Advisers

Ryan Christopher M. Villalon, PhD

Discipline

Education

Abstract

This study explored the effectiveness of ExerPlay as an innovative strategy to improve Grade 4 learners’ physical fitness, focusing on cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, and accuracy. Guided by the Self-Determination Theory (SDT), it examined how autonomy, competence, and relatedness influence students’ motivation and engagement. When these needs are met, learners show greater effort and intrinsic interest in physical tasks. As schools emphasize both fitness and motivation, ExerPlay offers a modern approach that merges structured exercise with play-based learning. The study used a quasi-experimental design with purposive sampling, involving 35 Grade 4 learners. Most participants (89%) were aged 8–10, with a nearly balanced gender ratio (51% female, 49% male). Based on BMI, 77% were within the normal range, 20% underweight, and 3% overweight. A pretest–posttest approach measured progress. Guided by Self-Determination Theory, the study aligns with Dyson et al. (2022), who emphasize that meeting autonomy, competence, and relatedness supports sustained motivation in physical activities. Significant gains were reported in cardiovascular endurance (p = .000) and flexibility (p = .001), while accuracy did not change significantly (p = .099). The overall mean increased from 1.78 on the pretest to 3.05 on the posttest, changing from a “low” to a “good” fitness level. Autonomy and competence each received a mean of 3.54, while relatedness received 3.51, all interpreted as “high effectivity.” The zero p-value should be expressed using an inequality rather than as an exact value. ExerPlay was associated with improved cardiovascular endurance and flexibility, but not accuracy. Learners also reported high autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The program may be useful for combining structured movement and play, although the one-group quasi-experimental design and purposive sample limit causal and generalizable conclusions.

Keywords

physical fitness, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, grade 4 learners, exerplay, self-determination theory