As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic caused many problems, including quarantine and schools shutting down all across the world. As a result, our way of studying has changed dramatically, leading to online education. Because of these changes people got locked up at home, unable to go out and continue to lead their normal everyday routines anymore.
Our school started online classes in May and continues to teach this way up to the present time. Last year, however, we didn’t have online Physical Education (PE) classes. It was only recently added to the schedule.
We have to attend our classes from home, we have to do homework from home, as going out is extremely dangerous, because of the current circumstances. Because one of the biggest disadvantages of online education is that students have to stay in one area, usually in the same chair all the time, our school decided to add PE classes. Online sports lessons are definitely not the perfect solution to this problem, but our school tries its best to satisfy us and come up with the most diverse, fun, and, at the same time, effective online PE course.
New physical education offers different activities such as pilat classes, yoga, tai chi, wushu, and kung fu. These unfamiliar types of exercises and martial arts are now being taught by special instructors online. Every student can attend these classes. Even though it might be hard, because we are not face-to-face and we might have a hard time getting along with technology, PE classes help students to be more active during these hard times and to improve our health.
I conducted a little survey, asking several GZAAT students questions about the classes, such as whether they had attended the online PE course or not; if they are planning on attending them and why, or what they liked or disliked about the classes.
The results were very interesting. A lot of people who said that they attended online classes, told me that they enjoyed the course and are planning to continue attending them. However, some students told me that even though they enjoyed the course, they had to deal with some difficulties. A lot of people were uncomfortable with showing their whole body on camera. Some had difficulties with taking the class seriously and actually doing the workout. Some thought that online classes do not have the same result as traditional classes and therefore they are not worth the time. A lot of students also told me that they are not planning on attending the classes, because they already go to sports classes, outside of the school. A lot of junior high students, for example Irina Osipova told me: “I didn’t attend the classes, because of my busy schedule. I prefered to get rest during the break and eat breakfast for instance, rather than do the workouts, but I’m planning on attending them, some time soon”. Even though the students who attended PE had to deal with some difficulties, every one of them said that the classes were very fun and entertaining and they enjoyed them a lot.
To sum up, even though online classes are not as efficient as regular ones, they surely have some advantage. The classes are helpful, because they make us move a little, while everything else prevents us from that. It is very important for teenagers like us to concentrate on our physical health, as well as education, because now our bodies are forming, requiring extra help. Taking care of our physical health can reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety, serious mental health issues a lot of teenagers tend to suffer from. Being physically healthy is the most important thing in our lives and that is why schools generally have PE, and that is why our school decided to replace the fifth lesson in our schedule, with physical education. So, attending these classes even once or twice a week will be very beneficial for our health. In addition to that, engaging in fun and positive activities, during the time when it’s very dangerous to meetup with our friends and enjoy ourselves, is something every student needs.
Edited by: Mashiko Lortkipanidze
Thanks for a very useful write-up. Indeed, exercising, staying physically fit reduces the symptoms of depression and anxiety in individuals of all ages. Some of my students told me that they attend PE classes because 1) they need someone to coach them in these activities, " to push us to do it" and 2) it is more fun to engage in physical activities in a group as compared to doing it alone.