The Integration of Technology in Physical Education and Teacher Perceptions of the Effect on Participation of K-12 students.

Abstract

Receiving regular physical activity is beneficial to the physical, mental, and social aspects of health among adolescents. Overall schools, and Physical Education, are essential in achieving health literacy in a population, and they contribute to the achievement of public health goals. However, in recent years, there has been a decrease in physical activity and a decrease in participation in Physical Education. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for technology integration, as all educational disciplines were forced virtual. Technology integration in Physical Education has been slow; however, technology provides a means to promote physical activity and participation. The purpose of this synthesis is to review the literature on the effect of the integration of technology on student participation, and the perceptions of teachers and students towards technology use in Physical Education. It was concluded that wrist worn technology is one of the easier technologies to implement into a classroom, and is becoming accepted as one of the easiest strategies to help combat the problem of obesity. It was also concluded that teacher perceptions of implementing technology depend on their prior trainings, experiences, and their environment, and teachers are unlikely to implement technology if they have not had sufficient training. Finally, it was concluded that student perceptions are affected by how teachers implement the technology, which can be both positively and negatively affect participation.