scholarly journals Values-based Physical Education for the intermediate schooling phase in a diverse South African context

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cherese F. Jones ◽  
Charl J. Roux
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Intermediate Phase ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Universal Language ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Powerful Learning

Participation in physical activity, Physical Education (PE) and sport has been recognised as a powerful learning tool for education, providing a universal language for contributing to valuable life principles. Values-based education implies that learners are educated about the aspects determining their behaviour. Values-based PE, physical activities and sport have the potential to transcend diversity and achieve cohesion, promote tolerance and trust and affirm respect between individuals and communities. The goal of PE can be to contribute to the acceptance of the infinite qualities of South Africa’s diversity and to claim the country’s diversity as a source of strength that forms a bond of a common set of values. There has been a global change in the interaction of learners with their environment; their lives are shaped by forces that do not necessarily assist them to learn and apply values. A PE programme infused with the values of Olympism and Ubuntuism can offer an investment in individual and societal improvement as the co-evolutionary interaction of these values and how they affect each learner can add to the celebration of human diversity. The question this study set out to answer was how can PE be used as a tool to teach values. Thus, the study aimed to inform the development of a values-based PE programme for the intermediate schooling phase. This qualitative study, from a constructivist paradigm, has enhanced the understanding of individuals’ cultures, beliefs and values, human experiences and situations. Purposeful sampling, of 10 intermediate phase teachers from five different public primary schools sought information-rich cases. The theoretical perspectives of the experiential learning theory were applied to teaching PE during in-service PE teacher training workshops. The process was documented by collecting data from multiple sources. Participatory action research was used, determining how data were collected, analysed and presented on an ongoing, cyclical basis. This study developed material for the intermediate phase PE curriculum that underpins the values of Olympism and Ubuntuism as core values, which were modelled by teachers and guided their work. The PE programme included key elements of and aligned with the study aims of the subject Life Skills. The outcomes of using PE as a tool to teach values propose recommendations to the Department of Basic Education of South Africa, to improve and implement a quality PE curriculum that is applicable to practice and that will optimise the chances of meeting National Curriculum Statement standards. Further research is recommended on the rest of the intermediate phase PE curriculum over the entire year, which includes other movement phenomena infused with values.

Classroom teachers’ and administrators’ views of teaching health and physical education

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 448-464
Author(s):  
Dominique Banville ◽  
Ben Dyson ◽  
Pamela H Kulinna ◽  
Michalis Stylianou
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Classroom Teachers ◽  
Health And Physical Education ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand

Teacher efficacy influences what and how they teach. This may be particularly important to consider in Aotearoa New Zealand contexts where primary classroom teachers teach health and physical education and use physical activity breaks with little training. It remains unclear how classroom teachers perceive this role and how to better support them. The purpose of this study was to investigate classroom teachers’ and administrators’ views of teaching health and physical education, including physical activity behaviours, in primary schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. Participants were 10 teachers and three administrators from two schools selected as a purposive sample. Data were collected through formal interviews, field notes, and photographs, and were analysed using inductive analysis and constant comparison. The findings are shared using four themes: (a) support for physical activity breaks; (b) support for curriculum content in health and physical education and ‘Kiwi’ sport culture; (c) teachers’ influence level; and (d) school environment. Overall, teachers and administrators felt very efficacious in their roles of creating healthy and active schools. These teachers also appeared to be confused regarding the difference between physical education, sport, and physical activity. They did feel, however, that instructional self-efficacy could be improved through enhanced content and pedagogy taught in teacher education programmes, and increased opportunities for professional learning and development. Potentially, this could lead to more time spent teaching the health and physical education content as well as a greater focus on the national curriculum for health and physical education being taught in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Implementation of Formal Assessments in Intermediate Phase Mathematics at Primary Schools in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 300-320
Author(s):  
Senzeni Sibanda ◽  
Awelani M Rambuda
Keyword(s):  
Social Constructivism ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Intermediate Phase ◽  
Classroom Observation ◽  
Policy Statement ◽  
Mathematical Problems ◽  
Analyse Data ◽  
Observation Tools

The purpose of this research was to explore the implementation of formal assessments in intermediate phase mathematics at primary schools. The research was elicited by reports that assessment methods and procedures for tackling learners’ needs had been observed to be insufficient in South African schools. The study is grounded in Piaget’s cognitive constructivism and Vygotsky’s social constructivism. The researchers conducted document analysis of teachers’ portfolios which were purposefully selected. Nine teachers– three from each of Grades 4 to 6 were sampled. The portfolios were analysed to establish whether the implementation of the formal assessments was aligned with the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement requirements. A checklist was used to determine teachers’ implementation of formal assessment. Measures of central tendency were used to analyse data. The results revealed that teachers were not developing the abilities of learners in handling complex mathematical procedures as per the requirements of the policy. This implies that learners lacked the ability to break down mathematical problems into different factors or constituent parts. Learners were given a test instead of a project or investigation. Hence teachers were not promoting cooperative learning which is advocated by the policy. Therefore, teachers should be assisted by knowledgeable colleagues and subject advisors in their adoption and use of assessment. There must be a close examination of the classroom observation tools that are currently being utilised. Classroom observation assists teachers to improve their assessment strategies. The Department of Basic Education should supply tablets to primary schools to promote social constructive interaction amongst teachers and learners to enhance effective teaching and learning.

