Teaching+for+Problem+Solving+and+Decision+Making+in+Physical+Education+October+2009

The webinar’s main focus was on being physically active throughout life; that requires the ability to solve problems and to make healthy decisions. The presentation suggested concepts and strategies that promote students’ problem solving and decision making in physical activity units and lessons. The ability for teachers to enhance interest and increase enjoyment while learning in physical education was examined. The goal of the teacher is to have students active for a lifetime and that means that students need to make decisions and solve challenges on their own, without the teachers help. The first area that Dr Ennis focused on was the constructivist perspectives on problem based learning. She mentions the four principles of the theory –  1. Learning is an active process  2. Prior knowledge and experience is needed- skills  3. Knowledge is learned best with others – team play  4. Authentic assessment – game play The next area of focus was well structured vs Ill-structured problems. Physical Education is Ill-structured meaning there is no one correct answer to problems. A math or science class would be considered well structured. A problem in those subject areas have specific answers. As PE teachers we need to create Ill-structured problems for students to solve. When creating those problems teachers need to identify three main elements; the process students use to solve the issue, the task used to stimulate their thinking and the concept that students will learn as they solve the problem. The entire presentation was about making students think as they were doing a task. For the student to understand the process and think during the physical activity. Instead of the common practice of having students physically move through the task. To make sure every student has “scaffolds” to check as they proceed through the movements. Problem solving tasks build student ownership and therefore can provide a step toward lifetime activity.