Achievement In Physical Education Research Articles

Reflective and critical thinking as determinants of academic achievement: A study in physical education and sport teacher candidates

This study examined the relationship between reflective thinking and academic achievement in physical education and sports teaching students. The research aimed to investigate to what extent the reflective and critical thinking tendencies of prospective physical education and sports teachers explain academic achievement. Based on John Dewey's vital and reflective thinking approaches, considered among thinking skills, an answer to this question was sought. A traditional and positivist paradigm was adopted as the research model, and a quantitative research approach was used. The study was designed with the relational method, and the relationship between critical and reflective thinking dispositions of physical education and sports teacher candidates and their academic achievement was analysed. The study group consisted of 200 participants studying in the first, second, third and fourth grades of the physical education and sports teaching program. The mean age of the participants was 22.20±2.98; 44.5% exercised regularly, and 49% were licensed athletes. Data collection tools included personal information forms, academic achievement grouping, the Critical Thinking Scale, and the Reflective Thinking Scale. The Critical Thinking Scale was adapted to Turkish using a two-dimensional model. The Reflective Thinking Scale has four sub-dimensions. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis indicated that some items were not suitable due to high error variances and cross-loading. After removing these items based on expert opinions, the remaining items in the reflection and critical reflection dimensions showed very good factor loadings. The reliability coefficients for the scale were satisfactory. Final year students scored higher in critical reflection and reflective thinking than third-grade students. No significant difference was found in critical openness, reflective skepticism, and critical thinking. Male physical education and sports teacher candidates scored higher in reflection, critical reflection, and reflective thinking tendency than their female counterparts. Consequently, the findings show that reflective thinking can potentially increase academic achievement in prospective physical education and sports teachers. These findings emphasize that developing thinking skills should be a priority in education programs.

Unveiling the Impact of Metacognition on Academic Achievement in Physical Education and Activity Settings: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Qualitative Insights.

The purpose of this study is to unveil the impact of metacognition on academic achievement in physical education and activity settings by conducting a comprehensive systematic literature review with a meta-analysis of qualitative findings. Systematic searches identified English-language, peer-reviewed journal articles reporting the results of qualitative or mixed-methods studies of the emerging themes of metacognition on academic achievement in sports. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception to June 2023. Data from 20 studies were included in the review. Thematic meta-analysis identified descriptive themes: 1) Metacognitive performance during the learning process in different sports disciplines; 2) Domains of metacognitive skills related to academic performance; 3) Self-regulation strategies related to academic performance; 4) Influencing factors of metacognition; 5) Metacognitive interventions on motor learning and academic performance. Generate an analytical theme based on five descriptive themes. In-depth descriptions of the emerging themes related to metacognition and academic performance during motor learning were provided by different students and athletes. The conclusions reported in the study align with the theoretical models of metacognition. The research findings will provide strategies for physical education teachers, coaches, and trainers to enhance both physical and academic performance.

Rhythmic Gymnaastics: Exploring Its Benefits And Contributions In The World Of Education (A Literature Review)

Health can be maintained in a simple way, namely by cultivating exercise. Exercise is a part of sports that can be accessible to all groups and does not require expensive costs. One of the exercises suitable for body fitness is rhythmic gymnastics. The purpose of this research is to describe the benefits of rhythmic gymnastics and its contribution to the world of education. The method used in this research is a qualitative descriptive method by applying literature review. The data in this research consist of books, journals, and theses related to rhythmic gymnastics. Data were obtained through downloading techniques and followed up with reading techniques to find information that answers the problems in this research. Data were analyzed by applying content analysis, focusing on the formulation of problems to find the benefits of rhythmic gymnastics and how its contribution in education. The results achieved from this research are that rhythmic gymnastics has practical benefits such as training muscle strength, improving flexibility, weight loss, increasing concentration, combating depression, improving sleep quality, and maintaining harmonious social relationships. In addition to the perceived benefits, rhythmic gymnastics also has significance in the field of education, contributing in the form of integration into the curriculum and becoming a topic of achievement in physical education and health, providing motor therapy for children, and serving as a competition venue for schools at the local, national, and international levels.

