They say that experience is the best teacher. Our brains can retain information faster and easier when we get firsthand encounters. But in this time of pandemic, how can we ensure that students can still learn when everything is done virtually?
The health crisis that we have been experiencing for the past two years has taken a huge toll on all of our lives. The abrupt shutting down of the world to put an end to the virus forced us to come up with different ways to bring a sense of normalcy in our lives. From the most mundane task of picking up grocery to communicating to our loved ones out in the world to doing all of the work-related chores and studies online – we’ve all managed to do them without leaving the safety of our homes. Despite the effort, there will still be implications that we cannot just set aside.
One of the most important things affected is our education system or the way the kids learn. Since everything is done virtually, it is more difficult for them to absorb information especially in subjects where they need to have firsthand experiences or practical applications in order to learn better like the subject Physical Education. Yes, they can learn about the concepts using textbooks and explanations from the teacher and they can answer quizzes like which moves are locomotor or non-locomotor but the chances of them just forgetting it after a while is high since they have not done them.
One way that the teachers assess and teach the lessons in Physical Education is through video performances. Students will have to take videos of them doing a particular activity from their lesson for a good minute or two. They do this with the guidance of their parents or most of the times, with the help of the Internet. While this is innovative, it is not really enough. They can practice for many times to get the perfect shot, but more often than not, they will just do it for the sake of compliance and just forget the lesson afterwards.
PE requires practical output and active participation from students. They need to move, be involved and get really physical to remember the lessons well. Since the pandemic has started, students, especially the younger ones, are no longer allowed to go out on the streets to play. Instead of finding ways to be more active since they are confined in their homes, most children choose to watch TV or play on their phones or computers which makes their bodies weaker.
The virus has also robbed the students the chance to explore and experience different sports. Not all students have a wide space and proper equipment in their homes to learn some sports like basketball or badminton. The school can provide that but since distance learning is still in effect, students don’t get to experience that. All they can do is watch videos and pretend to learn the moves used in those sports.
It will still take a little while for us to go back to the way things were. We might even continue to live in the New Normal where we have to constantly adjust in order to be safe, but we are resilient and creative. Teachers may choose more interactive videos to use in class to get more engagement from students. Students, in turn, may explore some sports with the help of their parents. We’ll never really know, but one thing is for sure, we will always innovate because we always learn from our experiences.
By: Aldrin John T. Bustamante
