Kevin Mercier

Assessing Student Achievement in Physical Education for Teacher Evaluation

While many teachers continue to ignore the practice of assessing student achievement in physical education, recent federal pressures to include student assessment data in teacher evaluation systems has shown that assessment of student outcomes is here to stay. Though there is a strong tradition of assessing teacher practice in physical education, standardized measures of student achievement and the requirement to show data on student learning in physical education are relatively new ideas. This article reviews issues about using student achievement data to evaluate physical education teachers. It also presents examples of assessments that could be used to document student achievement for the purpose of teacher evaluation.

Investigating Attitudes Toward Physical Education: Validation Across Two Instruments

The Centers for Disease Control have suggested that physical education plays a role in promoting healthy lifestyles. Prior research suggests a link between attitudes toward physical education and physical activity outside school. The current study provides additional evidence of construct validity through a validation across two instruments measuring attitudes toward physical education by investigating their psychometric properties with a sample of 6th grade students (N = 377). Confirmatory factor analysis results indicate that the four-factor model fit the data well for both instruments based on fit indices, and a multitrait-multimethod analysis provides evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. Cross validation of these instruments permits longitudinal investigations on the role of attitudes toward physical education and their impact on physical activity.

Experiences of teacher evaluation systems on high school physical education programs

ABSTRACT Primary objective: Teacher evaluation is being revamped by policy-makers. The marginalized status of physical education has protected this subject area from reform for many decades, but in our current era of system-wide, data-based decision-making, physical education is no longer immune. Standardized and local testing, together with structured observation measures, are swiftly being mandated in the USA as required elements of teacher evaluation systems in an effort to improve school programs and student achievement. The purpose of this investigation was to document how this reform was initiated and the experiences of teachers, students and administrators, from three high school physical education programs, during initiation of this reform. Documenting how physical education programs respond to such reforms develops our understanding of top-down reform efforts and helps to identify conditions under which such reforms have the intended effect on physical education teachers and student learning in physical education. Theoretical framework: Fullan’s three phases of school change has been used to analyze and guide school change efforts in several subject areas including physical education. The phases are initiation, implementation and institutionalization. This study is situated primarily within the first phase of school change, the initiation phase. Methods and procedures: This study took place over a 21-month period in 3 suburban school districts in a northeast metropolitan area of the USA. Interviews with district physical education administrators, high school physical education teachers and students were conducted. Field notes of physical education classes, informal interviews and related artifacts including pre- and post-physical education assessments were collected. To ensure trustworthiness, several steps were taken including member checks, triangulation and peer review. The data were analyzed to find common themes and patterns using the constant comparative method. Results: Several themes emerged: (1) changes in curriculum and assessment; (2) effect on administrators; (3) stakeholder apathy and (4) department collaboration. Conclusion: Changes, although minor, did take place in the wake of this top-down teacher reform; however, additional research needs to be completed to determine whether or not these changes are meaningful or long lasting.

Most Physically Educated Contest.

It is seldom that the accomplishments of secondary physical education students are celebrated. The Most Physically Educated Contest was developed to allow students from several school districts to gather for appropriate competition and to display the characteristics of physical literacy attained from participation in high-quality physical education programs. The purpose of this article is to share with readers the process of developing, organizing and executing a Most Physically Educated Contest so that others can replicate the event in their own setting. Students participated in the following events, with assessments aligned with the National Standards: (1) written essay, (2) PACER test, (3) push-up assessment, (4) badminton task, and (5) basketball task. All of the steps from initial planning to awards, including keys to success, schedule of events, and the awards ceremony, are presented.

Educating Future Leaders of the Sport-Based Youth Development Field.

In recent years, a substantial surge has occurred in the number of initiatives, events and organizations focused on using sport as a tool for development, peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts. This has created a growing need for educated leaders in the sport-based youth development field as the job market in this field continues to expand. The purpose of this article is to describe three academic programs currently preparing undergraduate and graduate students to succeed in leadership positions within sport-based youth development organizations. It explores how these academic programs are responding to the emerging job market and describes the courses and field-based experiences that provide students with the knowledge, skills and experiences to lead this growing field. The conclusion explores the strengths of these academic programs and the challenges they have faced, with a particular focus on information that may be beneficial to administrators, educators and practitioners.

Fitness Assessment: Recommendations for an Enjoyable Student Experience

Fitness assessment can be an important and useful component of physical education. This article discusses how to avoid the pitfalls that lead to negative student experiences with fitness assessment and presents research-based suggestions for creating a positive experience for all students. A section to help teachers understand how to use fitness assessment properly within the physical education program is included, with examples of lesson ideas and resources aligned with each recommendation. It is hoped that teachers will use this information to help students to gain the benefits of participating in fitness assessment as part of their physical education program.

Three-Year Study of Students’ Attitudes Toward Physical Education: Grades 4–8

ABSTRACT Purpose: A relationship exists between attitudes toward physical education and future physical activity. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in attitude toward physical education as students progressed from upper elementary school (Grade 4) through middle school (Grade 8). Method: Three cohorts of students (Cohort 1, Grades 4–6, n = 96; Cohort 2, Grades 5–7, n = 71; and Cohort 3, Grades 6–8, n = 73) were each followed for 3 years to examine changes in attitudes toward physical education. Results: After an initial increase from Grade 4 to Grade 5, a significant decrease was observed from Grades 5 to 8 in students’ positive attitudes toward physical education, with a faster rate of change for girls than boys. Conclusion: This longitudinal study provides further insights regarding the attitudes of students as they progress from Grade 4 to Grade 8 and expands on previous findings identifying decreasing positive attitudes toward physical education as students age, particularly for girls. The results provide evidence to support targeted interventions.

High School Physical Education Teachers' Attitudes and use of Fitness Tests

Recommendations for using and implementing fitness tests have been extensively researched and teachers’ attitudes toward fitness tests are beginning to be studied. Less understood is how high school teachers use fitness tests and the role their attitudes toward fitness tests affect students’ attitudes toward physical activity. The purpose of this study was to understand how fitness tests are used in secondary physical education classes and how the attitudes of physical education teachers toward fitness testing relate to their use of fitness tests. High school physical education teachers ( N = 149) from 47 school districts completed the Physical Education Teacher Attitudes toward Fitness Tests Scale (PETAFTS), a 16-item survey on their attitudes toward fitness tests, with additional items on how they used fitness tests. Results indicated that teachers often do not implement fitness tests as recommended. Findings suggest that teachers with positive and negative attitudes toward fitness testing vary in their implementation and use of fitness tests. Teachers with more positive attitudes reported more frequently using fitness concepts, and teachers who thought fitness testing was important indicated they were more likely to send fitness test results home.

Middle School Assessments that Contribute to Literacy Goals

Assessment in physical education is not new. What is new is a national focus on teacher evaluation systems that include the use of student achievement scores from administered assessments. An additional educational focus is on the implementation of Common Core Learning Standards in all subject areas, including physical education. Physical educators are now being charged with implementing literacy concepts throughout their curricula. Although many effective physical educators have incorporated literacy concepts into their curricula for decades, recent reform efforts have placed the added expectation of documenting student learning in physical education. This article presents examples of field-tested middle school assessments that could be used in teacher evaluation systems to show student learning. The assessments presented can also be used as viable, realistic, and authentic evaluations in physical education that contribute to literacy goals associated with the Common Core Learning Standards.