Challenges Encountered by Physical Education Teachers in Online Teaching in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Since the COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted every aspect of human life, and schools across the country have been closed due to the risk of spreading the virus, online teaching has emerged as a major alternative pedagogical strategy, especially among state colleges and universities. This article discusses a study that looked at the challenges encountered by PE teachers in the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative study employing phenomenological procedures to collect and analyze the data was used. The difficulties of operating online physical education classes for the first time included: methodological challenges, comprising the effects of the delivery of quality education and the time-consuming checking of outputs; technical challenges, resulting from poor internet connection, online modalities/platforms used, and online teaching distractions; and personal health concerns, comprising physical health issues, mental health issues, and social health issues. The study also revealed the coping mechanisms of the Physical Education teachers in online teaching. To address the identified problems and facilitate the efficient operation of online Physical Education classes, changes in strategic learning methods are needed to better understand online Physical Education characteristics and thereby better communicate the value of Physical Education. Physical Education teachers, through a variety of difficulties and crises, learn to cope with technical challenges and continue to run the class in virtual mode.