Exploring K-12 Physical Education Teachers' Perspectives on Opportunities and Challenges of AI Integration Through Ideation Workshops

TL;DR

This study explores K-12 physical education teachers' perspectives on AI integration, identifying potential roles, benefits, and challenges to inform effective implementation in PE classes.

Contribution

It uniquely engages PE teachers through ideation workshops to identify practical AI applications and challenges in K-12 physical education.

Findings

Teachers envision AI as a personal trainer and evaluator.

Key concerns include data privacy and teacher training.

AI has potential to improve class management and student feedback.

Abstract

While AI's potential in education and professional sports is widely recognized, its application in K-12 physical education (PE) remains underexplored with significant opportunities for innovation. This study aims to address this gap by engaging 17 in-service secondary school PE teachers in group ideation workshops to explore potential AI applications and challenges in PE classes. Participants envisioned AI playing multidimensional roles, such as an operational assistant, personal trainer, group coach, and evaluator, as solutions to address unique instructional and operational challenges in K-12 PE classes. These roles reflected participants' perspectives on how AI could enhance class management, deliver personalized feedback, promote balanced team activities, and streamline performance assessments. Participants also highlighted critical considerations for AI integration, including the need to ensure robust student data security and privacy measures, minimize the risk of over-reliance on AI for instructional decisions, and accommodate the varying levels of technological proficiency among PE teachers. Our findings provide valuable insights and practical guidance for AI developers, educators, and policymakers, offering a foundation for the effective integration of AI into K-12 PE curricula to enhance teaching practices and student outcomes.