Quality Physical Education: A Students' Perspective (2022) PDF

Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance ISSN: (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ujrd20 Quality Physical Education: A Students’ Perspective Brent Heidorn To cite this article: Brent Heidorn (2022) Quality Physical Education: A Students’ Perspectiv...

Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance ISSN: (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ujrd20 Quality Physical Education: A Students’ Perspective Brent Heidorn To cite this article: Brent Heidorn (2022) Quality Physical Education: A Students’ Perspective, Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 93:4, 3-5, DOI: 10.1080/07303084.2022.2050139 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2022.2050139 Published online: 21 Jun 2022. Submit your article to this journal View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=ujrd20 Quality Physical Education: A Students’ Perspective Viewpoint Brent Heidorn T here is little doubt that physical amount of times I even get a chance to education continues to be a participate is pretty limited. I’m not as marginalized field, especially athletic as some of the others in the when compared with various other class. What’s more, I wish I learned subjects in K–12 schools. As physical where I’m supposed to hit the badmin- activity levels continue to decline ton birdie thing or how to hold the among youth, a necessary, yet often racket, how to plan my own workout undervalued, subject area may not routine instead of just seeing how always receive the attention it deserves. many push-ups we can do in a minute, As physical educators, we have and certainly more than the phrase historically seen large-scale support for “BEEF” when shooting a basketball. I our programs, including the facilities, feel like I’ve been in physical education teacher salaries and benefits, and other class my whole life, but I haven’t resources. However, in many settings, learned anything. we have also seen decreased time Student B: I totally get it. My allotted for instruction, large class teacher, Coach Smith, seems concerned sizes, lack of daily administrative about sportsmanship and acting support, and other challenges. Some responsibly, and it’s mentioned may contend that leading a quality Brent Heidorn occasionally. That’s great. But the physical education program can be language that is allowed in class, the quite difficult in today’s academic lack of including females and others in climate, but meaningful learning question the value of physical educa- some of the games, and always having experiences are possible. In addition, tion by identifying their experiences, to keep score and declare a winner and there is a “need for assessment systems describing various scenarios, and a loser is kind of getting on my nerves. that reflect improved instructional ultimately encouraging us (physical I wish we could participate in a much practices, lead to a culture of continu- education teachers and teacher more welcoming environment. The ous improvement in physical educa- educators) to improve our programs. class could be so fun. tion, and demonstrate that students The topics provided in this fictional Student C: I hear both of you. But are learning important instructional presentation include (1) standards and my class is so much different. Our content” (Collier, 2011, p. 38). With curriculum; (2) effective teaching and teacher has an essential question ready these things in mind, the purpose of quality experiences; (3) physical for us each day, we take a deep dive this article is to provide an overview of activity, fitness, and skill development into learning more than just the basic quality physical education from the opportunities; (4) assessment for skills of any sport or activity we play, lens of fictional high school students student learning; (5) miscellaneous and we also have a time that Coach who are enrolled in physical education topics; and (6) teacher training. Jones calls “cooperative learning.” It’s classes. Providing insights from one of really fun partnering with others each our key stakeholders (even fictional day, developing teamwork skills, and students) may propel us to further Standards and Curriculum helping others learn. This is my examine how we might continually favorite class. One of the players on Student A: I don’t know the details improve our instruction and student the volleyball team helped me with my of the things we’re supposed to do in learning, provide quality experiences, forearm pass last week, and I my physical education class, but I see and increase the value of our improved so much. the five standards posted on the gym programs. wall since the beginning of the semester. The standards are rarely discussed by my teacher, Coach Davis, Effective Teaching and The Setting and when they are, none of us Quality Experiences Imagine this: In a conversational understand. I expect there to be some Student A: Yep, I wish we had a manner, current high school students emphasis on learning skills, but the better class. Most days Coach Davis JOPERD 3  gets out basketballs, rackets and fitness test we do seems so discon- Student B: My class is a little like Viewpoint Frisbees. We’re told that we can play nected to the rest of the year. that, but Coach Smith also grades us on pick-up or “gotcha,” throw a Frisbee, Student B: Wow! Our class is not effort. I’m so afraid to not try because I play badminton or walk around the that bad. We learn about the fitness don’t want to get a bad grade. For some perimeter of the gym. Some of us sit