Learn how educators and researchers can use evidence-based strategies to increase students' interest, motivation, confidence, access, and outcomes in physical education.

Physical education (PE) plays a pivotal role in shaping a well-rounded student by positively influencing various aspects of their development. Academic performance receives a boost through PE, as research indicates improvements in memory, attention, problem-solving, creativity, and executive functions. These cognitive benefits contribute significantly to overall learning and achievement in other academic pursuits. Moreover, engaging in physical activities during PE fosters emotional regulation, aiding students in managing stress, anxiety, and depression. The resilience, optimism, and self-efficacy cultivated in PE can have lasting effects on mental well-being.

How can K-12 education research support physical education engagement?

Physical education (PE) is a vital component of K-12 education, as it promotes physical, mental, and social well-being among students. However, many students face barriers to engaging in PE, such as lack of interest, motivation, confidence, or access to resources. How can K-12 education research support physical education engagement? In this article, we will explore some of the ways that educators and researchers can use evidence-based strategies to enhance PE participation and outcomes for students.

1 Benefits of PE

PE can have positive effects on various aspects of student development, such as academic performance, cognitive skills, emotional regulation, self-esteem, social skills, and health behaviors. Research shows that PE can improve students' memory, attention, problem-solving, creativity, and executive functions, which are essential for learning and academic achievement. PE can also help students cope with stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as foster resilience, optimism, and self-efficacy. Additionally, PE can enhance students' social and interpersonal skills, such as communication, cooperation, leadership, and conflict resolution. Moreover, PE can encourage students to adopt healthy habits, such as physical activity, nutrition, and sleep, which can prevent chronic diseases and improve quality of life.

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Alex Anh Phan

MBA | Digital Marketing Manager at The Western Australian International School System (WASS) | Education and Edtech Industry | Leads Generation & Nurturing Implementation | Acquisition & Admission Strategy
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Physical education (PE) plays a pivotal role in shaping a well-rounded student by positively influencing various aspects of their development. Academic performance receives a boost through PE, as research indicates improvements in memory, attention, problem-solving, creativity, and executive functions. These cognitive benefits contribute significantly to overall learning and achievement in other academic pursuits. Moreover, engaging in physical activities during PE fosters emotional regulation, aiding students in managing stress, anxiety, and depression. The resilience, optimism, and self-efficacy cultivated in PE can have lasting effects on mental well-being.

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2 Challenges of PE

Despite the many advantages of physical education (PE), numerous students do not engage in PE regularly or sufficiently. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 27% of high school students meet the national recommendation of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day. Common challenges that students face in engaging in PE include a lack of interest or enjoyment, motivation, self-determination, confidence, self-efficacy, access, and opportunity. For instance, some students may find PE boring, unappealing, or irrelevant; lack intrinsic or extrinsic motivation to engage in PE; lack confidence or belief in their ability to perform well or improve; or face barriers such as limited facilities, equipment, time, transportation, or safety.

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Alex Anh Phan

MBA | Digital Marketing Manager at The Western Australian International School System (WASS) | Education and Edtech Industry | Leads Generation & Nurturing Implementation | Acquisition & Admission Strategy
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Beyond mental health, PE contributes to the development of essential social skills. Students participating in physical education learn valuable lessons in communication, cooperation, leadership, and conflict resolution. These interpersonal skills not only benefit students within the context of PE but also carry over to other areas of their lives, enhancing their ability to collaborate and engage effectively with peers and authority figures. Importantly, PE serves as a platform for instilling healthy habits. By encouraging regular physical activity, teaching principles of nutrition, and emphasizing the importance of sufficient sleep, PE equips students with the knowledge and motivation to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

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3 Strategies for PE engagement

K-12 education research can support physical education engagement by identifying and implementing effective strategies that address student challenges and enhance their engagement. Research suggests personalizing and differentiating PE, integrating and contextualizing it, supporting and empowering students in PE, and collaborating and engaging them. Personalizing activities to individual needs, interests, goals, and abilities can increase interest, enjoyment, motivation, autonomy, and ownership. Integrating PE with the broader curriculum, culture, and community can increase the perception of its value, relevance, and benefits. Supporting students with positive feedback, guidance, resources to improve skills and knowledge can increase confidence, self-efficacy, self-regulation, competence, and achievement. Creating a supportive environment that fosters social interactions among students, teachers, and peers can increase social/emotional skills, relationships, well-being, belongingness, and participation.

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4 Examples of PE research

To demonstrate how K-12 education research can promote physical education engagement, recent studies have applied or tested various strategies. For instance, Chen et al. (2020) examined the effects of a personalized and differentiated PE program in a middle school in China. This program enabled students to choose their own activities, monitor their own progress, and receive feedback from teachers. The results indicated that the program increased students' intrinsic motivation, self-determination, engagement, and achievement in PE compared to a traditional PE program. Similarly, Beasley et al. (2019) explored the impact of an integrated and contextualized PE program in a high school in the United States. This program incorporated PE activities into core subjects and linked them to local and global health issues and challenges. The results showed that the program increased students' physical activity, academic performance, and health literacy compared to a separate PE program. Additionally, Wang et al. (2019) investigated the effects of a supportive and empowering PE program in a primary school in Taiwan. This program used a web-based platform to provide students with personalized feedback, guidance, and resources that helped them improve their skills, knowledge, and performance as well as set and monitor their own goals and progress. The results revealed that the program increased students' self-efficacy, self-regulation, and physical fitness compared to a conventional PE program. Finally, Casey et al. (2017) evaluated the outcomes of a collaborative and engaging PE program in a primary school in Australia. This program created a positive learning environment that encouraged social interaction among students, teachers, and peers in PE as well as involved them in planning, implementation, and evaluation of activities. The results showed that the program increased students' social and emotional learning, well-being, and behavior compared to a traditional PE program.

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5 Implications for PE practice

The examples of PE research above demonstrate how K-12 education research can support physical education engagement by providing evidence-based strategies that can enhance students' interest, motivation, confidence, access, and outcomes in PE. However, these strategies are not meant to be prescriptive or universal, but rather to be adapted and contextualized to the specific needs, interests, goals, and abilities of each student, as well as to the resources, constraints, and opportunities of each school. Therefore, educators and researchers need to collaborate and communicate with each other, as well as with students, parents, and stakeholders, to design, implement, and evaluate PE programs that are relevant, meaningful, and effective for students. By doing so, they can help students develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that can enable them to enjoy and benefit from PE throughout their lives.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can K-12 education research support physical education engagement?

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1 Benefits of PE

2 Challenges of PE

3 Strategies for PE engagement

4 Examples of PE research

5 Implications for PE practice

6 Here’s what else to consider

K-12 Education

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How can K-12 education research support physical education engagement?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Benefits of PE

2 Challenges of PE

3 Strategies for PE engagement

4 Examples of PE research

5 Implications for PE practice

6 Here’s what else to consider

K-12 Education

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