scholarly journals Monitorando o ambiente escolar para a Educação Física no ensino fundamental

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (69) ◽  
pp. 686
Author(s):  
Joaquim José Soares Neto ◽  
Raíssa Ferreira Teixeira
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Infrastructure Monitoring ◽  
Palabras Clave ◽  
Expert Analysis ◽  
Material Conditions

<p class="texto-padro">A Educação Física escolar contribui para o enriquecimento da experiência dos alunos na educação básica, viabilizando o seu acesso a um vasto universo cultural. Assim, para que seus conteúdos sejam explorados pelos professores e sua experiência seja apreendida de maneira positiva pelos alunos, é importante a existência de condições materiais e de infraestrutura, as quais convencionamos chamar ambiente escolar para a Educação Física. Destarte, a proposta deste trabalho consistiu na estruturação de um instrumento de coleta de informações para o monitoramento do ambiente escolar para o ensino e prática da Educação Física, tendo como referencial os conteúdos propostos nos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais. A metodologia de construção do instrumento contou com duas etapas: 1) procedimentos teóricos via revisão de literatura e sistematização teórica e sua operacionalização em itens do questionário; 2) submissão à análise de especialistas para validação semântica e teórica.</p><p><strong>Palavras-chave:</strong> Escolas; Infraestrutura da Educação; Monitoramento; Educação Física.</p><p class="texto-padro"> </p><p><strong>El monitoreo del ambiente escolar para la educación física en la educación fundamental</strong></p><p>La Educación Física escolar contribuye para enriquecer la experiencia de los alumnos en la educación básica, viabilizando su acceso a un vasto universo cultural. De este modo, para que sus contenidos sean explorados por los profesores y su experiencia sea aprehendida de manera positiva por los alumnos, es importante que haya condiciones materiales y de infraestructura, que decidimos llamar de ambiente escolar para la Educación Física. Así, la propuesta de este trabajo consistió en la estructuración de un instrumento de recogida de informaciones para el monitoreo del ambiente escolar destinado a la enseñanza y práctica de la Educación Física, siendo su referente los contenidos propuestos en los Parámetros Curriculares Nacionales. La metodología de construcción del instrumento contó con dos etapas:1) procedimientos teóricos vía revisión de literatura y sistematización teórica y su operacionalización en ítems del cuestionario; 2) sumisión al análisis de especialistas para su validación semántica y teórica.</p><p><strong>Palabras clave:</strong> Escuelas; Infraestructura de la educación; Monitoreo; Educación Física.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Monitoring the school environment for physical education in elementary school</strong></p><p>School Physical education contributes to the enrichment of students’ experience in basic education, giving them access to a large cultural universe. Therefore, for teachers to exploit its content and students to benefit from the experience, the material conditions and infrastructure are important. We would conventionally call this the school environment for physical education. Thus, the purpose of this study consisted in developing an instrument for gathering information to monitor this school environment, for the teaching and practice of physical education. It uses the content proposed in the national curriculum parameters as a reference. The methodology for developing the instrument involved two steps: 1) theoretical procedures, from a literature review and a theoretical systematization and operationalization of items of the questionnaire; 2) submission to expert analysis for semantic and theoretical validation.</p><p class="texto-padro"><strong>Keywords:</strong> Schools; Education Infrastructure; Monitoring; Physical Education.</p>

Physical education in Aotearoa New Zealand primary schools

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 467-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Dyson ◽  
Jackie Cowan ◽  
Barrie Gordon ◽  
Darren Powell ◽  
Boaz Shulruf
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Classroom Teachers ◽  
Primary School Teachers ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Intermediate Schools ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Teacher Surveys

Whilst globally there has been a great deal of discussion and rhetoric regarding the state of physical education at the primary level, there is a paucity of evidence regarding teachers’ perceptions of quality physical education in practice. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to explore and interpret primary school teachers’ perceptions of physical education in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) and identify the influence(s) of education, sport and health policies on these perceptions. This study utilized a mixed methods design, including a questionnaire of 487 classroom teachers from 133 different primary and intermediate schools in five regions (North Auckland, Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Southland) across NZ. The research team also interviewed 41 classroom teachers from across the five regions. Three themes were drawn from the teacher surveys and interviews: muddled thinking; teacher levels of confidence; and physical education or sport. The findings suggest that a number of policies and practices have strongly shaped what occurs ‘in the name’ of physical education in primary schools. These have created a ‘perfect storm’ for primary physical education in NZ and there is concern that the reality of what occurs in practice does not meet the expectations of the national curriculum. There is a need to re-shape the principles and ideals of current practice in primary physical education rather than accepting the historical sports, competition, fitness, fundamental sport skills and ‘Kiwisportification’ of physical education.

