Analysis of Risk Management in Adapted Physical Education Textbooks

Abstract

Physical education teacher education (PETE) programs vary on how the topics of safe teaching and risk management are addressed. Common practices to cover such issues include requiring textbooks, lesson planning, peer teaching, videotaping, reflecting, and reading case law analyses. We used a mixed methods design to examine how risk management is addressed in APE textbooks using a validated Risk Management Inventory as a guide. We analyzed nine APE textbooks. We performed content analyses using a Risk Management Inventory to assess content pertaining to risk management and safe teaching in APE textbooks. We performed quantitative analyses by computing percentages of content covered under each category of the Risk Management Inventory for each textbook. Percentages ranged from 11.29% to 35.48%. Elements found pertaining to Instruction included updated lesson plans, curriculum guidelines, adaptations and modifications, demonstrations, safety rules, lesson objectives, skill progressions, and instructional feedback. Elements found pertaining to Emergency and Medical Procedures included incident reports, first aid kits, existing medical conditions of students, and emergency action plans. Elements found pertaining to Equipment and Facilities included inspection of and warnings for equipment and facilities, use of equipment, developmentally appropriate equipment, inventories of equipment and facilities, and activities conducted away from hazardous areas. Elements found pertaining to Supervision included supervision of students, offtask behavior, safety rules, and medical notes. Elements found pertaining to Administrative Behaviors included licensure of teachers and communication and posting of guidelines for emergency actions plans as well as emergency exit procedures.