The impact of a rich media platform to table tennis learners’ performance and participation motivation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Based on the HTML5 video element, WebVTT (Web Video Text Tracks) and MySQL, we developed a Rich Media Platform for Table Tennis learning (RMPTTL). This platform can support online motion analysis. Meanwhile, social agents (peers, coaches and parents) can leave comments to influence players’ participation motivation. A mixed experimental design was followed, whereby researchers conducted pre-tests and post-tests to assess the effect of using RMPTTL on players’ performance and participation motivation. Participants were thirty 7–12 year old schoolchildren from a table tennis training school in Wuhan, China. They were randomly assigned to two groups, one of which used the RMPTTL (Group R) and the other did not (Group C). The intervention lasted 8 weeks. A series of one-way analyzes of covariance (ANCOVAs) were conducted. Analysis of the data illustrated that: (1) differences in mean scores of advanced skill (alternative forehand and backhand drives) and participation motivation between the two teaching groups were significantly different; (2) there was no significant difference in mean scores of basic table tennis skills (forehand drive or backhand drive) between the two groups. The findings conclusively support the effectiveness of using RMPTTL as an adjunct to standard coaching techniques.