During the last few decades, the nature of tests and exams in education has come under scrutiny and undergone significant levels of change. While educators might disagree on the methods, they can all agree that some form of assessment is critical to the instruction and learning process. Without assessment, there is no way to measure students’ preexisting knowledge, achievement or progress.
Unfortunately, we have learned that many traditional forms of educational assessments are exclusive, inadequate or both. As a result, teachers have had to think more critically about not only the designs of their assessments but the nature of assessments themselves. This includes physical education professionals, such as graduates of the online Master of Science in Education (MSEd.) in Health and Physical Education program from Northwest Missouri State University (Northwest).
Assessment in Physical Education
In an academic classroom setting, teachers have increasingly utilized a variety of accommodations, strategies, scaffolding and more to hone their curricula, reach more students and increase achievement. This is also true for physical education teachers, but the kinetic nature of their classroom activities requires an entirely different set of skills, which poses a different set of challenges, particularly when it comes to assessment. As a result, the education system has adopted new ways of measuring achievement in physical education.
Instead of abiding by hard and fast physical standards, these assessments are designed to be more inclusive and allow all students, regardless of ability, to develop an understanding and appreciation for physical education and its benefits.
Formative vs. Summative Assessments
Like other subjects, physical education requires that educators use various assessments that factor into student grades differently. Formative assessments, for instance, could be considered “ongoing” assessments, as described by the PE Project. They are used mainly to teach, collect data and inform the instruction process to better address student needs. Students are offered a grade, but formative assessments emphasize providing feedback and ultimately measuring progress on a summative assessment.
Summative assessments are used to collect grades, but only to be a “systematic recording of the pupil’s overall progress and achievement.” The focus is on the cumulative effect of formative and summative assessments, not simply a one-time snapshot measurement.
These assessments are aligned with the curriculum standard from the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE). They are “process focused” and “designed to measure multiple constructs as well as provide meaningful feedback to students—ultimately helping them to develop holistically across all three learning domains (psychomotor, cognitive, and affective).” Working to tap into these different domains ultimately creates a more equitable and inclusive physical education assessment system that can help all children, regardless of their level of physical ability. All students are challenged at an appropriate level, allowing them to achieve at an appropriate level.
Some students with disabilities might be unable to participate in particular sports or activities, but they could still benefit greatly from activities that stimulate their motor skills or improve their social skills through play and cooperation. Other students with health issues could struggle to meet certain physical benchmarks during a grading period.
However, with assessments designed to measure progress and other areas, students can still earn the grade they worked for. Nutrition and physiology information are also valuable information for students. Assessment types have now begun to reflect the variety of benefits nutrition can offer students with different needs.
How an Advanced Degree Can Help
Northwest’s online MSEd. in Health and Physical Education program provides graduates with an extensive understanding of contemporary physical education and the elements that build strong physical education programs — including benchmarks of student success.
Graduates of this program will gain skills in contemporary teaching methods, differentiated instruction practices, tools for implementing school health programs, relevant instructional methods and how to differentiate their practices for physical education. They will also learn effective techniques for creating inclusive health and fitness plans to impact students’ physical health at all levels.
Learn more about Northwest Missouri State University’s online MSEd. in Health and Physical Education program.