Research on the Innovation of Smart Teaching Mode of University Physical Education Driven by Digital Technology

Abstract Physical education teaching mode is the link between physical education teaching theory and physical education teaching practice, which has a direct impact on the quality and teaching effect of physical education teaching. In this paper, the recognition algorithm is applied to physical education, and a graph-convolutional neural network is constructed. In order to solve the problem that a graph convolutional neural network can only deal with non-motion graphs, using the Masked Attention mechanism, assigning different weights to neighboring nodes, extracting node features and features between neighboring nodes, thus the graph attention neural network, and introducing the YOLO model to predict the single and multiple postures and correct the students’ technical movements. Through the comparative experimental study in this paper, it was found that the p-values of the four dimensions of students’ attention to athletics, adverse interest in athletics learning, positive interest in athletics learning, and daily athletics exercise were all 0.000<0.05. In the two dimensions of positive interest in athletic learning and daily athletic exercise, the mean values of the students in the experimental group reached 29.11 and 32.89, respectively. In terms of comparing the results of the students in the two groups, the 50-meter Run p=0.021<0.05, Vertical Long Jump p=0.002<0.05, Seated Body Flexion and Sit-ups for girls p=0.000<0.05. Therefore, the data-intelligent physical education teaching model constructed in this paper can increase the degree of students’ interest in physical education, improve students’ participation in physical education classrooms, and optimize students’ physical education achievement and performance.

Flipped Learning as a Solution to Increase Motivation and Academic Achievement: Five Weeks of Mixed Research

In recent years, studies have shown a decrease in students' motivation and academic achievement in physical education at the university level. This research seeks to address this problem. Specifically, this study aims to investigate the effects of the Flipped Learning model and its potential to increase motivation and academic achievement. This study employed a mixed method. Participants (n=40) were students at the State University of Surabaya (Indonesia). Each participant was placed either in an experimental group that received the flipped learning program (n=20) or a control group whose classes were conducted using traditional methods (n=20). A quantitative research instrument, namely a questionnaire on motivation in physical education classes, was used to measure motivation. Meanwhile, test results were used as indicators to review the progress in student academic achievement. The qualitative research instrument consisted of in-depth interviews lasting 40 minutes. Quantitative data analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS, and qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis. The findings from this study make several contributions to the current literature. First, the quantitative study showed that flipped learning significantly increased motivation (p<0.05). Second, the study found that flipped learning helped increase students’ academic achievement (p<0.05). These significant benefits were not found in the control group (p>0.05). Meanwhile, the qualitative findings showed that participants had both positive and negative views of the implementation of flipped learning. Thus, it can be concluded that Flipped Learning is an effective way to increase motivation in physical education classes and, in turn, to improve academic achievement.

Impact of the covid-19 pandemic on physical education: Investigating basic motor skills, physical activity, fitness, and academic achievement

The physical education learning process due to the covid-19 pandemic which resulted in students doing distance learning, limiting physical activity, and having to be physical distanced, became a challenge for students to be able to complete academic achievements in physical education. The purpose of the study of impact covid-19 on basic motor skills, physical activity, fitness, and academic achievement in Physical Education in 9-10-years-old School Children. Materials and methods this study were a correlation study, the object of as many as 80 elementary school students in the Lamongan district aged 9-10 years, who had a body mass index of 19-25 kg/m, normal blood pressure, and normal heart rate voluntarily became a study sample. Data collection for basic motor skills used TGMD-2, Physical activity used PAQ-C, and Fitness used the Indonesian Academic Achievement in Physical Education, Fitness Test used student report cards taken after one semester. The analysis sample used correlation with a significant rate of 0.05%. The result correlation showed that BMS and F were significantly correlated to AA but not correlated to PA (p < 0.000) whereas BMS was significantly correlated to PA and F using (p < 0.000). Conclusions of the study show that the impact of covid-19 affects learning achievement in Physical Education in 9-10-years-old School Children, variables that affect learning outcomes Physical Education are basic motor skills and fitness, while variables of physical activity and fitness directly affect the basic motor skills of students, then the learning outcomes of physical education in school programs are indirectly influenced by physical activity. Future research should conduct an investigation into the variables that are consistently associated with academic success in physical education among young children. This will provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Fostering pupils' critical health literacy: examining the potential of physical education in lower secondary school.

