Developing Middle School Students’ Interest in Physical Education: A Pedagogical Model and Experimental Results

Аннотация

Fostering sustained interest in physical education among middle school students is regarded as an important factor in improving the effectiveness of school physical education within the framework of the updated educational content in the Republic of Kazakhstan. At the same time, declining student motivation highlights the need for pedagogical approaches that can enhance students’ engagement in the educational process. The purpose of this study was to develop and experimentally evaluate a pedagogical model aimed at fostering middle school students’ interest in physical education. The study was conducted at Kanysh Satpayev Gymnasium in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, and involved students from Grades 6B and 6G. The research methods included a review of the scientific literature, a questionnaire survey, pedagogical observation, physical fitness testing, a pedagogical experiment, and statistical analysis. The proposed pedagogical model was based on the integrated use of game-based, interactive, and digital educational technologies designed to enhance students’ cognitive engagement and personal interest in physical education. The experimental results demonstrated a positive change in students’ level of interest in physical education: the proportion of students with a high level of interest increased from 22.39% to 44.48%, whereas the proportion of students with a low level of interest decreased from 27.22% to 15.16%. In addition, improvements in the physical fitness of students in the experimental group were observed. The findings provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of the proposed pedagogical model and suggest its potential applicability to the organization of physical education in general secondary schools in the Republic of Kazakhstan.