School Physical Education Settings Research Articles

Stepping Back, Stepping Up, and Stepping Forward: Exploring One Teacher’s Evolving Approach to Teaching Social and Emotional Learning in High School Physical Education

Purpose: Utilizing social constructivist learning theory and a conceptual framework for Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), this self-study explores how I as a teacher-researcher intentionally evolved my approach to teaching SEL in a high school Physical Education setting. Method: Data were collected over twenty 75-min lessons over 15 weeks. One critical friend interview, 20 postteaching reflections, 18 observations, and 22 journal entries were conducted. A deductive and inductive approach utilizing the Miles, Huberman, and Saldana Framework for Qualitative Data Analysis was implemented. Results: Findings demonstrate how aligning my teaching with a contemporary framework led to a more explicit and intentional focus on SEL within my already utilized repertoire of pedagogies. Discussion/Conclusion: Incorporating self-study structure as a teacher-researcher led me to understand how I evolved and felt better equipped to teach for targeted SEL competencies and skills to further compliment the teaching of core Physical Education content.

Sport Pedagogy Research and Its Contribution to the Rediscovery of Joyful Participation in Physical Education

This paper begins with the premise that the purpose of physical education is to help young people grow personal and durable playgrounds. That is, its goal is to allow students in schools to develop the skills and understandings about various movement topics to the extent that they can engage with these in deep and meaningful ways long after their lessons in the gymnasium have concluded. The paper presents a schematic that links how a physical education curriculum should be framed with the necessary ingredients of high-quality teaching to allow for successful forays into various movement cultures. The next section includes a justification of the schema using the very best of research in sport pedagogy that has been translated into school physical education settings. Two specific grand adventures that are the vehicles for creating enduring playgrounds are presented, these being sport education and student-designed games.

Effect of gamification-based programs in the school physical education setting: a systematic review protocol

Introduction: Gamification is an innovative methodology that uses game elements, such as, for instance, narrative, rewards, or avatars, to influence student´s motivation with the aim of improving the teaching and learning process. The main purpose of the systematic review presented in this protocol will be to examine the scientific literature on the effects of gamified didactic proposals in the context of Physical Education on learning and its mediators in schoolchildren. Method: The databases search following the search strategies and the download and collection in the reference manager will be completed from its insertion to December 2022. This search will include the following electronic bibliographic databases: Web of ScienceTM (all databases), Scopus, SPORTDiscus with Full Text, ERIC, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses GlobalTM. Results: This systematic review will be a useful resource for teachers and researchers belonging to the area from Physical Education, since they will be able to easily know the current evidence about the topic, to know how this methodology is designed and its effectiveness compared to traditional methodologies. Discussion and conclusions: The systematic review to be carried out in the near future can provide information on the recommended length of gamification programs in Physical Education, its unique elements for improve the teaching and learning process, as well as describe the impact of intrinsic motivation on academic performance, improve the participation and increase of physical activity levels.

Physical Activity and Game Play Ability in a High School Sport Education Basketball Season

To date, there is limited research investigating physical activity levels during a sport education season in high school physical education settings and how these are affected by ability levels. The aim of this study was to investigate (1) how students' game play in basketball would improve during a sport education season as a function of ability level, and (2) how students' MVPA levels differ as a function of game play ability. One class with 21 high school students (aged 16-18) participated in a 14-day sport education basketball season. Prior to and upon completion of the season, students' 3v3 basketball game play performance was assessed. Three mixed ability teams were composed with an equal gender distribution. The System of Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT) was used to collect students' MVPA during the season. Repeated measures ANOVA detected a significant improvement in game play ability from 52% (range: 28%-68%) to 84% (range: 60%-100%) for high– as well as low-ability students, p < .001. High-ability students engaged in MVPA for 65% during team practice and 49% during game play. Low-ability students had consistently lower MVPA values than high-ability students (41% vs 55%), p <.01, with 56% of MVPA during team practice and 34% during game play. All students spent more than 40% of team practice and game play in vigorous physical activity. We concluded that both high-and low-ability high school students improved their game play and their ability level affected MVPA levels during the sport education basketball season. High-ability students met the 50% MVPA benchmark during team practice and game play, whereas low-ability students only met this guideline during team practice.