In Norway, the introduction of an interdisciplinary subject named Public Health and Life skills has brought about renewed attention to how health is conceptualized and taught within and across school subjects. Physical education (PE) is one subject that has traditionally been linked to health outcomes. However, a narrow focus on increased physical activity as the main outcome of PE could be counterproductive in the pursuit of health. Critical health literacy (CHL) is put forward as a resource for health that can be nurtured in the PE context; this study hypothesizes that academic achievement in PE is positively associated with some aspects of CHL. This cross-sectional study included 521 pupils aged 13-15 years old from five lower secondary schools in Norway. Structural equation models were used as the primary statistical analysis to test the hypothesis. The study controlled for parents' education, leisure physical activity, and participation in sports club activities. The results confirm the hypothesis, showing a positive and significant association between PE and CHL. The association remains when controlling for parents' education, leisure physical activity, and participation in sports club activities (PE→CHL-C1 = 0.264, p = 0.001; PE→CHL-C2 = 0.351, p < 0.000). In our sample, academic achievement in PE was associated with higher levels of CHL. This study contributes to the ongoing discussion on the health benefits of PE. We argue that a resource-based health perspective can produce the appropriate aims for health in PE contexts and that the CHL concept contributes to illuminating key areas, promoting suitable teaching strategies, and bringing balance between an individual and collective focus for future health education, both within PE and across different subjects in school contexts.

Teaching Games for Understanding in Game Performance and Psychosocial Variables: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trial.

Different authors have reported on the influence of the Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) intervention on game performance and psychosocial variables. This review aimed: (a) to explore the TGfU experimental studies; (b) to compare the effects of the TGfU vs. technical approach pedagogy on game performance; and (c) to determine the effect of the TGfU approach on game performance and psychosocial variables (motivational climate, task orientation, perceived competence and enjoyment). This systematic review with meta-analysis adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Four databases (PubMed, WOS, EBSCO and Google scholar metasearch) were searched. Study quality was measured with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) score. Thirteen studies were included. A pooled analysis of all interventions demonstrated a large significant improvement in decision making for TGfU when compared to technical approach pedagogy (SMD = 5.93, I2 = 98%; CI (95%) = 2.15-9.71; p = 0.004) and no differences between groups for skill execution (SMD = 1.70; I2 = 8%; CI (95%) = -5.34-8.73; p = 0.60). The effect of a TGfU intervention on game performance is strong (decision making, execution skills and tactical skills). Moderate evidence is reported by psychosocial variables (motivational climate, task orientation, perception of motivation and achievement in physical education). In addition, it is unclear its effect on perceived competence, enjoyment, knowledge of the game and intention to be physically active. TGfU intervention could be an appropriate approach for males and females in the context of education or sport. There is a need for a greater number of studies.

A Multi-level Fusion System for Intelligent Capture and Assessment of Student Activity in Physical Training based on Machine Learning

To record and evaluate students' physical education class participation, this study proposes using a Machine Learning aided Physical Training Framework (ML-PTF). Improve student achievement in physical education with the help of the Multi-level Fusion System that employs machine learning strategies. The system integrates sensor data, video data, and contextual data to deliver a holistic and precise evaluation of student engagement. This study's simulation analysis shows that the ML-PTF improves the reliability of evaluating universities' physical education programs. A important reference path and paradigm for advancing tertiary-level physical education for graduates, the multi-level fusion system also provides an investigation of information technology and language education integration. The experimental findings demonstrate that the ML-PTF is superior to other approaches in terms of learning rate, f1-score, precision, and probability, as well as student engagement, involvement, and recognition accuracy.

Teachers' Pedagogical Digital Competence as Relevant Factors on Academic Motivation and Performance in Physical Education

This study aimed to investigate the impact of teachers' pedagogical digital competence on academic motivation and performance in the context of physical education. The research findings indicated that teachers possessed a high level of proficiency in their pedagogical digital competence, including technical knowledge, content knowledge, and pedagogical knowledge. Moreover, the respondents demonstrated a high level of academic motivation, and the majority of them exhibited satisfactory performance in physical education. Additionally, the study revealed a moderate to strong correlation between teachers' pedagogical digital competence and students' academic motivation. This suggests that when teachers are equipped with strong digital competencies, they are better able to engage and motivate their students. The findings highlight the importance of integrating technology and digital tools effectively into the teaching and learning process. Furthermore, the study found a significant correlation between teachers' content knowledge and students' performance in physical education. This indicates that teachers' deep understanding and mastery of the subject matter positively influence student achievement in this domain. In conclusion, this research emphasizes the crucial role of teachers' pedagogical digital competence in promoting academic motivation and performance in physical education. The findings underscore the need for ongoing professional development for teachers to enhance their digital competencies and improve the overall quality of instruction. By equipping teachers with strong digital skills and knowledge, schools can create a conducive learning environment that fosters student motivation and achievement in physical education.

