Online Physical Education is a technique that I do not agree with. I remember in elementary and highschool my favorite class in school was physical education. Everyone got to play games together, learn new sports, be exposed to social settings, teamwork, emotion, and so many moments of intense comradery. I dont understand how an online physical education prorgram can bring about all these same experiences. I do agree though that physical education isnt for everybody, some people dread having to go to P.E because they dont want to be picked last or show everyone how unathletic they really are. These individuals might learn more from an online class since they can still learn about how to do the sports/activities yet be able to do it in a lot more of a relaxed setting than in front of a whole class.
I believe there should be no set online physical education class but at least the option. If some individuals feel more comfortable practicing the skills on their own then let them learn and try by themselves. For the other individuals who are not self conscious they can benefit from having P.E with your classmates, it can be a real confidence builder along with a good way to meet friends. Some studies have also shown that being active can stimulate the brain for learning and focusing such as shown here http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5742152. Doing sports isn't for everyone but everyone should exercise to maintain their health, whether they do it online or in a gym.
I agree that a lot of the aspects that come with regular PE such as teamwork, emotion, and a social setting will be left out with online PE program. It's true that many people don't like PE because they are not the type to enjoy doing physical activity, but I also think that PE class is a place where kids can be social and learn about interacting with their peers and their teacher. It isn't all about being physically active, and I think that having online PE can take away from those other aspects, like you mentioned. I think it is interesting how you think that there should be an option for online physical education. If everyone was offered the option, I wonder how many people would choose online PE over regular PE.
ReplyDeleteI like the point you made that some people would benefit from not having to do physical education in front of the whole class. By learning how to become physically active without the anxiety of potentially being embarrassed or made fun of, they may be more likely to try it out. However, they still will have to face the outside world and many of the exercise options include going somewhere away from the comfort of your home. As Melanie said, I wonder how many people would choose online PE over traditional PE. If that is an option, I would be worried about my job.
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