Inappropriate Practices in Physical Education: The Top Eight Repeat Offenders

Brad STRAND,Keven PRUSAK,David BARNEY,Robert CHRISTENSON

doi:10.24112/ajper.251919

Abstract

The National Association of Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) have created three documents (elementary, middle school and high school) to guide physical educators in appropriate instructional practices (AIP) in physical education. The purpose of these documents is to aid physical educators in exposing their students to lessons and activities that will enable them to be successful in physical education classes and physical activity. Unfortunately, many students have been exposed to such activities as dodge ball, having captains picking teams in front of the whole class, and many others. This paper is a review of research dealing with appropriate instructional practices in physical education with a multitude of different populations. From these different populations, eight instructional practices have been repeatedly misidentified. These eight repeat offenders will be discussed.

Highlights

Consider the following conversation that occurred at a local supermarket between a middle school physical educator and a parent, whose son is a student in the physical educator’s class
The appropriate instructional practices (AIP) statements link to the achievement goal theory by providing instructional practices that can create a taskinvolved climate for students in physical education
With the low percentages of students that complied with their homework assignments, the researchers concluded that homework in physical education has the potential for increasing regular physical activity, improving fitness, and promoting a healthier lifestyle in high school students

Summary

Introduction

Consider the following conversation that occurred at a local supermarket between a middle school physical educator and a parent, whose son is a student in the physical educator’s class. As the parent discusses the merits of these instructional practices as he remembers them, the physical educator feels uncomfortable This parent has just described two inappropriate instructional practices in physical education, playing dodge ball and having captains pick teams. The National Association of Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) created three documents (one for elementary school (NASPE, 2009a), middle school (NASPE, 2009b), and high school (NASPE, 2009c) physical education) to guide physical educators in appropriate instructional practices (AIP). These documents “offer specific guidelines for recognizing and implementing developmentally appropriate practices in (elementary, middle school & high school) physical education” Each of the five sections give specific appropriate and inappropriate practices found in the physical education setting

Theoretical Framework

Learning Environment

Instructional Strategies

AIP Research

Student grades are determined by dress and attendance to class

Repeat Offenders

Why is knowing and understanding AIP so important?

Students in the Physical Education class

Final Thoughts