Using digital technology to enhance student engagement in physical education

Abstract

This paper explored the use of video technology as an aid to student engagement in physical education. Working in a comprehensive high school in Australia with disaffected students, the study used the New South Wales Quality Teaching Program as a basis for assessing the effectiveness of video technology in enhancing students' engagement in Physical Education lessons aimed at facilitating deeper understanding of throwing and catching. The results highlighted the effectiveness of video technology in enhancing engagement and subsequently suggest that such a degree of commitment helped students to develop understanding beyond technical replication and towards rational and reasoned student investigations around their learning. Additionally, it helped students to feel less marginalised and enabled them to be more engaged in their learning.