-
Title
-
Enhancing Motivation and Engagement Through a Cooperative Striking Unit
-
Creator
-
Joel Carlson
-
Degree Name
-
Master of Arts in Teaching (initial licensure)
-
Project Type
-
action_research_project
-
Date
-
6/13/2026
-
Abstract
-
This Action Research Project examined whether student motivation and engagement in Physical Education could be improved through a modified tennis unit designed for fifth-grade students. The study was conducted in response to a common challenge observed during competitive activities: while many students expressed interest in participating, some were reluctant to engage fully in competitive game settings. To address this issue, a tennis unit was intentionally designed to support learners of varying skill levels through individual skill development, cooperative learning experiences, and structured competitive practice.
The project was grounded in the principles of Self-Determination Theory, with instructional strategies aimed at fostering competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Competence was supported through repeated skill practice and opportunities for success. Autonomy was encouraged by allowing students to make choices, such as creating team names and selecting certain activities. Relatedness was developed through cooperative tasks and an emphasis on sportsmanship and peer support. The findings explored the impact of these strategies on student participation, motivation, and overall engagement during Physical Education lessons.
-
Keywords
-
Self-Determination Theory
-
Competition
-
Committee Member
-
Marcus Wenzel
-
Makenna Slavenski
-
Rights
-
Western Oregon University Library has determined, as of 07/27/2026, this item is in copyright, which is held by the author. Users may use the item in accordance with copyright limitations and exceptions, including fair use. For other uses, please ask permission from the author.
-
https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en
-
Language
-
eng
-
Type
-
text
-
data
