The Study of Competency-based Physical Education on University Student Physical Literacy and Basic need Satisfaction: A Teaching Practice of Orienteering Curricula

Based on the principles of competency-based physical education, this study aimed to investigate the effects of a competency-based orienteering course intervention on students’ physical literacy, basic need satisfaction, and leisure-time physical activity. Additionally, the study examined the intervention's impact on students’ perception of connectedness to nature. Using a pre-experimental design, students participating in a 16-week orienteering courses were recruited. The competency-based orienteering course intervention was employed and both quantitative and qualitative learning data were collected and analyzed. Quantitative data were gathered through surveys, while qualitative data were obtained from onsite observations and documents, including group reports, notes, and class records. Results from 77 valid samples indicated that students’ physical literacy and basic need satisfaction were significantly enhanced after the competency-based orienteering course intervention. However, no significant improvement was observed in leisure-time physical activity. Notably, students’ perception of connectedness to nature increased after participating in the course. Overall, grounded in the principles of the competency-based curriculum, this study not only enhanced students’ physical literacy, basic need satisfaction, and connectedness to nature, but also provided theoretical and practical insights. Through competency-based orienteering course design, the value of physical education in holistic education can be expanded, making it a worthwhile recommendation for implementation in college-level physical education teaching contexts.