The use of digital video in physical education

This paper details the technical and operational aspects of a project investigating the role of digital video in physical education in 12 Irish schools over a period of two academic years. The project design involved a qualitative investigation into the use of digital video in three areas of physical education, namely teaching, learning and assessment. The group of physical education teachers who implemented the project received intensive training in the use of the technology initially and were also given additional training to meet the evolving needs of the project over its duration. The time demands placed on the team in terms of planning and preparation and post‐production work were recorded. The motivational effect of the use of the technology on students was noted. The capacity of the technology to provide focused feedback on performances was examined through the reviewing of video clips of students' performances in physical education lessons. The use of digital video as an aid to both formative and summative assessment in physical education was also examined. Aspects of assessment for learning were used in providing a cohort of students with opportunities to set their own learning goals and evaluate their own learning while compiling electronic learning portfolios. A total of 31 such portfolios were collated. An examination of the use of digital video technology as a means of assessing practical performances was also undertaken.