components and different principles of of the sports we play, I’m trying my down after about 5 minutes. Coach exercise training, and the music helps best, but it doesn’t seem to work, and I Davis doesn’t care. The other day, all us stay motivated. But I agree, some of don’t always feel comfortable. It’s so we did was talk about the varsity game us don’t enjoy running, and when it easy for other people. If we would ever on Tuesday night. looks like we’re not trying our best, dance in class, though, I would do Student B: That stinks. Coach Coach Smith yells at us. One time the great. And I’m a swimmer, but that’s Smith tries to show us some skills and whole class was made to run laps not possible in our class, either. We have encourages us to practice, but it’s because two people were talking. But a multiple-choice test each semester on usually only the sports I think I’ll for the fitness test, we practice for that some of the things we’ve learned, like never play again. And we’ve done the all the time, and most of us have the rules of certain sports and some of same thing each year since sixth grade. improved. I have a pretty good idea the fitness stuff, but the test is usually My cousin (she doesn’t go to the same how to work out on my own. easy. I wish we could take a survey, school as me) tells me all about the Student C: I’m not trying to sound reflect on our experiences, or maybe creative ways they warm up each day, like a broken record (my dad says that even submit an exercise log like I did in the incredible energy her teacher has, all the time), but our class is not like one of my previous physical education and the constant feedback they receive that at all. The fitness stuff is so fun. classes. when learning skills. Coach Smith Sometimes Coach Jones talks us Student C: That’s surprising. Coach usually just shows us the skill at the through in-class videos or apps, we Jones collects some type of learning beginning class, splits us into different create our own routines, and we get data from us most days of the week. teams, and says “good job” all the the chance to focus on the things we We self-assess, have peer check-offs time. I never know what is meant or enjoy or what we need to work on the and rubrics, and submit journals and what I did that was so good. most. Our school also provides all learning portfolios with all kinds of Student C: I used to have a teacher kinds of opportunities for us to be options, and we’re observed in like that. But Coach Jones gives us a physically active before and after small-sided games during tournaments great introduction to class each day, school, like a walking club, a biking and scrimmages. We’re never graded demonstrates skills for us all the time, program, intramural sports, family fun on whether or not we wear the right and gives us an opportunity to nights, and even brain boosters in clothes for class (but all of us do showcase our skills as we learn them, different classes. I don’t really want to anyway), and we even get points for and we discuss how the things we play for the varsity team, so I’m glad I being physically active in all sorts of learn in class can be used in our can play intramurals at least a few ways outside of school. Coach Jones community. My friends and I practiced different times throughout the year. has us sign a simple contract that helps our golf swing all weekend. us stay accountable for being active at least 30 minutes most days of the Assessment for Student week. I like that approach. Physical Activity, Fitness Learning and Skill Development Student A: Here’s another thing. Student A: Golf? Besides basketball I’ve gotten a 100% in physical Miscellaneous Topics and a few other things, there’s nothing education class every semester, but Student A: It sounds like your class else we ever do. At the beginning of honestly, I don’t know how. I’m always beats ours in everything. Your teacher the year, Coach Davis went on and on on time for class, I don’t act disrespect- probably takes your class outside about the importance of fitness, and I ful (at least not on the outside), and I sometimes, too! We’re always combined feel like we’re in the military with all wear shoes that don’t mark up the gym with like three other classes. There’s not of the exercises we have to do when floor. I don’t think I’m graded on much room to do anything. At least we we hear the whistle. I hate it, especially anything else. Coach Davis says it’s can have our phones in class when when others are waiting for me to important for us to learn how to play we’re bored. Sometimes Coach Davis is finish. We run laps each day for about sports but never checks to see if we’re on the laptop anyway and doesn’t seem 5 minutes, or sometimes it’s one lap getting any better. My mom and dad to care. As long as we keep busy or stay around the track. I wish there was a both say that’s the way it was when out of trouble, everything is fine. I don’t way we could learn the skills while they were in school. This doesn’t seem always feel safe, though. staying active and moving. It seems to bother them anyway — they want Student B: I agree, except we’re not like it’s either fitness stuff or sports — me to focus on a few of my allowed to have our phones in class. never both, and nothing new. The other grades. Someone’s phone got stolen last year. 4 Volume 93 Number 4 April 2022 Once in a while Coach Smith shows us be learning. I’ve seen the lesson plans …” (SHAPE America - Society of Viewpoint a screenshot or a video of how to play a before, and I know that our school Health and Physical Educators, sport, but I mostly just