Did You Understand the Game? Strengthening Oral Explanations of Physical Education Teachers Through Coherence-Building Aids

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 7:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Instructional Innovation and Learner Outcomes in PE/PETE

Abstract

This experimental study examined how coherence aids in oral explanations influence students’ understanding of the rules of a specific sports gam in physical education. A 2×2 design varied verbal structure (high vs. low) and summary example quality (rule-conforming vs. rule-violating) in videos explaining the sports game Kin-Ball. In sum, N = 356 students (grades 7–9) were assessed on rule knowledge and rule application. Results showed no main effect of verbal structure. However, rule-violating examples improved rule knowledge, while rule-conforming examples enhanced rule application—but only when paired with structured explanations. Self-reported language skills had no moderating effect. Findings suggest that coherence aids support different aspects of understanding and highlight the instructional value of tailored example types in oral explanations.

Authors

• Tim Heemsoth, Europa-Universität Flensburg

• Rieke Frerichs, Europa-Universität Flensburg