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Two years ago I returned to teaching physical education after a six year hiatus in math. I was surprised by two phenomenon. One was that the students were in much better shape than I had remembered them being thanks to the rigorous fitness program that our department had implemented. The second was that, as a group, our students had a definite dislike for their physical education class. How could this be? This should be their favorite class of the day...if not a close second! What was missing from our program?
In math, the multiplicity of standards to be mastered and pacing calendars had all but eliminated spontaneity and discovery teaching. Physical education has been under similar pressure to bring students fitness levels up. It seems we now had a program where we dictated every action and activity without student input. What was missing, and is important to remember, is that our students have been brought up in a world of connectivity. They can easily be disengaged if we don’t include this into our curriculum. Creating and collaborating on projects, cooperating with each other, communicating their ideas and sharing them electronically to each other and the world could be the missing pieces.
Could incorporating technology, communication, creativity, collaboration and cooperation into physical education increase student engagement?
In math, the multiplicity of standards to be mastered and pacing calendars had all but eliminated spontaneity and discovery teaching. Physical education has been under similar pressure to bring students fitness levels up. It seems we now had a program where we dictated every action and activity without student input. What was missing, and is important to remember, is that our students have been brought up in a world of connectivity. They can easily be disengaged if we don’t include this into our curriculum. Creating and collaborating on projects, cooperating with each other, communicating their ideas and sharing them electronically to each other and the world could be the missing pieces.
Could incorporating technology, communication, creativity, collaboration and cooperation into physical education increase student engagement?
Surveys Pre and Post
I designed a ten question student survey to measure student perceptions, feelings and attitudes about their physical education class. The survey began with questions about safety and value of the class and ended with four very pointed questions about how adding technology and 21st Century Skills might have made a difference for my students. I found out several things. First, that adding technology made physical education more enjoyable for my students.(see question 8, before and after, an increase of 80%) Second, not only did they acknowledge that the class allows for their creativity (question 9, increase of 29%) but students felt that their ideas were valued in this class. (question 10, increase of 17%)
All pie graphs are set up as "before" the technology project on the left and "after" on the right.
All survey question results can be viewed at the end of my Action Research Paper, The Effect of Technology and 21st Century Skills Practice in Physical Education.
All pie graphs are set up as "before" the technology project on the left and "after" on the right.
All survey question results can be viewed at the end of my Action Research Paper, The Effect of Technology and 21st Century Skills Practice in Physical Education.
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Where to find out more:
All survey question results are available at: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_5xBXBj7NaRTk42UVl2cjBmUGs/edit?usp=sharing
Description of the Educational Context
Physical education is critical to the overall physical, mental and social health of our youth. Because physical education continues to be one of the many “untested” subjects, it is unfortunately, often times, underfunded and/or neglected in the United States. A study done in 2007 by the Center on Education Policy found that nearly half of all elementary schools had reduced time for physical education in response to the priority given to reading and math tests under No Child Left Behind. (Russel and Abrams 2004). Also, what better place than physical education to practice and refine 21st century skills? Creating, collaborating, cooperating, and communicating in this social and physical realm could be an excellent, not to mention fun and safe, setting to polish and perfect skills that students need to master for survival, happiness and success in their education and in their lives. Creating game videos and ‘movement idea’ videos for elementary school teachers to use with their kindergarten through fifth graders helps students give back to their education community in a huge way.
Learner Needs
Evidence that this method of instruction was Appropriate as a Potential Strategy
Including the use of technological skills in physical education and illuminating the importance of how technology can enhance these 21st century skills could and should be an important function of this often forgotten subject. Considering our commitment to 21st Century Skills, we need to
consciously apply specific strategies for teaching students how to communicate and collaborate with each other and how to work out and accept compromises. Physical educators believe that physical education can enhance students’ social and emotional growth, an essential factor in children’s educational development. (Tomme, 1993)
Learner Needs
- Sociocultural: There were approximately ninety 7th grade students that participated in the original group that produced digital games and handed them in in a digital format. I then worked with ninety more eighth grade students that created game idea videos for elementary school teachers. Students worked in groups of three to five.
- Technical: Digital equipment is a must for this project so students had to work in groups that included at least one person who had access to a digital camera or phone. The computer lab was available for students to work on their projects and for class presentations.
- Informational: The Games Creation project required more creativity, collaboration, communication and cooperation then researching on the internet. Students are allowed to check online for ideas but no lab time will be given in the beginning for idea gathering.
Evidence that this method of instruction was Appropriate as a Potential Strategy
Including the use of technological skills in physical education and illuminating the importance of how technology can enhance these 21st century skills could and should be an important function of this often forgotten subject. Considering our commitment to 21st Century Skills, we need to
consciously apply specific strategies for teaching students how to communicate and collaborate with each other and how to work out and accept compromises. Physical educators believe that physical education can enhance students’ social and emotional growth, an essential factor in children’s educational development. (Tomme, 1993)