scholarly journals Gadgets in the Gymnasium: Physical Educators’ Use of Digital Technologies | Les gadgets au gymnase : l’utilisation des technologies numériques par les enseignants en éducation physique

Author(s):  
Daniel Robinson ◽  
Lynn Randall

This article highlights results from a recent study that investigated Atlantic Canadian physical educators’ adoption and implementation of various digital technologies. Employing a mixed-methods research design (survey participants, n = 206; focus group participants, n = 12), the research intended to provide a clear overview of physical educators’ implementation of digital technologies—as well as an account of the factors that may enable or limit their use. Results suggest that some digital technologies are used more (e.g., audio players, computers) than others (e.g., Dartfish, iTouch). Moreover, a number of external barriers (limitations in time, expertise, resources) and internal barriers (teacher beliefs, established pedagogy) were identified. In light of these results, a number of observations and comments are offered. Results from this research might be of particular interest to those engaged with physical education and technology implementation.Cet article souligne les résultats d’une étude récente qui s’est penchée sur l’adoption et la mise en application de diverses technologies numériques par les moniteurs d’éducation physique du Canada atlantique. À l’aide d’un modèle de recherche faisant appel à des méthodes mixtes (participants au sondage, n = 206; participants au groupe de discussion, n = 12), l’étude entendait fournir un survol limpide de la mise en œuvre des technologies numériques par les enseignants en éducation physique, ainsi qu’un compte-rendu des facteurs qui peuvent permettre ou limiter cet usage. Les résultats suggèrent que certaines technologies numériques sont plus utilisées (p. ex. lecteurs audio et ordinateurs) que d’autres (p. ex. Dartfish, iTouch). De plus, un certain nombre d’obstacles externes (des limites relatives au temps, à l’expertise, aux ressources) et internes (croyances des enseignants, pédagogie établie) ont été repérés. À la lumière de ces résultats, nous offrons certaines observations et des commentaires. Les résultats de ces recherches peuvent être intéressants pour les personnes qui s’occupent de l’éducation physique et de la mise en application des technologies.

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Wright ◽  
Shaine Henert ◽  
Marilyn Looney

Research indicates physical education can foster personal and social development. However, few studies have examined teacher beliefs about delivering this aspect of the curriculum. To move research and practice forward, it is important to understand educators’ selfefficacy beliefs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between physical education teachers’ self-efficacy for teaching personal and social development, and other aspects of teachers’ self-efficacy. Participants were 116 (73 women, 43 men) practicing, licensed physical education teachers who completed the Exemplary Physical Education Curriculum Self-Efficacy Survey and the General Education Efficacy Survey. Pearson correlations indicate significant (p < 0.001) positive relationships (r > 0.30) between participants’ self-efficacy for teaching personal and social development and other aspects of physical education as well as general teacher efficacy. Findings support the relevance of selfefficacy for teaching personal and social development in physical education. Implications for practice and professional development are discussed as well as the need for continued research.


Author(s):  
Martin E. BLOCK ◽  
Eun Hye KWON ◽  
Sean HEALY

Students with disabilities around the world are leaving special schools and special classes and are receiving their education in general education schools. In addition to attending general education classes, these students with disabilities are attending general physical education classes. Unfortunately, research has clearly demonstrated that physical educators do not feel prepared to include students with disabilities into their general physical education classes. Such findings are not surprising given that the typical physical education teacher education program in the United States only requires one course in adapted physical education, and in many countries around the world not even one adapted physical education course is required. However, many physical education teacher education programs do not have the space to add more adapted physical education classes, and other universities do not have professors with specialized knowledge to teach adapted physical education. What can be done to better prepare future and current physical educators? Online education is a relatively new method for delivering information about disability in general and more specifically how to include students with disabilities into general physical activities. The purpose of this paper is to introduce online education and present preliminary research that supports the use of online training with physical educators.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1356336X2110031
Author(s):  
Tan Zhang

The purpose of this study was to reveal the work life of physical educators who were experiencing a teacher accountability system in the US. A combination of stratified and purposeful sampling procedures was adopted to select a sample of schools that served communities with various socioeconomic backgrounds. The schools were recently incorporated in a state teacher accountability system that used student learning growth for teacher evaluation. A group of 51 certified physical educators was selected from the sampled schools. Data were collected from three sources: an online survey, in-school observations, and semi-structured interviews. The survey and observations cross-validated data related to job description, workload, general working environment, and demographic information. The interviews detailed the teachers’ accounts about their work life, perceptions of the job demands, and resources under the teacher accountability system. Inductive analysis revealed that the lack of critical job resources, especially curricular supports, equipment, and professional development, limited the teachers from promoting student learning that the teacher accountability system required. Teachers were subjected to immense job demands, specifically a large body of content knowledge to teach with shrinking instruction time and ambiguous role. They also felt pressured to incorporate reading, writing, and mathematics in physical education lessons with little or no curricular support. For teachers to teach physical education successfully in this accountability context, systemic changes are needed to provide teachers with adequate professional development and curricular resources to promote learning in physical education.


