Gender, BMI, values, and learning in physical education: A study on Chinese middle schoolers

The expectancy-value theory: A meta-analysis of its application in physical education

BACKGROUND

The purpose of motivating students is to enhance their learning achievement. The expectancy-value theory (EVT) has demonstrated its efficacy in motivating students in classrooms and in gymnasia. Understanding student motivation in physical education is needed. This meta-analysis review aimed to reveal the determinants and functions of EVT by evaluating the evidence in physical education research.

METHODS

We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify and meta-analyze the current research literature published from January 2010 to December 2020 by generating and analyzing the effect sizes from the studies.

RESULTS

A total of 31 studies were included. The results show that social support, motivation of teachers and peers, and positive class climate can predict student EVT motivation. EVT motivation predicts student learning behaviors, situational interests, fitness performance, health behavior function, out-of-school physical activity, and physical skill development.

CONCLUSION

EVT motivation could facilitate learning behaviors and situational interest development in the gymnasium. It might lead to fitness enhancement, health behavior change, out-of-school physical activity participation, and physical skill development. Fostering a learning environment with a mastery-centered and/or student autonomy approach where students perceived success and the task values can enhance and maximize student EVT motivation and learning achievement.

Learning to Teach Physical Education for Health: Breaking the Curriculum Safety Zone

Purpose: Based on the theorized concept "Curriculum Safety Zone (CSZ)," this study was conducted to identify the factors for breaking CSZ by contrasting the experiential accounts of two pre-service teacher groups who taught within or outside of their CSZ. Method: Pre-service teachers (n = 14) from a sport-centered PETE program were trained to teach a Health-First curriculum module and their peers (n = 14) a traditional sport module. Each group taught their respective module to 14 intact 7th grade classes in 14 schools in China. A mixed-methods design was used. Quantitative data on learner knowledge gain were collected from the learners. Qualitative data included lesson observation fieldnotes, social-media posts, and interview responses and were gathered from the pre-service teachers. Results: Learners in the Health-First schools gained more knowledge than those in the Comparison schools (t₂₆ = 2.92, p = .007, Cohen's d = 1.10). Qualitative evidence was triangulated using a Health-First vs. Comparison contrasting approach with open-, axial-, and selective-coding to generate themes. The themes were Confidence in Doubt, Lesson Plans to the Rescue, Professional Development is Necessary But…, and Student Learning Save the Day! A grounded theory was developed using the themes and interpreted using the Interconnection Model of Teacher Professional Growth. Conclusion: Breaking CSZ requires a synergistic effort with carefully designed professional development, detailed lesson plans, an effective support network, and, most important of all, a powerful curriculum that can elicit observable and measurable learner achievement.