Pengaruh kesegaran jasmani dan motivasi belajar terhadap hasil belajar pendidikan jasmani, olahraga, dan kesehatan

The purpose of this study is to find out the influence of Physical Fitness and Learning Motivation on Physical Education Learning Achievement. Based on the research goals, this study used quantitative (associative) multiple linear regression methods. This study was conducted in SMPN 18 Padang. The population was the student of class 17, who participated in an extracurricular program. The sample was taken by total sampling technique and with a total of 39 students. Physical Fitness was measured by the TKJI test, Learning Motivation was measured by a questionnaire, and Physical Education Achievement was taken from the test result of Physical Education Learning Achievement of the semester II periods. Before processing the data, several tests were made in advance, which was: the normality residual test, multicollinearity test, heteroscedasticity test, and autocorrelation test. The results of data analysis show that: (1) Physical Fitness influence Physical Education Learning Achievement (sig 0.00&lt;0.05). (2) Leaning Motivation influence toward Physical Education Learning Achievement (sig 0.04 &lt;0.05). (3) Physical Fitness and Leaning Motivation simultaneously affect Physical education Learning Achievement (sig 0.00 &lt;0.05).

Students' physical well-being in physical education distance learning

Background and Study Aim. Students’ physical well-being is highly affected throughout the quarantine period. The effects of it towards the performance in Physical Education is examined due to the sudden shift of educational setting. More specifically, it sought to determine the impact of physical activity performed during the quarantine period based on the FITT (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type) principle of exercise on the physical well-being of the students as well as the relationship of the two variables.&#x0D; Materials and Methods. The study was participated by 1,648 students at Cebu Normal University who, used an online survey, answered a 34-items questionnaire with dichotomous questions. Pearson Product Moment Correlation was utilized.&#x0D; Results. The study yielded 5 major results. The students' smoking habits have no impact on their engagement to physical activity when applying the FITT principle to distant learning. The students' dietary habits do not influence their engagement in physical activity related to distant learning when the FITT principle is used. When the FITT principle is utilized, students' BMI has nothing to do with their engagement in physical activity associated with distant learning. Students who engaged in physical activity spent less time engaging in these sedentary pursuits. University students were more likely to follow a normal eating routine, and aware more likely not to engage in unhealthy behaviors like smoking cigarettes, and were more active in other physical activities like doing household chores during the quarantine period.&#x0D; Conclusions. The study found out that physical well-being has a considerable negative impact on undergraduates' physical education achievement. Thus, the FITT principle has no impact on any participation in physical activities during distance learning.

Application of Direct Interaction to Improved Learning Outcomes of Standard Empty-handed Single Kick in Pencak Silat Learning

The model's ability to optimize student learning, particularly in pencak silat programs, is strongly tied to students' physical education achievement. This study will examine how mastering the bare-handed standard single move affects direct interaction learning model utilization. This study examines direct contact learning model use. A single group was tested pre- and post-testing. This study included elementary school children from Bandung's Soreang District. We randomly selected 80 students as our representative sample in this investigation. According to the results, the direct instruction style improves students' performance on the preliminary and final exams for the bare-handed single stance in pencak silat (4.13&gt;1.73).

Out-of-School Sports Participation Is Positively Associated with Physical Literacy, but What about Physical Education? A Cross-Sectional Gender-Stratified Analysis during the COVID-19 Pandemic among High-School Adolescents.

Physical literacy (PL) is one of the main concepts related to lifelong physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF), but there is a lack of information on factors that might be associated with PL in adolescents from southeastern Europe. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between PF, participation and achievement in physical education (PE), out-of-school participation in sports, and PL in high school adolescents from Croatia. Participants were 298 high school students aged 14–18 years (191 females). Variables included school age, PE grade, sports participation, anthropometric indices, four PF tests, and PL (evidenced by CAPL-2-knowledge and understanding questionnaire (CAPL-2-KU) and PLAYself questionnaire). Gender-stratified analyses of differences were conducted using the t-test for independent samples or the Mann-Whitney test. Associations between variables were calculated with Pearson’s product moment correlation or Spearman’s rank order correlation. PF was positively correlated CAPL-2-KU in both genders. PE grade was significantly associated with PLAYself score (Pearson’s correlation = 0.36 and 0.38, p < 0.001 for boys and girls, respectively) but not with the CAPL-2-KU score. School age was not correlated with PL among boys, but there was a significant but negligible correlation between CAPL-2-KU and school age in girls (<2% of the common variance). Adolescents involved in sports had better PL and PF compared with adolescents not involved in sports. In conclusion, participation in out-of-school sports offers a good base for developing PL. Although this study took part over the COVID-19 pandemic period when the regular PE curriculum was significantly altered, the poor associations between school age and PL could lead to the assumption that the current PE curriculum does not allow for improvement of PL in later high school age, which warrants further investigation.