Junior high school students’ achievement goals, social goals, and self-reported persistence in physical education settings

This study utilized a 2 × 2 achievement goal model to explore a relationship between achievement goals and social goals, and how these goals are associated with junior high school students’ self-reported persistence toward physical activities. A total of 246 students from four junior high schools participated in the study. The results revealed that mastery-approach goals, social responsibility goals, and performance-approach goals were significantly positive predictors of persistence, whereas mastery-avoidance goals, performance-avoidance goals, and social relationship goals were not significant predictors of persistence. Additionally, girls scored significantly higher values on social relationship, social responsibility, and mastery-avoidance goals than boys, whereas boys reported significantly higher values on performance-approach goals than girls. Findings provide empirical support to the view that both achievement goals and social goals should be used to examine student motivation and achievement in junior high school physical education settings while considering gender differences.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HELLISON’S MODEL OF PERSONAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHING

Increase in youth violence, discipline problems in schools, decrease of interest in physical activities and other negative trends, impose the need for reconceptualization of physical education. Among promising models, one stands out. It is the Hellison’s responsibility model or Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility model-TPSR Model, based on intrinsic motivation and encouraging personal and social responsibility of students. Goal of the present study was to check the effectiveness of Hellison’s model in primary school physical education setting. Sample consisted of students of third grade of elementary school (N=100; 54 boys, 46 girls), appointed to experimental and control group. The effects of the experimental (TPSR) and standard program of physical education on responsibility in students, motivational orientations, self-evaluation, social support and motor learning were tested. The data was processed by methods of descriptive statistics, MANOVA analysis and Mann-Whitney test (p ≤ .05). After completing experimental program, statistically significant differences were detected in all dependent variables, consistently in favor of the experimental group. Hellison’s model produced the largest effects in the domain of motor learning, responsibility and self-determined motivation in students, which points to validity of its implementation in regular physical education teaching.

Effects of a health-related physical fitness intervention on middle school students’ academic learning time during physical education

Background: This study examined the effects of the sports, play and active recreation for kids (SPARK) on middle school students’ academic learning time-physical education (ALT-PE) compared to the traditional physical education (PE) program. Methods: A total of 12 target middle-school students were randomly selected from a pool of 174 who participated in PE lessons over 9 weeks. Two raters used a 12-second-interval observation/record protocol to record the student’s context level (general, subject matter knowledge, and subject matter motor). In the SPARK school, target students attended the SPARK lessons for 9 weeks that included three curricular sport activities in the order of soccer, flag football, and ultimate Frisbee. Target students’ percentages of time spent in ALT-PE context categories and subcategories were calculated and compared by different PE programs and sport activities. A series of 2 × 3 mixed design ANOVA tests were conducted using SPSS statistical software. Results: Compare to traditional PE group, SPARK group had significant difference of percentage of time in general content (mean difference =−19.97%, P Conclusions: SPARK is an effective pedagogical strategy to increase youth’s ALT in school PE settings.

Relatedness Need Satisfaction, Intrinsic Motivation, and Engagement in Secondary School Physical Education

Purpose:Using self-determination theory, this study examined unique contributions of relatedness need satisfaction (to both teachers and peers) to intrinsic motivation and engagement (behavioral, cognitive, and emotional) over and above those of autonomy need satisfaction and competence need satisfaction among Turkish students in secondary school physical education.Method:Participants were 331 (162 boys, 169 girls) middle and high school students enrolled in physical education classes at four public schools in the southwest Turkey. Data were collected by previously validated questionnaires.Results:No gender differences occurred in the mean levels of relatedness to teachers need satisfaction and relatedness to peers need satisfaction. These two types of relatedness need satisfaction made significant unique contributions to student engagement for both boys and girls. The differential roles of relatedness to peers need satisfaction in predicting boys’ and girls’ engagement were observed.Discussion/Conclusion:Discussion/Conclusion: The study demonstrated that two types of relatedness need satisfaction uniquely predicted students’ engagement in a secondary school physical education setting. This finding supports self-determination theory that relatedness need satisfaction is an important motivator for students in schools.

Student-centered Strategies for Teaching Modern Dance in Secondary Physical Education

This article describes a student-centered approach to teaching modern dance in a middle and high school physical education setting, and offers practical strategies for effective instruction of modern dance that can benefit both novice and veteran dance educators.

Relationship between Achievement Goals and Students' Self-Reported Personal and Social Responsibility Behaviors.