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes and trends of physical education curriculum and suggest educational implications for elementary fitness education. Data which were collected from PENC(Physical Education National Curriculum) and research reports were analyzed according to 1) objectives, 2) contents, 3) teaching methods and evaluations. The findings suggest that 1) objectives of PENC was changed from second order and ultimate objectives to instrumental objectives, 2) contents of PENC was changed from play and exercise-oriented to activity-oriented. 3) teaching methods of PENC was changed from passive assessment and prescriptions to self-oriented practice and check. Evaluations was changed from objective fitness testing to process-based comprehensive evaluation. Building on these key findings, the implications for elementary fitness education are as follows: First, elementary fitness education should be strengthened to enhance lifelong healthy life style for learners. Second, elementary fitness education should takes into account more learner’s interest and growth level. Third, elementary fitness education should be taught and evaluate students to continue to participate in activities of their own willingness.

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 57-69
Author(s):  
Mirim Park ◽  
Kyunghwan Jang
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Teaching Methods ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Fitness Testing ◽  
Healthy Life ◽  
Fitness Education ◽  
Education Data ◽  
Educational Implications ◽  
Healthy Life Style

An archaeological analysis to trace the emergence and transformation of qualified physical education teachers in Singapore primary schools

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-84
Author(s):  
Ho Jin Chung ◽  
Muhammad Sufri ◽  
Chee Keng John Wang
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Physical Education Teachers ◽  
National Archives ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Status ◽  
Archaeology Of Knowledge ◽  
Archaeological Analysis ◽  
Key Events ◽  
Underlying Processes

This study explored the underlying processes associated with the policy of increasing qualified physical education teachers (QPETs) in Singapore primary schools. Data were collected from the National Archives of Singapore, Newslink, NewpaperSG and documents. An ‘archaeological analysis’ by Foucault (1972) was used to trace the discursive conditions which enabled and facilitated the policy. Three distinct elements were borrowed from ‘The Archaeology of Knowledge and the Discourse on Language’, namely: the status – as reflected in the positions of individuals influencing the PE policies and initiatives; the institutional sites – as in the locations of the decisions being exercised, and; the situation – identified by the key events leading to the decision to increase QPETs in primary schools. The conclusions based on the analysis of these elements offer a clearer understanding of the various contributions to the adoption of the policy and serve to provide an insightful lens to policymakers who might seek to redesign the future shape of Physical Education.

scholarly journals Effect of Linear and Nonlinear Pedagogy Physical Education Interventions on Children’s Physical Activity: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (SAMPLE-PE)

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Matteo Crotti ◽  
James R. Rudd ◽  
Simon Roberts ◽  
Lynne M. Boddy ◽  
Katie Fitton Davies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Usual Practice ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity ◽  
Pedagogical Approaches

Background: School-based interventions are a key opportunity to improve children’s physical activity (PA); however, there is lack of evidence about how pedagogical approaches to motor learning in physical education (PE) might affect PA in children. Therefore, this study aimed to assess how different pedagogical approaches in PE might affect children’s PA. Methods: Participants (n = 360, 5–6 years) from 12 primary schools within the SAMPLE-PE randomized controlled trial were randomly allocated to either Linear Pedagogy (LP: n = 3) or Nonlinear Pedagogy (NP: n = 3) interventions, where schools received a 15-week PE intervention delivered by trained coaches, or to a control group (n = 6), where schools followed usual practice. ActiGraph GT9X accelerometers were used to assess PA metrics (moderate-to-vigorous PA, mean raw acceleration and lowest acceleration over the most active hour and half hour) over whole and segmented weeks at baseline, immediately post-intervention and 6 months follow-up. Intention to treat analysis employing multilevel modelling was used to assess intervention effects. Results: LP and NP interventions did not significantly affect children’s PA levels compared to the control group. Conclusion: PE interventions based on LP and NP alone might not be effective in improving habitual PA in children.

Food education in Finnish primary education – defining themes and learning objectives using the Delphi technique

2021 ◽  
Vol 123 (13) ◽  
pp. 404-427
Author(s):  
Aija Liisa Laitinen ◽  
Tanja Tilles-Tirkkonen ◽  
Leila Karhunen ◽  
Sanna Talvia
Keyword(s):  
Primary Education ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Learning Objectives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Education

PurposeThe importance of food education in primary schools has been globally recognised. However, more detailed definitions of its learning objectives are rarely found. The study aimed to define multisectoral themes and learning objectives for food education in primary education in Finland.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive three-round Delphi study was conducted with experts in food education in various organisations. In the first questionnaire, the participants were asked to define possible objectives for food education related to general objectives for basic education. Respondents of the first questionnaire formed a research panel (n = 22). These panellists were then invited to complete the second (n = 16) and third questionnaires (n = 12), where the objectives were further modified. Qualitative content analysis and Bloom's taxonomy were applied in the process of creating the learning objectives.FindingsIn the iterative process, 42 learning objectives for food education in primary schools were defined. Further, “Sustainability and ethics of food systems” was defined as the cross-cutting theme of food education. In addition, 13 subthemes were defined, which fell into three thematic categories: personal (e.g. feelings), practical (e.g. eating) and intangible (e.g. culture) issues.Originality/valueThe defined learning objectives for a holistic food education may be used in advancing primary school curriculum in Finland and perhaps other countries.

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