Author(s):  
Lindsay P. Galway ◽  
Barbara Berry ◽  
Timothy Takaro

The flipped classroom instructional model has emerged as an alternative to conventional lecture-based teaching that has dominated higher education for decades. In 2013, a cohort of graduate-level public health students participated in a flipped environmental and occupational health course. We present the design, implementation, and evaluation of this course. Using data collected from a post-course survey, focus group sessions, and classroom observation, we examine student perceptions of the flipped classroom instructional model and synthesize lessons learned from flipping the classroom more broadly. Post-course survey data indicate that students had generally positive perceptions towards the flipped classroom instructional model. Four major themes emerged from the focus group data in relation to perceptions of the flipped classroom: knowledge application, content delivery, innovation, and connecting the online and in-class components. These results are promising and suggest that this approach warrants further consideration and research. Le modèle pédagogique de la classe inversée a émergé comme solution de rechange à l’enseignement traditionnel par cours magistraux qui a dominé l’éducation supérieure pendant des décennies. En 2013, une cohorte d’étudiants en santé publique aux cycles supérieurs a participé à un cours inversé sur la santé environnementale et professionnelle. Nous présentons la conception, la mise en œuvre et l’évaluation de ce cours. À l’aide de données recueillies par l’entremise d’un sondage après le cours, lors de séances de discussion en groupe et d’observation en classe, nous examinons les perceptions qu’ont les étudiants du modèle pédagogique de la classe inversée et résumons les leçons tirées qui sont pertinentes pour les cours inversés en général. Les données du sondage réalisé après le cours indiquent que les étudiants avaient des perceptions pour la plupart positives du modèle pédagogique de la classe inversée. Quatre thèmes principaux ont émergé des données du groupe de discussion relativement aux perceptions sur la classe inversée : mise en application des connaissances, diffusion du contenu, innovation et lien entre les composantes en ligne et en classe. Ces résultats sont prometteurs et suggèrent que cette approche devrait faire l’objet de plus de considération et de recherche.


1985 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 229-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace E. Figley

The development of positive attitudes toward physical education has been a longstanding and desirable goal of the program of physical education. The intent of this investigation was to identify those aspects of the program students reported as turning them on to or turning them off from physical education. The critical incident report was the tool used to gather information. The subjects (N = 100) classified the reported incidents as either positive or negative, and their comments were then categorized into five broad categories: (a) teacher, (b) curriculum, (c) atmosphere of the classroom, (d) peer behavior, and (e) perceptions of self. Further classification occurred within each category. The results indicated that the items most frequently mentioned in relation to both positive and negative attitudes related to the teacher and the curriculum. Some interesting patterns evolved both within and between the various categories. The most encouraging aspect of the investigation is that the great majority of causal determinants of negative attitudes are amenable to change. If physical educators value the goal of developing positive attitudes toward physical education, then information gathered in studies such as this should prove valuable to both current physical educators and those involved in teacher education programs.


1985 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 338-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Dunn ◽  
H.D. Bud Fredericks

The mainstreaming of handicapped students into physical education classes is dependent upon teachers who can provide successful learning experiences. The application of behavior management concepts appears to be an instructional technique which physical educators should consider in designing quality mainstreaming experiences. Studies were reviewed that report the application of behavior management principles in various curricular areas including physical education. Additional research is needed to substantiate the importance of behavior management techniques in helping to create a favorable environment in the mainstreamed physical education class.


Author(s):  
Tara B. Blackshear

Purpose: Black women are devalued in many aspects of American culture—physical education (PE) is no exception. Platforms to celebrate Black women’s excellence in PE are scarce. Drawing on Black feminist thought and critical race theory, the purpose of this article is to describe and explain the experiences of Black women physical educators who earned PE Teacher of the Year. Participants: Two Black women share their experiences as physical educators and PE Teachers of the Year. Methods: Qualitative narrative inquiry consisting of semistructured, virtual group interviews was employed. Results: Four core themes were identified: (a) invisibility, (b) superwoman syndrome, (c) affirming role models, and (d) culturally responsive pedagogies. Discussion/Conclusion: Elevating Black women’s voices in PE requires a deconstruction of limited exposure opportunities. Normalizing Black excellence in PE acknowledges that Black women’s intersectionalities create enormous challenges yet foster students’ success. Black women physical educators benefit students and society.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 847-858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Culpan

This article sets out to present a new imagery for capturing the power and potential of Olympism in attempting to educate the next generation of sport consumers and decision makers. It is hoped that the new imagery can make a contribution on how to moderate and regulate the rampant commodification of sport. This new imagery begins with the need for physical educators to open their minds and instigate a critical orientation to thinking about sport and Olympic matters. It is argued that doing this might help in the creation of new possibilities and visions for Olympism and sport and allow us to confront some of the disagreeable contemporary concerns in sport that scholars have identified. The new imagery for Olympism is based on the development of a critical pedagogy that draws on the works of Apple, Freire and Kincheloe, and is re-contextualised for school physical education and sports programmes. It is concluded that decisions, behaviours and actions that are made at present actually propagate many of the policies that will be made tomorrow. It is argued that a critical pedagogy for Olympism is needed to address the many current disagreeable aspects of sport.


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