Fitness Testing or Fitness Teaching? - achper vic

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Feb 12, 2018 - Fitness testing has been common practice in Physical Education classes for many years. A standard ... of
#TipOfTheWeekHPE

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The Victorian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education Strand: Sub-strand: Levels:

Movement and Physical Activity Understanding Movement 5-10

Content descriptor/s: • • •

Level 5-6 - Participate in physical activities designed to enhance fitness, and discuss the impact of regular participation on health and wellbeing (VCHPEM118) Level 7-8 - Participate in physical activities that develop health-related and skill-related fitness components, and create and monitor personal fitness plans (VCHPEM136) Level 9-10 - Design, implement and evaluate personalised plans for improving or maintaining their own and others’ physical activity and fitness levels (VCHPEM155)

Fitness Testing or Fitness Teaching? Fitness testing has been common practice in Physical Education classes for many years. A standard fitness testing battery is often included in the first few weeks of a school year and then redone towards the end of the semester or year. This TOTW will encourage you to reflect on your practises in this area of the curriculum. From Level 3 in the Victorian Curriculum, students are introduced to the concepts of physical activity, health and skill related fitness and how these connect to their personal health and wellbeing. As students move into secondary school they develop a more comprehensive knowledge of physical activity and fitness. This includes an understanding of how to evaluate, plan and modify a personal fitness and activity lifestyle plan for themselves and others. Any fitness testing within the Physical Education curriculum must be structured in such a way that it contributes to this learning. We know there are many ways to teach about fitness and physical health within the curriculum. This TOTW is encouraging the appropriate selection and use of activities when fitness tests are used or being considered. The questions below will help you to evaluate the use of fitness testing in your school, and determine are you “fitness testing or fitness teaching”?

If using fitness tests, are students taught correct technique beforehand, and is technique monitored throughout testing?

Do you take into consideration: age, motivation, body type and prior experience when selecting lesson activities and collecting fitness information?

What is the educational purpose of your fitness activities/tests/unit?

Key Questions

If conducting a fitness test battery, is it compulsory for all students to complete them? ACHPER Victoria

If conducting fitness tests or collecting data, how will you use the results? Will students compare their results to their peers, norms or sample data?

Is fitness taught as a once off unit, or is it taught/reinforced throughout the year? #TipOfTheWeek – 12 Feb 2018

Many teachers address or consider the above questions when developing the fitness content within their curriculum. These questions have been raised, however, to encourage all teachers to consider the why, when and how of what is delivered in the Physical Education curriculum related to fitness. If the fitness units in your school simply involve students completing a battery of fitness tests (eg: Beep Test, sit up test, sit and reach test, BMI, etc…), think about the following: • Are you providing students with information as to why they are doing the tests and helping them to develop an understanding of how to interpret and use the results to improve their personal fitness levels? • If you encourage students to compare results with their peers or to norms, does this have relevance to your students? • Are students associating positive or negative feelings to completing the battery of fitness tests and their individual results (i.e.: what are their engagement and self-esteem levels like as a result of the activities)? • Are students achieving the relevant content descriptors through simply participating in a battery of fitness tests?

If you are interested in contributing to a Tip of the Week, or have an idea for one, please contact the ACHPER Victorian Branch Office or Bernie Holland (Professional Learning Manager) ([email protected] or 9274 8906).

ACHPER Victoria

#TipOfTheWeek – 12 Feb 2018