An Examination of Ohio’s Physical Education Academic Content Standard 4, Benchmark A for Grades 9-12
Document Type
Master's Culminating Experience
Publication Date
2011
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe select physical education teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness and accuracy of the assessments for Ohio's Physical Education Academic Content Standard 4 Benchmark A in determining the fitness and physical activity levels of high school students. A secondary purpose was to describe the fitness levels of high school physical education students, based on assessment data.
Methods: Participants were forty-one physical education teachers and ninety high school students from southwest Ohio. Data were collected from the teachers through an online questionnaire and from students with FITNESSGRAM testing. FITNESSGRAM data from one local school district and questionnaire data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. A key informant interview was also completed with a member of the Ohio Department of Education Physical Education Standards and Assessments committee and Physical Education faculty member at Wright State University.
Results: A majority of the teachers found the assessments aligned with Ohio’s Physical Education Standard 4 Benchmark A to be effective and accurate at measuring physical fitness and activity levels of students and they were helpful to both the teachers and students in guiding the process of assessment. Results also indicated students were not achieving the optimal levels of physical fitness based on assessment data (30% of boys and 49% of girls had limited fitness levels and 61% of boys and 33% of girls had proficient fitness levels).
Conclusions: Results from this pilot study indicate that physical educators have positive perceptions of the assessments aligned with Ohio’s PE Standard 4 Benchmark A and find them helpful in assessing a students’ health-benefiting physical activity levels and physical fitness. Also, high school students generally have poor health-benefitting fitness levels.
Repository Citation
Jones, G. (2011). An Examination of Ohio’s Physical Education Academic Content Standard 4, Benchmark A for Grades 9-12. Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.