This study utilized the 2x2 achievement goal model (mastery-approach, mastery-avoidance, performance-approach, performance-avoidance goals) to explore the relationships between achievement goals and self-reported personal and social responsibility behaviors in high school physical education settings. Two hundred and twenty one Turkish students completed questionnaires assessing their achievement goals, personal and social responsibility behaviors. Results of the one-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences among the four achievement goals, F(3, 660) = 137.05, p < .001, η2 = .39. The result also revealed that students were more likely to endorse the mastery-approach goal than three other goals. The simple correlations revealed mastery-approach and performance-approach goals were positively related to students' self-reported personal (r = .54, p < .001; r = .37, p < .001, respectively) and social responsibility (r = .38, p < .001; r = .22, p < .001, respectively) behaviors. However, hierarchical regression analyses indicated only the mastery-approach goal emerged as the significant positive predictor, b = .52, t(216) = 7.19, p < .001 for personal responsibility behaviors, and b = .41, t(216) = 5.23, p < .001 for social responsibility behaviors. These findings seem to provide convergent evidence that mastery-approach goals are positively related to positive educational outcomes.

Effect of Female Only Versus Coed Physical Education Classes on Social Physique Anxiety in 7th Grade girls

It is well documented that there is a significant decrease in the enjoyment and participation of adolescent females in physical education (PE) classes. Adolescent females report a desire for single sex classes due to increased feelings of social physique anxiety (SPA). Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to examine changes in SPA of 7th grade females in same sex and coed PE classes. Forty-two 7th grade females from a junior high school in the Mountain West region of the United States participated in this pilot study. Group one participated in a female-only class, while group two remained in the school’s traditional coed class format. Scores from the Social Physique Anxiety Scale were used to measure change during a three week unit. A 2 x 2 ANCOVA was conducted to examine changes in SPA scores. Results revealed no significant changes between groups or within groups. However, a trend was observed with the same sex group’s SPA scores decreasing (9.75%) and coed scores increasing (8.3%). Several articles have examined same sex versus coed PE classes, but few have examined SPA within a middle school physical education setting. This study provides a starting point to further examine adolescent SPA in PE.

Specificity and Variability of Practice, and Contextual Interference in Acquisition and Transfer of an Underhand Volleyball Serve

The present study investigated the effects of practice composition on acquisition and transfer of the underhand volleyball serve in a standard high school physical education setting. 72 middle-school students (M age = 14.1 yr., SD = 0.7) were selected and assigned to six groups: five experimental (Random, Serial, Blocked, Constant, Specific), and one Control group all pretested. The five experimental groups received 45 acquisition trials over three class periods. Directional quantitative knowledge of results was provided to the students after each trial. After a 72-hr. retention interval, all groups performed 15 underhand volleyball serves without knowledge of results. Analyses indicated (a) better acquisition in the Specific and Constant groups relative to the Serial, Random, and Blocked groups, and (b) significantly superior transfer performance in the Specific and Random groups relative to the Serial, Blocked, Constant, and Control groups. This provides partial support for specificity of learning and contextual interference hypotheses. Practice in accord with the contextual interference hypothesis permits differentiations among varied practice schedules only during transfer.

The Effects of a Sound-Field Amplification System on Managerial Time in Middle School Physical Education Settings

The focus of this research effort was to examine the effect of a sound-field amplification system on managerial time in the beginning of class in a physical education setting. A multiple baseline design across participants was used to measure change in the managerial time of 2 middle school female physical education teachers using a portable sound-field amplification system. Managerial time is defined as the cumulative amount of time that students spend on organizational, transitional, and nonsubject matter tasks in a lesson. The findings showed that the amount of managerial time at the beginning of class clearly decreased when the teacher used sound-field amplification feedback to physical education students. Findings indicate an immediate need for administrators to determine the most appropriate, cost-effective procedure to support sound-field amplification systems in existing physical education settings.

Research on Effective Teaching in Elementary School Physical Education

The perspective of this article is that the purpose of the elementary physical education program is the development of a physically active lifestyle. We discuss the relative contribution of the development of motor skills, fitness, content related to encouraging participation, and the affective goals of the program to the development of a physically active lifestyle. Teaching must be effective if children are to acquire the skills to lead a physically active lifestyle. We explore the research base identifying effective teaching in an elementary school physical education setting in terms of academic learning time and management roles and communication and content‐development skills of the teacher. Similarities and differences between teaching in a gymnasium and in a classroom are identified.

Reliability and Validity Evidence for Achievement Goal Models in High School Physical Education Settings

Although empirical research in academic areas provides support for both a 3-factor as well as a 4-factor achievement goal model, both models were proposed and tested with a collegiate sample. Little is known about the generalizability of either model with high school level samples. This study was designed to examine whether the 3-factor model (Mastery Goals, Performance-Approach Goals, and Performance-Avoidance Goals) or the 4-factor model (Mastery-Approach Goals, Mastery-Avoidance Goals, Performance-Approach Goals, and Performance-Avoidance Goals) is appropriate in high school physical education settings. The factorial validity of the models and internal consistency reliability were tested with confirmatory factor analysis, invariance testing, and tests of internal consistency across 2 samples. The results reveal that the items from the 4-factor achievement goal model can produce internally consistent and valid scores for high school students in physical education settings; the 4-factor model provides a better fit to the data than the 3-factor model. The multistep invariance analysis, however, reveals only metric invariance across 2 school samples.

