2016 Volume 13 Pages 16-25
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of three types of physical education classes on the fundamental competencies for working persons in college students. Physical education classes were classified into beach
volleyball (BV), table tennis (TT) and training (TR) classes. BV, TT and TR classes were attended by 65, 85, and 85
college students, respectively. In the BV, TT and TR classes, the students were grouped into teams of 6, 3 and 3
members, respectively. Every class included education programs based on project-based learning (PBL) to cultivate the fundamental competencies for working persons. We asked college students to evaluate their own fundamental competencies for working persons by using questionnaires administered at the 2nd (Pre-test) and 12th (Post-test) classes. As a result, initiative, ability to influence, ability to detect issues, ability to listen closely and carefully, and ability to grasp situations improved significantly between the Pre- and Post-test in the BV and TT classes compared with the TR class. We speculated that one reason was due to an appetite for learning and a sense of coherence induced by the framework and organic linkage between PBLs based on sports activities like beach volleyball and table tennis. This study suggests that educational programs and methodology should be arranged to facilitate interpersonal interactions according to the situations and properties of physical education classes.
