Experiences, Motivation, Commitment, and Suggestions of Physical Education Teachers Amidst COVID-19 Crisis

Abstract

At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers and administrators were caught off guard by the suddenness of this situation and were obliged to construct emergency remote learning systems immediately. With the problems identified in various literature, this research was conducted to elicit teachers' experiences, motivation, commitment, and suggestions as they implement physical education amidst the pandemic. Using a qualitative descriptive research design, this study delved deeper into the experiences of twenty senior high school teachers from selected schools in Cotabato Province in the Philippines using in-depth interviews. During the triangulation of results, this study identified that limited resources for students and technological gaps among teachers posed obstacles to quality learning. However, teachers demonstrated optimism in acquiring new skills and adapting innovative technological strategies to facilitate distance education. Collaborative efforts with colleagues proved instrumental in problem-solving, and teachers viewed their negative experiences as opportunities for personal and professional growth. The findings were then used to develop conclusions and recommendations for better implementing physical education in the Philippine senior high school curriculum.