The Effect of Physical Education Classes with Co-Teaching on the Class Atmosphere and Academic Helplessness of Middle Students

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine the causal relationship between physical education classes with co-teaching applied and psychological factors, and to analyze and verify the effects which these physical education classes have on the classroom atmosphere and academic helplessness of middle school students. Methods For this purpose, a total of 3 surveys were conducted by distributing 112 questionnaires per session to first year middle school students in Metropolitan City I. The questionnaire was produced and used as a survey tool, consisting of two sub-factors; The atmosphere of physical education class and academic helplessness. Each of these two factors constitutes another sub-elements as follows; The atmosphere of physical education class has performance atmosphere perception, mastery atmosphere perception, and care atmosphere perception, and academic helplessness includes the lack of control belief, the lack of motivation to learn, the lack of positive emotions, and the lack of active performance as their sub components respectively. The survey results were analyzed using independent samples t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results The results revealed by this study are as follows; First, the group that conducted physical education classes with co-teaching showed higher perception of the caring atmosphere. Second, the group with co-teaching showed a lower level in the lack of control beliefs, motivation for learning, and lack of active performance. Third, the effect of the atmosphere of physical education was found to have a significant effect on academic helplessness. The performance atmosphere was found to have a significant positive effect on academic helplessness, while the perception of mastery and care had a significant negative effect on academic helplessness. Conclusions Based on the above results, the following conclusions were drawn in this study. First, the implementation of a semester system by co-teaching in physical education classes is effective in increasing the perception of the care atmosphere. Second, the implementation of a semester system by co-teaching in physical education classes is effective in decreasing the perception of the lack of control beliefs, motivation for learning, and lack of active performance. Third, the academic helplessness can be alleviated by creating an atmosphere for physical education classes through co-teaching. Therefore, applying co-teaching in physical education classes can be a way to create a positive classroom atmosphere and relieve academic helplessness.