PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR HEALTH, COVID-19 AND SOCIAL MEDIA: WHAT, WHERE AND WHY?

Abstract

This study focuses on Physical Education (PE) teachers’ use of social media to teach physical activity for health during the covid-19 pandemic. Drawing on appreciative inquiry and utilising a grounded theory methodology, analysis of two interviews and a digital task allow us to present three main themes: (1) Social Media as a Teaching Tool, (2) A Lasting Digital Legacy?, and (3) Inequity of Remote Learning. These themes highlight the rush to utilise social media when the physical spaces of PE were removed, the recognition that teaching could be different in the future, and challenges inherent to digital spaces. In concluding we: (1) advocate for effective initial teacher education and ongoing professional development in the positive use of digital technologies, (2) suggest that future online activities incorporate learning, and (3) urge governments to do more in terms of levelling out technological inequalities.

Keywords:
Physical Education; Health; Digital inclusion; Digital Technology