Middle School Physical Education Teachers’ Perspectives on Overweight Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Doolittle ◽  
Paul B. Rukavina ◽  
Weidong Li ◽  
Mara Manson ◽  
Angela Beale

Using the Social Ecological Constraints model, a qualitative multiple case study design was used to explore experienced and committed middle school physical education teachers’ perspectives on overweight and obese students (OWS), and how and why they acted to include OWS in physical education and physical activity opportunities in their school environments. Three themes emerged. 1) OWS are “the same, but different.” Teachers attempted to treat all students the same, but perceived variations among OWS’ participation in PE and related individual constraints. 2) Teachers’ concerns lead to individual goals and specific actions. Teachers identified specific goals and approaches to help individual OWS who needed extra attention. 3) OWS are a responsibility and challenge. Many of these teachers felt a responsibility to devote extra time and effort to help struggling OWS to succeed. These teachers avoided obesity bias, and exhibited beliefs and actions similar to a caring perspective.

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul B. Rukavina ◽  
Sarah Doolittle ◽  
Weidong Li ◽  
Mara Manson ◽  
Angela Beale

As part of a larger study, this paper describes teachers’ perspectives and strategies on including overweight and obese students (OWS) in instruction related to motor skill/game play and fitness development in physical education. Using the Social Ecological Constraints framework, a qualitative multicase study was conducted using multiple in-depth interviews, class observations, and artifacts from nine experienced and committed suburban middle school Physical Education teachers. Constant comparison was used to generate themes and trustworthiness procedures were used to confirm findings. Two types of strategies for including OWS in instruction were identified: First-order and Second-order. School resources, shared program goals, and beliefs about students and teaching were factors influencing teachers’ decisions and actions for teaching motor skill/game play and fitness content to OWS.


Author(s):  
Míriam Rocher ◽  
Bruno Silva ◽  
Gonçalo Cruz ◽  
Renato Bentes ◽  
Josep Lloret ◽  
...  

Participating in outdoor sports in blue spaces is recognized to produce a range of significant social benefits. This case study empirically analyzes the social benefits associated with the School Nautical Activities project carried out in Viana do Castelo (Portugal) in school-age children and adolescents. It consisted of a 4 year program in which scholars took part in nautical activities (surfing, rowing, sailing, and canoeing) in blue spaces once a week during a semester as a part of their physical education course. The methods used for data collection were as follows: (1) a survey answered by 595 participants in the program and (2) five focus groups (FG): two FGs with participants (seven on each FG), two FGs with their parents (eight participants each), and one FG with the physical education teachers (five participants). Interviews were transcribed and qualitative analysis with NVivo software was developed. Results revealed clear evidence on the social benefits for school-age children and adolescents associated with participation in outdoor activities in blue spaces both in the overall health and in all the following analyzed categories: mental health and well-being, education, active citizenship, social behavior, and environmental awareness. More than 40% state that their overall health is much better now (13.4%) or somewhat better now (29.9%) due to their participation in the program. Thus, this article provides support for the anecdotal recognition of the benefits for school-age children and adolescents from participating in sports in the outdoors and especially in blue spaces.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Elena Chaverra-Fernández

This article presents the partial results of a broader research on the conceptions and evaluative actions of six physical education teachers in high school in the city of Medellín (Colombia). Specifically, this paper presents the findings on one of its objectives: to analyze the decisions that teachers make before starting a didactic unit (planning on assessment). The research assumed a qualitative design, with a methodological approach of multiple case study. The strategies used for this purpose were the semi-structured interview and documentary analysis. The main findings of the study show that planning on assessment is not a specific activity that requires an interest on the part of the teachers, because their previous experiences give them the security to approach future units without adaptations according to the group or the subject to work on.


Retos ◽  
2016 ◽  
pp. 64-68
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Flores Aguilar ◽  
Maria Prat Grau ◽  
Susanna Soler Prat

Este trabajo analiza las percepciones del profesorado de Educación Física (EF) sobre los efectos y consecuencias que ha generado y/o genera la presencia del alumnado de origen extranjero en su labor profesional y en la dinámica de clase (aula ordinaria y sesiones de EF), además de los motivos que justifican su visión más o menos positiva (oportunidad y/o problema) sobre la misma. Para ello se ha realizado un estudio de casos múltiple con doce docentes que superan los cinco años de experiencia en escuelas públicas multiculturales con más del 50% de alumnado de origen extranjero. Los instrumentos utilizados para la obtención de datos son las entrevistas semiestructuradas y las observaciones no participantes, y para su interpretación, el análisis de contenido. Entre las conclusiones más relevantes cabe destacar que, según el profesorado de EF participante, dicha presencia no tiene consecuencias negativas en las clases de EF, de la que suelen tener una visión “romántica”. En cambio, los efectos sí son percibidos como más negativos en las otras asignaturas impartidas en el aula ordinaria, debido especialmente a los denominados “factores educativos” (falta de personal docente, desigual distribución del alumnado, pocas ayudas de las administraciones públicas, etc.) y a algunas características propias del “perfil de su alumnado” (bajo nivel académico previo, falta de escolarización previa, desconocimiento del idioma vehicular de la escuela).Abstract. This paper analyzes the perspective of Physical Education (PE) teachers on the effects and consequences provoked by the presence of foreign students in their regular and PE classes and in the class dynamics. Also, it aims to understand teachers’ reasons about their positive (or negative) perception of classes with foreign students. A multiple case study was conducted with twelve physical education teachers who had more than five years of experience in multicultural public schools (more than 50% of foreign students). Semi-structured interviews and non-participant observations were used to obtain data, and content analysis was employed to interpret it. As a general conclusion, this study revealed that PE teachers think that the presence of foreign students has no negative consequences in PE classes, which they usually have a "romantic" vision of. However, perceptions are more negative when courses are taught in the regular classroom, especially due to the so-called "educational factors" (absence of teachers, unequal distribution of students, little support of public administrations, etc.) and to some characteristics of the “students’ profile” (low previous academic level, lack of schooling, unawareness of the school official language, etc.).


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-95
Author(s):  
Zuzana Vlachová

The paper presents a qualitative empirical research project, research design and research methods used in the preparation of a dissertation which deals with music therapy interventions in children with autism. The reason for examining this issue is a considerable lack of research activity in this area, and thus also a lack of relevant results on which clinical practice could rely. The results of future investigations should bring answers to the question of how children with autism receive and experience music therapy intervention and also what the effect of music therapy intervention in the social interaction of children is; research will be directed to a deeper understanding of this influence and its characteristics using the multiple case study design.


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