The association between academic achievement in physical education and timing of biological maturity in adolescents

Individual differences in tempo and timing of biological maturity, especially in adolescents, has been argued as a potential underlying cause of relative age effects observed in Physical education (PE). Indeed, differences in maturation could influence pupils`achievement in PE where motor behavior and physical activity are central tenets. However, the timing of biological maturity has not previously been investigated in the context of academic achievement in PE. Therefore, the current study`s aim was to investigate the association between timing of biological maturity and relative age on adolescents`academic achievement in PE. The data material consists of two samples from lower secondary schools (13–16 years old). Sample 1 (45 boys and 31 girls) was used to compare differences in anthropometrics and indicators of biological maturity between pupils with different grades (i.e., 3/4, 5, 6), while in sample 2 (114 boys and 127 girls) differences in mean grade were compared between birth quartiles. Pupils`final grade in PE were collected for both samples as a proxy for academic achievement. A one-way analysis of variance indicated a moderate-to-large association between timing of biological maturity, through age at peak height velocity, and academic achievement in PE, where later maturing pupils received a higher grade compared to earlier maturing pupils. Results from a factorial analysis of variance indicated an interaction effect between gender and birth quartile on academic achievement in PE. Post hoc analysis revealed that relatively younger boys received significantly lower grades as opposed to their relatively older peers. This effect was not present for girls. Collectively, these results indicate that developmental differences are associated with academic achievement in PE. Hence, PE teachers should be aware of these individual constraints in their teaching and assessment practice to accommodate fair and equal opportunities for achievement in the subject.

Association Between Motor Competence, Physical Fitness, and Academic Achievement in Physical Education in 13- to 16-Year-Old School Children.

In physical education (PE), both assessment practices and choice of teaching content indicate that pupil-related factors such as motor competence and physical fitness potentially influence pupils' academic achievement in PE. However, neither of these factors are explicitly expressed as assessment criteria in the Norwegian PE-curriculum. Hence, the aim of the current study was to investigate potential differences in motor competence and physical fitness between pupils with different academic achievements in PE. Forty-five boys and 31 girls (N = 76) from grades 8 to 10 in the lower secondary school participated in this study. In addition to collecting pupils' final grade in PE, as a proxy for academic achievement, they were assessed on the Test of Motor Competence (placing bricks, building bricks, heal-to-toe-walking, and walking/running in slopes) and four task items from the Test of Physical fitness (standing broad jump, pushing medicine ball, running 20 m as fast as possible, and reduced Cooper test). In the main analysis, the total score for motor competence and physical fitness, as well as their respective task items, were compared between pupils with different grades (i.e., 3 or 4, 5, 6). A one-way ANOVA revealed neither significant difference between pupils with different grades in overall motor competence (total score) nor the respective task items for fine motor assessment or the gross motor task heal-to-toe-walking. However, there was a large difference between pupils with different grades in performance of the gross motor task walking/running in slopes, where pupils receiving a grade of 6 and 5 completed the task significantly faster compared to their peers with a grade of 3 or 4. Furthermore, a one-way ANOVA indicated moderate-to-large differences between pupils with different grades in the total score of physical fitness and performance in three of the four respective task items (i.e., standing broad jump, running 20 m as fast as possible, and reduced Cooper test). Pupils with a grade of 6 had a significantly greater total score of physical fitness and jumped longer compared to pupils with a grade of 5 and 3 or 4. Additionally, pupils with a grade of 6 ran significantly faster as opposed to pupils with a grade of 3 or 4. Performance on the reduced Cooper test was significantly different between all groups of grades, with the distance covered being progressively increased from pupils receiving a grade of 3 or 4 to 6, respectively. These results indicate that physical fitness levels and one component of motor competence may influence pupils' academic achievement in PE. Since neither certain levels of gross motor competence nor physical fitness are explicitly stated as assessment criteria in the Norwegian PE curriculum, these findings may indicate a lack of alignment between PE-teachers' assessment practice and the curriculum's intentions. It is argued that PE-teachers should be aware of how these individual constraints may influence pupils' academic achievement in PE so that all pupils are given equal opportunities to meet the described learning outcomes.