look online to principal is proud of Coach Jones, with 2017, p. 2). try and learn the skills on my own. I the recent Teacher of the Year award Develop and/or maintain a clear typically get distracted and move on to recognition. philosophical approach for helping preservice candidates plan, imple- something else. Our school counselor ment, deliver instruction, manage, spoke to us one time about social and emotional learning, and Coach Smith Summary and assess student learning in K–12 physical education. This likely said we’ll add some of that stuff I trust you have been able to reflect requires continual discussions (per- next week. on your former experiences, current haps even friendly debate) among Student C: We’re allowed to use our practices and future plans for provid- program faculty for ensuring con- phones, but it’s usually specific to what ing quality physical education and tinuity within the program. we’re doing in class. Coach Jones meaningful physical activity opportu- Mentor preservice candidates so showed us a bunch of apps, and we can nities for all of your students. Even they develop the professional dis- record ourselves practicing a skill, though some of the examples here may positions needed for leadership in learning a dance, or tracking our heart be extreme, it is likely that you have K–12 physical education programs. observed similar things at some point. Consider specific strategies within rate during activity. We also use QR Though there is no one-size-fits-all the program to teach, assess and codes and Google forms once in a approach for what students must reflect upon candidate dispositions. while. I know this sounds crazy, and Provide numerous experiential our class is not perfect, but Coach Jones experience, we know that a stan- opportunities, outside of normal really tries to teach us things, we care dards-based curriculum; best instruc- instruction, for preservice can- about others in the class, and we get to tional practices; a proper emphasis on didates to acquire other skills, learn based on our individual strengths physical activity, fitness, and skill strategies, concepts, motivational and areas for improvement. I’m not development; a focus on student techniques, technological tools that athletic, but I know that Coach learning; and a host of other beneficial and rapport-building occasions that Jones cares about me. I probably opportunities can increase the value can transfer to their future physical appreciate that more than anything. and enjoyment of our programs. education programs. Physical education class is an academic subject aligned to established physical edu- For more helpful information about quality physical education, visit Teacher Training cation standards. … It follows a curriculum with grade-level and appropriate learning https://www.shapeamerica.org//upload/ Student A: I guess most of all, I’m TheEssentialComponentsOfPhysical outcomes and assessments. A quality phys- curious if Coach Davis ever learned ical education class is accessible to all stu- Education.pdf. how to be a physical education teacher. dents at all levels and should not be tailored We rarely see any demonstration of to highly skilled athletes … it comprises skills or strategies. It seems like Coach instruction in a range of skills, including but References Collier, D. (2011). Increasing the value of Davis doesn’t enjoy moving or develop- not limited to sports skills, fitness and move- physical education: The role of assess- ing fitness and spends a lot of time ment concepts, and social and cooperative ment. Journal of Physical Education, talking with the most athletic students skills that develop positive attitudes and Recreation & Dance, 82(7), 38–41. in the class, and the equipment room is behaviors for a lifetime of physical, mental, https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2011. and emotional and social wellness. (Kenyon 10598656 a mess. You might be really surprised if et al., 2020, p. 135) Kenyon, M., Satterley, K., Greenberg, J. D., & I told you what Coach Davis has for LoBianco, J. L. (2020). Teacher evalua- breakfast most days. Finally, for those who are closely tion. In J. D. Greenberg & LoBianco, J. L. Student B: Coach Smith definitely affiliated with a physical education (Eds.), Organization and Administration learned some things about sports in teacher education program, please of Physical Education (pp. 129–151). college. Coach Smith looks strong and consider the following suggestions: Human Kinetics. SHAPE America – Society of Health and is knowledgeable about most activities, Hold preservice teacher candidates Physical Educators. (2017). National but it seems that it’s not about health standards for initial physical education but more about the things needing to accountable for learning skills teacher education. and strategies in content areas get done after school and, again, as and health-enhancing levels of long as we don’t cause problems, fitness. Among other things, and everything is fine. as clearly identified in the National Brent Heidorn ([email protected]) is a Student C: There’s no doubt Coach Standards, “Candidates will demon- professor of Health and Physical Education Jones wants to be a great teacher. We strate competency in all fundamen- and Associate Dean for Research and usually hear about what happened at a tal motor skills, as well as skillful Assessment in the College of Education at the workshop or conference, and it seems performance in a minimum of four University of West Georgia in Carrollton, GA. there’s a real method to what we should physical education content areas JOPERD 5