Every other Monday, thousands of physical educators from around the world take part in an online Twitter chat on topics relating to #physed. The community votes for the topic and community members moderate the chat. The result is an amazing professional development opportunity called #PEChat.
A0. I’m Joey (I said that already). I teach at @StGeorgesMtl here in Montreal, 🇨🇦. G1 worked on catching, G3 finished groups dances, and G2 explored balances. #pechat
So I thought it would be cool to share a lesson from my teaching and then we can look at it through the lenses of the five features of meaningful #physed experiences we talked about last time. #pechat
As @doug_gleddie mentioned earlier this week, a lesson doesn't need to excel in all five areas, but it will be cool for all of us here to reflect on this lesson together so that we can build a framework for pro. reflection we can all use in our teaching. #pechat
Tonight's #pechat topic "Creating Meaningful Experiences in #PhysEd" is perfectly timed! Share your #fcpspe plans to showcase your meaningful experiences during #AmericanEdWeek
Ok, here the lesson I said I'd share (also, it's the first vlog episode of The #PhysEd Show, but more on that after the chat): https://t.co/zzunvsh6aw#pechat
Q1. Were there opportunities for social interaction in that lesson? How could social interaction have been planned for in a more meaningful way? #pechat (video link: https://t.co/zzunvsh6aw)
A1: S’s in the lesson would get to choose a safe and creative way to display the relationship that is listed on the card while building their course #pechat
By having the students work in their squads they had the opportunity to bounce ideas off of one another and build off of each others movements. Perhaps including a teaching component into the mix could allow for some formal question/answer time #pechat
Also, during the plickers assess. maybe sharing their reasoning with one other student, although this would make that piece of the lesson take a bit longer, nice to hear some of their thoughts though #pechat
Awesome! How do we ensure that social interactions in squad/teams are set up in a way that provides students with positive experiences in #physed? #pechat
A1.2 Students could map out their entire course, or even get a list of the relationships and decide what equipment might best meet that relationship rather than have them placed for them #pechat
It sounds like what you are describing could influence the "challenge" and "personally relevant learning" features of meaningful #physed experiences. #pechat
I think some of that comes from intentions we set at the beginning of the year, reminders of how to be respectful. It is important that they know how be respectful not only when they agree, but how to disagree with someone appropriately. #pechat
Maybe even have each squad have a different color relationship card that they place at the equipment they think works and then explain their entire course. #pechat
A1. Having taught the lesson, I know that not all Ss are BFFs with their squad mates. Some squabbles and conflicts may have hampered their social interactions. It could have been interesting to allow Ss to move from station to station w/ peers they are comfortable with. #pechat
A2. I think the relationship cards enable students to choose their own level of challenge and risk rather than forcing them into a specific movement or acheivement. #pechat
Totally the students are then picking the best fit course for their groups ability, and also their interests. More risk taking groups may approach the relationship concepts at a different level of challenge. Which could also spark an interesting class discussion #pechat
Agreed! We spend a lot of time working on setting up a positive culture in class. Visual resources like those attached to this tweet get referred to all of the time in those challenging yet teachable moments. #pechat
These conflicts are also learning moments and enable them to develop their social interactions in different ways. Problem solving, turn taking, conflict resolution #pechat
This is a great idea - and would be a perfect time to allow them to choose their own groups as @JoeyFeith mentioned - they could choose group members with similar ability or similar willingness to take risks everyone gets to work within their comfort zone #pechat
The S’s may also need conversation starters cards, to help them talk as a squad some kids are highly social others are more introverted or independent. Giving speaking points may help those who struggle. #pechat
A2. As the students explored, I went around and challenged them to come up with different ways of displaying that relationship as they moved about the play structure. "Can you show me a different way" "how many different ways" etc. Cool to see Ss stop and think! #pechat
A3: S’s got to be creative and make it their own using a familiar space that they could replicate at recess. So they had a long term purpose too #pechat
A3 this lesson is all about play, there is so much learning going on as well, but from the eyes of Ss they are on the play equip. and are given freedom to explore and experiment. Fun is built right in! #pechat
The element of “free play” that is brought about by the environment makes the learning fun and relevant to students every day experience. Play structures are part of every recess and lunch for these kids #pechat
A3. Having that freedom to explore, take risk, and see-what-you-can-get-away-with-without-Joey-saying-no lead to a lot of laughs, giggles, and (as mentioned in the vlog) "CAN I SHOW YOU SOMETHING!?" asks. #pechat
Q4. Was the lesson designed to be personally relevant to the students? How could this have been better designed (i.e. more front and center in the lesson)? (video link: https://t.co/zzunvsh6aw) #pechat
Ooooh I like that and am actually working on developing something similar (I talk about it in the podcast I'm about to launch which actually already launched and can be found here: https://t.co/oADTht3Pmh) #pechat
A4: promote it as they can create the obstacle course on their own playgrounds to practice on and eventually “race” at recess. This could get S’s to push challenge a bit more. #pechat
Totally! It was funny to see some of them want to try something but not sure if they had permission/were even able to do so. Getting to see them at the edge of their comfort zones in terms of risky play was really fun! #pechat
Love that! I think next year I'll make a digital version of our playground and have them draw their course. We can share it on the PE Pillar in the hallway! #pechat
A5. Although there wasn't a specific skill focus for the lesson, the emphasis on movement concepts helped students develop their competence (and confidence) in physical activity settings (I have the data to prove it!) #pechat
Q6. Based on the way we reflected on my lesson tonight, how could you use the 5 features to reflect on your own lessons and see how they can be best designed to be meaningful to your students? #pechat
