Blended learning versus online education: impact to elementary students’ engagement in physical activity and Body Mass Index

Abstract

Examining the impacts of blended and online learning settings on children’s fitness and body mass index in a sample of public elementary school pupils in the Philippines is the main objective of this study. A 16-week pre-test and post-test control group in a quasi-experimental approach. The experimental group received blended education, whereas the control group exclusively took classes online. The experimental and control groups consisted of 2 classes from an elementary school in Angeles and Mabalacat City. Anthropometrical characteristics were compared between groups using ANOVA. Pre-test and post-treatment body mass index percentiles and PA levels were compared using a paired t-test. First, there were no significant variance in the individuals’ anthropometrical characteristics between the two groups before intervention. Additionally, the blended learning group outperformed the online learning group on the post-test in terms of physical activity. After intervention, the mean BMI of the blended learning group decreased, but online students showed no improvement. Last but not least, when compared to the online learning group, the BMI percentile of the students in the blended learning group is within the usual range. The benefit of blended learning on the pupils’ physical composition was highlighted. Pupils’ levels of physical activity and body composition have improved as an outcome of the adjustment from traditional to online and blended learning settings. For the benefit of the students, it is advisable to make the most of a blended learning strategy and, if at all possible, return to the full face-to-face method.