Question
How does a focus on interest in a physical literacy learning environment affect motivation and engagement in high school P.E. students?
Abstract
Today, in a place and time where physical activity is not valued and where our students are becoming less and less physically active, we are in need of greater student engagement with the idea and process of physical activity. One of the largest problems that physical educators continually struggle to contend with is unmotivated students. Interest is vital to student’s motivation. Interest is a “phenomenon” that emerges from the interaction of the individual with their environment (Hidi, 2000, p.152). It is the teacher’s job to create the environment that will foster that interest and engagement. The purpose of this inquiry is to discover how structuring a physical literacy environment with interest-based goals can affect intrinsic motivation in high school physical education students. Working towards physical literacy means focusing on student engagement and values so that we facilitate learners to become intrinsically motivated, inspired, and self sufficient.
To carry out this inquiry, I will attempt to create novel situations through multiple different learning experiences, models, and methods. I have created a section on my lesson plans strictly for motivational aspects of the class which will help me recognize when my plans are lacking situations that might contribute to increased motivation. Along side the lesson plans, I am employing multiple models of physical education and teaching styles while structuring the learning environment towards a motivated climate. I will be using the sport education model, teaching games for understanding, and inventing games models to vary the structure of the class. I will present info, skills and games in new, constantly changing, and creative ways to create situational interest wherever possible. I plan to use student autonomy and more community and leadership building exercises such as social emotional learning integrated throughout my lessons in order to create an environment that will be positive and encouraging for students to be in. The eventual goal will be to have the students intrinsically motivated and interested in the class for the sake of its effect on them.
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