If You Build It, They Will Come: Physical Educators' Perceptions Regarding How to Design an Optimal Online Physical Education Resource

In the age of COVID-19, online physical education (OLPE) has emerged as a major part of the day-to-day professional practice of P-12 physical education teachers and physical education teacher education (PETE) faculty. Yet little is known about what would optimize an OLPE resource from the perspective of physical educators. This study addressed this knowledge gap. A convenience sample of P-12 physical education teachers (n = 9) and PETE faculty (n = 10) was recruited to participate in six focus groups. Data were qualitatively analyzed with both deductive techniques and inductive techniques and themes across both participant groups (physical education teachers and PETE faculty) and by group were identified. Across-group themes included generally negative views of OLPE, concerns of equity and context, thoughts on assessment, and design ideas for virtual resources. Within groups, P-12 physical educators shared concerns about grading and providing meaningful feedback, whereas PETE faculty focused on ensuring that OLPE was designed and delivered considering best practices. This study builds on a nascent line of inquiry that informs the development of an OLPE resource to meets physical educators' professional needs during the pandemic and into an inevitable future where virtual teaching and learning are status quo. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Physical Educator is the property of Sagamore Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Virtual Physical Education During COVID-19: Exploring Future Directions for Equitable Online Learning Tools.

Introduction: School closures prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic reduced opportunities for US youth to be physically active and disproportionately impacted health disparities in this population. Physical education provides the largest intervention to support the physical activity of school-aged youth, but teachers' opinions about how to maintain quality programming during virtual learning periods remain unexplored. Applying a diversity, equity and inclusion framework, this study explored physical education teachers' perceived significance of different design features for an online teaching tool to promote physical activity equity during school closures. Methods: Previous literature and focus groups informed the development of a survey administered in summer/fall 2020. Survey participants (n = 60) were physical education teachers from 400 randomly selected US preschool-12th grade schools drawing from a national database. Participants rated the significance of four design features in relation to five key attributes of an online supplement to in-person physical education programs. One-way ANOVAs were used to assess differences in teachers' ratings by demographic characteristics. Results: Between-group differences were found in teacher ratings of design features related to the usability, accessibility, equitability, and formal assessment capabilities of an online physical education tool. Differences were based on teacher gender, school level, and geographic location. Conclusions: Future research to promote physical activity equity among preschool-12th grade youth should examine tailored virtual physical education learning tools that address what teachers perceive to be the most significant design features to support equitable physical education among diverse student groups.

Physical distancing ≠ physical inactivity.

During this time of global health crisis, physical distancing, along with mask wearing, has emerged as the sine qua non social practice to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19. But as physical distancing ensues and all eyes remain fixed on the novel coronavirus, another, albeit careworn, pandemic rages on. Physical inactivity, the world's fourth leading cause of death, may indeed be exacerbated by physical distancing measures, such as sheltering at home and closing or limiting access to recreation and exercise facilities. The purpose of this paper is to urge public health and medical professionals not to forget the importance of physical activity to whole-person health, recognize the importance of physical activity as a potential COVID-19 mitigation strategy and to serve as advocates for promoting active lifestyles. It is imperative that the national call for physical distancing not be interpreted as a call for physical inactivity.