Comparisons of processing in elementary school, middle school, and high school adventure-based physical education programs

Abstract

Processing during an adventure education experience is difficult and currently little information exists regarding processing adventure-based activities at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. This study compared individuals' knowledge and perceptions of processing in adventure education to determine if processing is done differently at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. A secondary purpose of the study was to assess university level educators and others regarding processing in adventure education. Physical education teachers from the Wisconsin Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (WAHPERD) served as subjects in this study (N = 85), the overall return rate was 11.6 percent. The adventure education survey (17 questions) was used to obtain data for the study. A Pearson Chi-Square statistical test was used to test for independence. No significant differences were found while comparing data (p [less than or equal to] .016). It is recommended that physical education teachers specializing in teaching adventure-based activities devote time to processing with students and continue to learn new methods in the area of processing.