With physical education being eliminated as a college graduation requirement across the state of Texas, how can we keep our physical education department in tact with high student enrollment?
The State of Texas has passed legislation to eliminate physical education as a college graduation requirement effective in the fall of 2014. Under this new state law, physical education will only give students one credit hour as an elective course. I am employed at San Jacinto College Central in Pasadena, TX. San Jacinto College is a commuter school, having no dormitories. Most students attend classes then proceed to work or home. Central Campus has an enrollment just over 15,000 students and growing. A large percentage of students use financial aid to attend college. Our community college is considerably cheaper to attend the first two years of college as opposed to the cost of attending a four year institution.
I am against the elimination of physical education as a graduation requirement. It is necessary for students to attend at least one activity class throughout their college career. With obesity running rapid, it makes sense to educate our students about the importance of proper nutrition and exercise.
With this decision to eliminate physical education from the curriculum all but done, we must take action now to explore what our department can do to retain students. What can we do to encourage students to participate in physical education activity classes if they are not required to as part of their graduation plan?
With the elimination of physical education from the curriculum, physical educators worry about their future- will we still have jobs after this state law takes effect?
By conducting research on this topic I hope to learn more about the decision to eliminate physical education as well as develop alternative ways to attract students to enroll in physical education classes. I hope to do this by assisting with my site supervisor along with other instructors with distance and online learning classes.
It seems many will benefit from this research study. Students, if they are not required to take physical education classes, will still want to remain active. Our physical education instructors will benefit from this study as we will investigate new programming to keep students enrolled in our discipline.
I will be able to analyze data from student surveys as well as other documents and information found online and through the Texas State Legislature.
To develop a deeper understanding I will meet face to face with my site supervisor as well as other physical education instructors on this topic. This will make a personal testament to my research, as it affects us all. I will also meet with students and ask their opinions on the situation at hand.
Self reflection on my research will be vital as this research affects my future, job and career at San Jacinto College. I must also reflect on the opinions and thoughts of other faculty and students. Ultimately, the students are the main components of this research plan. At times I know it will be difficult to think about the future and what this could mean for my future teaching physical education at San Jacinto College.
Programmatic Patterns will be a vital part of my research inquiry. I will need to investigate all aspects surrounding what can be done to keep our physical education classes full of students. Physical education will now count as an elective credit for students, so what can we do to entertain them to register for physical education?
I will determine the direction of my research project by primarily meeting with my site supervisor. She will keep me informed of any new happenings with the state legislator. She will also be checking my progress with my research as well as my internship duties. I know I must stay focused and not stray away from my primary topic.
I hope that by the end of my project I will have found the reason why physical education is no longer required to graduate in colleges, as well as what we can do as a physical education department to maintain our student enrollment. Students are the main reason for and their input and thoughts are crucial to my inquiry.
With physical education being eliminated as a college graduation requirement across the state of Texas, how can we keep our physical education department in tact with high student enrollment?
- Goals and objectives/outcomes of this research investigation
1. To identify why physical education is being eliminated as a college graduation requirement.
2. How the elimination of physical education will ultimately affect our physical education department.
3. What can we do to retain student interest/enrollment in physical education.
4. Offer new classes (distance learning and online classes) and scheduling.
- Activities designed to achieve the objectives:
1. Review state documents about the decision to remove physical education as a college graduation requirement. Interview
2. Interview site supervisor and others who were on the curriculum task force
3. Review surveys given to physical education students in relation to them taking physical education classes when they are not required.
4. Research other college physical education departments who do not require physical education as a graduation requirement and see their enrollment rates.
5. Offer new, more wellness type classes.
6. Distance learning and online classes are the future and our department is venturing into that technological way of educating.
- Resources and research tools needed for data collection.
1. Curriculum Task Force meeting information.
2. Site supervisor interview (Curriculum Task Force member)
3. Review of Texas State Legislation regarding curriculum.
4. Student surveys/input regarding their interest in taking physical education classes when not required.
5. Internet research of various colleges and universities that do not require physical education as a graduation requirement.
- Draft timeline for completion and implementation of activities
1. Research of students will be on-going and ever changing.
2. The state mandate of the elimination of physical education from the curriculum will not occur until the fall of 2014.
3. Review/consultation of other colleges with no physical education graduation requirements.
- Persons responsible for implementation of research project
1. Myself as an intern, physical education instructor, and Campus Rec assistant will be responsible for implementing this action research project.
2. My site supervisor, Sandi Morgan
3. Other physical education instructors
4. Students play an active role in this project
- Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives
1. Evaluate student physical education surveys
2. Feedback from site supervisor
3. Feedback and interest from students
- Assessment instrument to evaluate effectiveness of this action research project
1. Site supervisor support and feedback.
2. Student inquires/ surveys.
3. Overall physical education enrollment trends.
4. Distance learning and online classes’ enrollment rates.
The number of cancelled classes in a given semester.
