A sports based model is where a teacher bases their units around different sports including the skills, tactics, and rules for that particular sport. Along with learning a sport, students are exposed to fitness principles related to that sport. An important part of sports based model in physical education is problem based learning (Hubball 2006). Problem based learning occurs when students figure out for themselves tactics, strategies, and skills. Figuring out these skills by working together helps all students in the group become more successful. Problem based learning helps with the following learning strategies: critical thinking, interpersonal communications, reflective analysis, goal setting, cooperative learning, experiential participation, and problem solving (Hubball 2006). Problem based learning still requires teachers to give instruction and guidance to the students but students take a more active role in working through what works best of …show more content…
While most of these theories and models deal with the first two purposes of physical education: learning skills, tactics, rules and how to play games. What about the third purpose of physical education: physical fitness. While students can enjoy increased heart rate levels through playing sports and learning skills (Bronikowski 2009), most physical education programs also have a separate fitness unit that is done throughout the class. This fitness unit often includes cardiovascular fitness, physical strength exercises, muscular endurance, and flexibility. These types of exercise can greatly improve the overall health and well being of students and can lead to lifelong health benefits if the student can learn and continue on with these exercise habits throughout their life. The situated learning theory, sports based model, problem based learning, and integrated learning are all general theories about how to teach physical education. What specific learning strategies help students to learn best within all these theories and models? Hubball (2006) mentions that both goal setting and cooperative learning are important outcomes of problem based learning. Problem based learning deals more with learning how to play sports and the tactics involved in those sports. Could goal setting or cooperative learning be better learning strategies that traditional teacher