Achievement Emotions, Intention to Be Physically Active, and Academic Achievement in Physical Education: Gender Differences

Purpose: The objective of the study was to evaluate the relationships among the achievement emotions experienced during physical education classes, the intention to be physically active, and academic achievement. Methods: The sample consisted of 764 Spanish secondary education students (348 boys and 416 girls). Results: Pride, enjoyment, and hopelessness were the main emotions to explain the intention to be physically active, whereas enjoyment and boredom were the most important emotions to explain academic achievement. Given that boys had a better emotional experience than girls, the effect of gender in the prediction was studied. It highlights the significant moderating effect of gender for enjoyment and pride in the intention to be physically active. Discussion/Conclusion: These results show the need to apply strategies focused on each emotion, taking into account the students’ gender, for those that help to improve their emotional experience during physical education classes.

Physical education and new forms of activity following the implementation of the core curriculum in Norway in 2020

Teaching physical education is intended to stimulate lifelong joy of movement for students and help them to master life. The core elements of this subject and the interdisciplinary topic of health and life skills, introduced in the new core curriculum (i.e., Fagfornyelsen 2020), enable a broader understanding of students’ holistic development. This article aims to highlight how using movement activities such as yoga, qigong, massage, expressive dance, and visualisation and relaxation techniques, collectively referred to as activities with low pulse and little exertion, can contribute to achieving the aforementioned goals. In 2017, one of the authors conducted an autoethnographic study at the secondary school in Norway where she worked (Bratten, 2017). She studied which feelings and experiences stood out as meaningful ones for students and teachers in activities with low pulse and low exertion, hereinafter referred to as LpLe-activities. The results were divided into the following categories: different, bodily experiences, and usefulness. The phenomenological approach and Shusterman’s theory of somaesthetics were used to clarify the findings. This discussion demonstrates that the aforementioned activities can create inner security and give students faith in themselves and contribute to goal achievement in physical education. This happens through good and deep sensory experiences and inner experiences that students get in the classes. Such an approach to physical education teaching, focussing on what occurs in the body, has been untraditional and requires knowledge and teachers’ desire to enrich the traditional practice of the subject.

The Association Between Pupil-Related Psychological Factors and Academic Achievement in Physical Education

Purpose: Physical education (PE) teachers’ assessments are often based on continuous observations of pupils. As certain psychological factors may mediate pupils’ learning behaviors relevant to the PE context, they may also influence academic achievement in PE. Thus, this study’s aim was to explore the association between pupil-related psychological factors and academic achievement in PE. Methods: Eighty-nine boys and 111 girls (12–16 years old) in lower secondary school participated in this study, responding to a questionnaire containing previously validated scales measuring pupils’ grit, mindset, self-perceptions, and situational motivation. The pupils’ final grade in PE was collected at the end of the school year. Results: A multiple regression model significantly explained 33% of the variance in grade. The self-perception domains—scholastic competence, athletic competence, and physical appearance—acted as unique predictors, explaining a small portion of the variance in academic achievement. Discussion/conclusion: These results support the importance of positive self-perceptions in relation to academic achievement in PE.

Students' Achievement in Physical and Health Education: Effect of Discussion Teaching Method

Recently, poor results have been recorded by students in Physical and Health Education in external examinations. This situation may be attributed to the teaching methods adopted by the teachers. Therefore, this study ascertains the effect of discussion teaching method on junior secondary school students' achievement in PHE. Two null hypotheses were postulated. Quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group pre-test post-test design was adopted. Using purposive sampling, two co-educational schools in Nsukka L.G.A. were selected of which experimental and control clusters was determined through balloting. The sample consisted of forty JSS2 students from two intact classes of 20 students each. Physical Education Achievement Test was used for data collection. Pre-test data were collected from both clusters as baseline data before the experimental cluster was exposed to the teaching method. At the end 8weeks, post-tests data were collected using same instrument to determine the effect of discussion teaching method on the students' achievement. The null hypotheses were tested using ANCOVA at .05 level of probability. From the results, the experimental cluster attained higher Mean Gain, and discussion teaching method enhanced the students' achievement (p=.007). However, no significant difference was found based on gender (p=.088). The study concludes that discussion teaching method is very effective in the teaching and learning of PHE in theory, therefore, the subject should be structured towards active and participatory learning. Also, PHE teachers should be re-trained on the job and more time should be allotted to PHE in the schools to enable effective application of discussion teaching method.