ACTION RESEARCH

STUDENT CHOICE
MAT 732: Teacher as a Leader

AREA OF FOCUS QUESTIONS

If I implement student choice during physical

education activities, will students become

more motivated as measured by student
surveys?
If I implement student choice during physical

education activities, will skills be enhanced

as measured through skills assessments?

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this research study is to show that motivation

is increased in Physical Education when students are provided

with choices.

With over one third of our population now considered obese

and 17%
of children, the importance of a comprehensive
Health and Physical Education program is much more evident
in the 21st century.

Students are required to receive 150 minutes of health,

safety, and physical activity per week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend

that children receive sixty minutes of physical activity per day

INTRODUCTION
Village Elementary School:

Montgomery Twp. School District

Skillman, NJ
700 Students
29 Classes
PE 2/6 day cycle and Health 1/6

PROFESSIONAL GOAL
To motivate all students by providing them with

choices that are developmentally appropriate to

their level of skill

EXAMPLE

DATA COLLECTION
Student Survey
Exit Slips
Exit Xs
Observation
Pre/Post test

LITERATURE REVIEW
The Impact of Choice on Motivation in
Classroom Assessment

Experts suggest that

early, positive, physical

activity experiences may
increase the likelihood of
maintaining a physically
active lifestyle (Pangrazi
2001).

MOTIVATING STUDENTS BY
INCREASING STUDENT CHOICE

Birdell, Ream, Seyeller,

Zobott (2009) report that

students who lack
motivation may appear to
be bored, possess selfesteem issues, lack
personal goals and
interests.

Results
88% of students said
they are more
motivated when
offered choices
opposed to teacher
directed activities
Did not have an
opportunity to assess
students skill levels
due to losing the gym
for 2 months

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OBSERVATIONS
Students were much more excited and

comfortable!
Students were more on-task since they were
motivated and not discouraged or bored
Skill level was increased
Students were more prepared for gameplay
More smiles!

ACTION PLAN
Ask students what sport/activity they do

outside of school
Ask if what they are doing they learned
about first in Physical Education
Send students and parent information on
how to sign up or get involved with sports
and activities in the community.
Refine old lessons to allow for more options

AREAS FOR FUTURE STUDY

Survey about sports/activities participated in

outside of school
Questionnaire about whether or not students
are motivated to try new activities outside of
school from PE class
Impact of instant warm-ups on activity time in
PE
How instant warm-ups lesson off-task behavior
during instruction

DISCUSSION WITH COLLEAGUE:

TAMMY TANZOLA
Tammy is a fellow PE teacher at VES
Tammy is very happy with the progress of implementing

choices has provided. She is testing this out herself and

has seen the benefits firsthand. She says her students
are more engaged and comfortable performing specific
tasks.
Her one concern and challenge has been managing the

class by providing effective choices. She has found it

difficult at times to manage all of the differences going on
in the gym since she is used to leading the class while
having everyone do the same activity.

REFERENCES
Birdsell ,S.B., Ream S.M., Seyeller, A.M., Zobott, P.L.

(2009). Motivating students by increasing

student choice Saint Xaiver University. Retrieved from:

http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED504816.pdf
Cruzan, D., Kuluszka, C. (2010). The impact of choice on

motivation in classroom assessments Virgina Tech

University.
Retrieved from:

https://scholar.vt.edu/access/content/user/dcruzan/Portfol
ioPublic/ActionReasearchProjectFinal.pdf