ISJ Fall 2021: The Purple Yeti in the Digital Slopes: An Action Research on Mindfulness in Physical Education Online and HyFlex Elementary Classes / Maria D. Avgerinou and Efi Karatopouzi

Each student has a different learning profile and should be treated accordingly (Tomlinson et al., 2003; Tomlinson, 2014). A properly designed, differentiated teaching can increase student involvement in the learning process and lead to an overall improved learning performance (Mavidou, 2020). At the same time, differentiation in teaching and learning can empower students to discover their potential, to work toward their self-improvement, and boost their self-confidence while also giving them the opportunity to utilize their skills with the view to achieving their goals in their future life as adults (Karatopouzi, 2021). However, in order for differentiated teaching to function successfully as a tool of encouragement and empowerment (Dimitropoulou, 2013), before its implementation the teacher must help students to self-regulate and become autonomous (Argyropoulos, 2013), that is to give them the opportunity to develop self-efficacy as learners through activities commensurate with their skills and abilities (Dimitropoulou, 2013). Toward that end, such mindfulness approaches as the innovative Mind-Body-Soul (MBS) can be utilized effectively both in the physical and the digital classroom (Crosslin, 2020). MBS is a kind of holistic approach to Physical Education (PE) through the implementation of differentiated instruction, which is based on mindfulness and play therapy engaging students through movement, imagination, and critical thinking (Karatopouzi 2018a; 2018b). […]