Indigenous-Informed
Health and PHysical Education
One teaching framework that we wanted to highlight is informed by indigenous views on health and wellness. This holistic approach is focused on supporting the social, emotional, physical and spiritual facets of a healthy life. It is also place-based and takes into account the economic, family, social, cultural, and environmental factors that affect learning, health, and well-being. This pedagogical framework is more about broad values and can be incorporated into a range of other teaching methods. The First Nations Health Authority gives more detail on these ideas at the link below.
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Indigenous physical education also focuses on play and games-based learning and is very compatible with other games-based teaching methods such as teaching games for understanding. The “Indigenous Games' ' document created by Cole Wilson at the Saskatchewan Physical Education Association gives a great background and overview on this topic and gives some really amazing game suggestions based on traditional indigenous games.
Teaching Methods and Resources
Flipped-Classroom Teaching
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Another teaching method that we wanted to highlight is the use of flipped classroom teaching in a physical education setting.
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In a flipped classroom setting, direct instruction is done outside of the classroom through videos watched at home, and the class time is more about student-led practice and reinforcement.
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This style of teaching works well with our commitment to helping students build intrinsic motivation for life-long wellness, and taking ownership of their learning.
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It also allows for a very inclusive environment as it includes technology and allows for different learning styles and for students to work more at their own pace.
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The study entitled “ The Impact of the Flipped Classroom Pedagogy in a Physical Education Classroom” from the University of Pennsylvania details the positive impacts of this teaching method, including positive students experiences.
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Flipped classroom teaching is also compatible with the indigenous pedagogical framework discussed above.
"Results from this study indicate that students were able to take the knowledge gained from the video and transfer it to their physical education class. The second finding focused on students’ perceptions about the flipped classroom. Students took a survey that the questions were gathered into five themes (a) mastery of skills/gameplay, (b) pacing, (c) time, (d) social media and videos, and (e) engagement and access. Lastly, six students were chosen to be a part of the focus group. The focus group discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the flipped classroom, usefulness regarding other subjects, improvements, and other comments. Students had an overwhelmingly positive experience with the flipped classroom pedagogy.”
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Conferences
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Generally student-led conferences (as opposed to traditional parent-teaching conferences) for other subjects involve the students presenting a portfolio.
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For physical education, it generally involves setting up stations where students demonstrate the skills they have learned.
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This teaching tool can help students take ownership for their learning, give teachers a better insight into student understanding, and help parents be more aware of what their children are learning.
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It can also guide the learning throughout the semester and provide students with a goal to work towards that is not competitive but self-guided.
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The paper that you can access through this link, from the Physical & Health Education Journal, gives an easy to follow outline on how student-led conferences can be run in a physical education setting, as well as guiding tips.