Physical Education from the Student Perspective: A pre-experimental study with tenth grade students from the Escuela Normal Superior de Monteria Educational Institution.

Abstract

Students' perceptions of physical education class are essential to understanding how to optimize it and what meaning it has for them. In this research, students' opinions about the subject, their inclinations, the value they assign to it, and the role of the teacher in their interest in the subject were explored. The methodological approach was quantitative, using a pre-experimental design. For data collection, technological tools were used, such as Google forms and digital questionnaires. The study was carried out in a public educational institution in Monteria (Colombia) and included the participation of 70 tenth grade students, whose ages range between 15 and 17 years. The main results revealed that, although most students enjoy physical education class, they do not perceive it as a space that encourages cognitive development, but rather as an activity focused on the physical aspect. They prefer recreational and dynamic classes, with a focus on sports content. Furthermore, they consider that the main objectives of Physical Education are to improve health, fitness and understanding of how their body works.