Impact of virtual modality on the training of physical education students: A post-pandemic study

Andri Velásquez-Salazar (University Santo Tomás, CHILE)
Isolda Vergara-Santiago (University Santo Tomás, CHILE)
Ronnie Videla Reyes (University Santo Tomás, CHILE)
Valentín Mercado Hernández (School Santa Marta de Coquimbo, CHILE)
Juan Díaz Labrin (University of the Americas, CHILE)
Patricio Anacona Godoy (University Santo Tomás, CHILE)

Journal of Sports and Physical Activity
Vol. 1 No. 2 (2025): Journal of Sports and Physical Activity

Background: The educational experience of Physical Education Pedagogy students during virtual learning highlighted structural tensions that significantly affected the quality of the training process. Aim: This study analyzed the relationship between class modality and training quality among Physical Education students at a Chilean university after an extended period of virtual classes. Method: A non-experimental quantitative approach was used with a correlational scope. The sample included 56 students (35 males and 21 females) who answered a questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics software. Results: The chi-square test of independence (χ² (3) = 2.75, p = .432) revealed no significant differences by gender or regarding the return to in-person classes, indicating that students shared similar perceptions. Conclusion: The return to in-person learning was perceived by students as a process full of challenges for their professional development.