Academic Learning Time in Physical Education in Ghana – A Descriptive Analytic Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to utilize the Academic Learning Time-Physical Education (ALT-PE) observational instrument to describe the ALT-PE patterns of students in physical education classes. The Academic Learning Time - Physical Education (ALT-PE) Version 2 with slight modification was used for data collection. Five graduate students served as observers/coders. Eleven undergraduate preservice teachers from the University College of Education of Winneba, Ghana and their Junior Secondary School students were the subjects for the study. In all, 60 lessons were observed using 160 target students. Data collected were treated using percentages and mean scores. The results of this study indicate that the overall ALT-PE accrued by the students was 20%, and ALT-PE was moderately higher for male student teachers than female student teachers. There was difference in ALT-PE scores between boys and girls. Low-skilled students accrued less ALT-PE than medium-skilled and high-skilled students. A great deal of time was spent in transitions (19%), waiting (19%), and warm-up (14.7%).