The experience of meaning is linked to satisfaction and well-being and also to learning. Despite the school's important role in promoting meaningful experiences for children and young people, research shows that many students do not experience the teaching they receive as meaningful. Based on approaches that focus on physical activity and physical education as sources of meaning, the project focuses on aquatic activity in physical education and especially outdoor swimming.

The doctoral project is based on the competence aim in physical education at 10th grade: understand and carry out lifesaving in, on and by water out in nature. The project consists of two qualitative studies. The first study is an interview study with students in lower secondary school about their experience of aquatic education in primary and lower secondary school. In the second study, two lower secondary schools that carry out outdoor swimming lessons participate. The data material provides insight into both students' and teachers' perspectives. The data material is generated through individual interviews, group interviews, workshops, teachers' planning documents, observation of teaching and written questions. The material is analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

The doctoral project is an article-based thesis.

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