Reliability and Validity Evidence for the Social Goal Scale-Physical Education (SGS-PE) in High School Settings

Two types of social goals associated with students’ academic performance have received attention from researchers. One is the social responsibility goal, and the other is the social relationship goal. While several scales have been validated for measuring social relationship and social responsibility goals in academic settings, few studies have applied these social goal scales to high school students in physical education settings. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability, validity, and generalizability of the scores produced by the Social Goal Scale-Physical Education (SGS-PE) in high school settings. Participants were 544 students from two high schools in the southern United States. Reliability analyses, principal components factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and multistep invariance analysis across two school samples revealed that the SGS-PE produced reliable and valid scores when used to assess students’ social goal levels in high school physical education settings.

Achievement Goals, Social Goals, and Students’ Reported Persistence and Effort in High School Physical Education

This study examined the relationship between achievement goals and social goals and explored how students’ achievement goals and social goals might affect their reported persistence and effort expended toward physical education in high school settings. Participants were 544 students from two high schools in the southwest U.S. Multiple regression analysis revealed that social responsibility goals represented the greatest contributor to students’ expenditure of persistence and effort toward physical education. This was followed by mastery-approach goals, mastery-avoidance goals, and performance-approach goals. In addition, girls reported significantly higher values on both social-relationship goals and responsibility goals than did boys. Findings revealed that students had multiple goals for wanting to succeed in physical education; using both achievement goals and social goals when studying student motivation and achievement in high school physical education settings is recommend.

Physical Activity Levels in Coed and Single Gender High School Physical Education Settings

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of coed (coed) and single-gender game-play settings on the activity levels of Caucasian and African American high school physical education students. Students participated in flag football, ultimate Frisbee, and soccer units. Classes were as follows: there were two coed classes, two coed classes were split into male and female teams for game play, one class was exclusively female, and one class was exclusively male. Digi-walker pedometers were worn by students to monitor activity levels calculated as steps per minute. High school males, on average, had higher step counts than females in all settings, and Caucasian students were more active, on average, than African American students. There were no differences in activity levels for females between coed and single-gender game-play settings. There was some evidence, however, that in ultimate Frisbee and soccer units, male students in males-only classes were less physically active than were males in coed and split coed classes. Teacher interaction rates and team-sport preferences rather than the gender composition might have contributed to differences in activity levels of the classes.

Effects of a Sport Education Intervention on Students’ Motivational Responses in Physical Education

This study looked at the influence of a Sport Education intervention program on students’ motivational responses in a high school physical education setting. Two intact groups were assigned curricular interventions: the Sport Education group (n = 25), which received eight 60-min lessons, and the comparison group (n = 26), which received a traditional teaching approach to sport-based activity. Pre- and postintervention measures of student enjoyment, perceived effort, perceived competence, goal orientations, perceived motivational climate, and perceived autonomy were obtained for both groups. Repeated-measures ANOVAs showed significant increases in student enjoyment and perceived effort in the Sport Education group only. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that increases in task-involving climate and perceived autonomy explained a significant amount of unique variance in the Sport Education students’ postintervention enjoyment, perceived effort, and perceived competence responses. The results suggest that the Sport Education curriculum may increase perceptions of a task-involving climate and perceived autonomy, and in so doing, enhance the motivation of high school students toward physical education.

An Ecological Analysis of Middle School Misbehavior through Student and Teacher Perspectives

This study was designed to investigate how the classroom ecology (interactions among task systems) and program of action influence participants’ understandings of misbehavior in a middle school physical education setting. One teacher and 14 students participated in a 10-day basketball unit with 47- minute classes. Data included fieldnotes, stimulated recall using videotapes, and semi-structured teacher and student pre- and post-unit interviews. Data were first analyzed inductively by constant comparison (Strauss &amp; Corbin, 1998) and then by using Doyle’s (1986) classroom ecology model to understand the inductively generated categories. Data trustworthiness involved prolonged engagement, member checks, and triangulation. Results indicated that the teacher’s weak managerial task system, coupled with vague and incomplete instructional tasks, interacted with a student social system grounded in various forms of talk as social tasks to support a social program of action. Both teacher and student actions jointly created a primary social vector characterizing the overall program of action.