Development of assessment tools for swimming activities

This study was conducted to provide quality physical education curriculum for all children and youth with skills, attitude, values, knowledge and understanding for lifelong participation in swimming activities. Moreover, this research is to assist the physical education teachers in evaluating the students’ performance in terms of swimming activities in tertiary level in the Philippines. Out of the 27 physical education teacher respondents, 16 are coaches, 15 also trainers, 11 officials and 8 are athletes, who consented to participate in the study. A needs assessment was utilized to provide maximum insights and understanding about the activities and assessment tool in swimming in tertiary level. Altogether, water familiarization, bobbing, kinds of floating, front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, butterfly diving, tumble turn and water treading were discussed about the existing assessment tools in swimming activities by the respondents and the extent of the needs of its development as perceived by them. Almost all respondents agreed that there was a need for an authentic assessment tool to measure the swimming competencies such that said need for swimming activities of water familiarization. Three out of five activities in floating are acknowledged to a great extent, while all the rest of the activities were rated to a very great extent. From the data gathered, it can be concluded that there is a felt need to develop authentic assessment tool to assess student’s performance in swimming activities. On the other hand, physical education teacher respondents gave much emphasis to the swimming strokes rather than to the introductory activities. The study also revealed that actual use and benefits of authentic assessment tool for swimming activities is still unfamiliar to many physical education teachers