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@DrTimTennis/about

Sanford, K., Hong, F., Hopper, T. F., & Hinkel, T. (2024). Pedagogically hacking the system: Developing a competency-based digital portfolio. In L. Hill & P. Seitz (Eds.), Assessment of on-line learners: Foundations and applications for teacher education (pp. 187–205). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003347972-14

Hopper, T., & Rhoades, J. (2023). Biomechanical insights on tennis Canada’s skill fundamental phases: Ecological dynamics, force generation and reading gameplay. International Tennis Federation Coaching and Sport Science Review, 32(91), 18–25. https://doi.org/10.52383/itfcoaching.v32i91.405

Culver, A., & Hopper, T. F. (2023). Inclusive classrooms: A confessional tale on a Métissage. In Education, 28(2), 21–39. https://doi.org/10.37119/OJS2023.V28I2A.700

Hopper, T., & Rhoades, J. (2022a). Part 1—USTA and Tennis Canada learning to play tennis initiatives: Applying ecological dynamics, enactivism and participatory sense-making. Strategies, 35(6), 3–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/08924562.2022.2120745

Hopper, T., & Rhoades, J. (2022b). Part 2—Enactivism and learning to play tennis: Modification-by-adaptation enabling action spaces and nonconscious behavioral mimicry. Strategies, 35(6), 10–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/08924562.2022.2120748

Hopper, T., Fu, H., Sanford, K., & Hinkel, T. (2021). YouTube for Transcribing and Google Drive for Collaborative Coding: Cost-Effective Tools for Collecting and Analyzing Interview Data. The Qualitative Report, 26(3), 861–873. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4639

van der Mars, H., Hopper, T., Inglis, G., Jáuregui Ulloa, E., López.Taylor, J. R., & González-Villalobos, M. F. (2021). Sport and its education in the USA, Canada and Mexico: Commonalities and differences. In K. Petry & J. de Jong (Eds.), Education in Sport and physical activity: Future directions and global perspectives. Routledge. 

Rhoades, J., & Hopper, T. (2020). Interpersonal Movement Coordination. In M. A. Peters & R. Heraud (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Educational Innovation (pp. 1–5). Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2262-4_97-1

Sanford, K., Robertson, K., Hopper, T., Collyer, V., & Lancaster, L. (2020). Link2Practice: A model of ongoing teacher and teacher candidate professional learning. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 66(3), 325–346. https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v66i3.56973

Sanford, K., & Hopper, T. (2019). Educational Transformation: The BC Story. Houlihan Publishers eBook. https://dspace.library.uvic.ca/handle/1828/12281