Physical Education

This VCE study is suitable for students with a wide range of aspirations, including those who wish to pursue further formal study at tertiary level or in vocational education and training settings. The study prepares students for such fields as the health sciences, exercise science and education, as well as providing valuable knowledge and skills for participating in their own sporting and physical activity pursuits to develop as critical practitioners and lifelong learners. 

 Unit 1: The human body in motion

Students explore how the musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory systems work together to produce movement. Students explore the relationships between the body systems and physical activity, sport and exercise, and how the systems adapt and adjust to the demands of the activity. Students evaluate the social, cultural and environmental influences on movement. They consider the implications of the use of legal and illegal practices to improve the performance of the musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory systems, evaluating perceived benefits and describing potential harms. They also recommend and implement strategies to minimise the risk of illness or injury to each system.

 Unit 2:  Physical activity, sport and society.

This unit develops students’ understanding of physical activity, sport and society from a participatory perspective. Students are introduced to types of physical activity and the role participation in physical activity and sedentary behaviour plays in their own health and wellbeing as well as in other people’s lives in different population groups. Students experience and explore different types of physical activity promoted in their own and different population groups. They gain an appreciation of the level of physical activity required for health benefits. Students investigate how participation in physical activity varies across the lifespan. They explore a range of factors that influence and facilitate participation in regular physical activity. They collect data to determine perceived enablers of and barriers to physical activity and the ways in which opportunities for participation in physical activity can be extended in various communities, social, cultural and environmental contexts.

Unit 3: Movement skills and energy for physical activity

This unit introduces students to the biomechanical and skill acquisition principles used to analyse human movement skills and energy production. Students use a variety of tools and techniques to analyse movement skills and apply biomechanical and skill acquisition principles to improve and refine movement in physical activity, sport and exercise.

Unit 4: Training to improve performance

Students analyse movement skills from a physiological, psychological and sociocultural perspective, and apply relevant training principles and methods to improve performance within physical activity at an individual, club and elite level. Students analyse skill frequencies, movement patterns, heart rates and work to rest ratios to determine the requirements of an activity. Students consider the physiological, psychological and sociological requirements of training to design and evaluate an effective training program.

 Entry: There are no prerequisites for entry to Units 1, 2 and 3. Students must undertake Units 3 and 4 as a sequence within one calendar year.  Students who enter the study at Unit 3 must undertake preparatory work related to Unit 2.

Assessment

Satisfactory Completion - Demonstrated achievement of the set of outcomes specified for the unit.

Levels of Achievement

Unit 1 and 2 - School-based assessment tasks and end of unit exams record the standard achieved by students.

Unit 3 and 4 - School assessed coursework - an end-of-year exam

Unit 3 school-assessed coursework:  25 %

Unit 4 school-assessed coursework:  25 %

Units 3 and 4 examination: 50 %