João Mota is originally from Lisbon, Portugal. He has previously taught for five years at the Faculty of Human Kinetics, his alma mater. He has a Bachelor's degree in Sports Science (minor in Exercise and Health), a Master's degree in Physical Education and a PhD in Education. His research focuses on Physical Literacy, Pedagogy/Didactics of Physical Activities, Educational Assessment and Psychometrics. As part of his PhD, he led the creation and initial validation of the Portuguese Physical Literacy Assessment (PPLA). He has published several articles in international peer-reviewed journals and is an active peer-reviewer. He has been involved in various international projects funded by the Erasmus+ program as a researcher-collaborator for the Centre for Education Studies and the UIDEF pole (FMH and IE-ULisboa). His sports background is in Dance, Swimming and Team Handball. When he's not working, he loves exploring the outdoors through mountaineering, hiking, and trail running. He has a strong passion for non-formal education, particularly Scouting—where he actively collaborates as a curriculum developer and adult trainer.

Physical Literacy and Health and Active Lifestyles. Interdisciplinary focus within the exercise and movement sciences, ranging from research on psychological constructs (motivation, confidence, self-efficacy), cognitive (content knowledge in healthy and active lifestyles), social (sports ethics and cultural participation) and psychomotor (health-related fitness, motor learning and development). Multiple aspects of teaching and learning: Curriculum Development, Pedagogy, Teaching Strategies/Models and Educational Assessment. Measurement and obtention of rigorous, reliable, and valid evidence; with a late emphasis on Item Response Theory models.

Curriculum-Based Physical Activities (I-V) — UG Curriculum and Assessment — UG Approaches to Teaching and Assessment in Physical Education — UG Analysis of the Teaching-Learning Processes — UG Pedagogy in Physical Activities and Sports — UG Teaching Strategies in Physical Activities and Sport — UG