TABLE 1—

Median Percentages of Class Time Spent in Various Activities in Specialist-Taught and Common-Practice PE, as Determined by SOFIT Observations: Canberra, Australia, 2006 and 2008

SOFIT Characteristica	Specialist-Taught PE, %	Common-Practice PE, %	Pb
Moderate or vigorous physical activityc	35.4	40.6	.06
Vigorous physical activityd	14.6	21.5	< .001
Fitness activitye	17.6	2.1	< .001
Skills practicesf	12.1	10.6	.11
Activity demonstrationg	25.7	6.3	< .001

Note. PE = physical education.

^aSOFIT¹⁴ is a system by which the activities of 4 randomly selected children and the teacher are observed on a rotational basis. The duration of each unit of observation is 10 seconds, followed by 10 seconds of recording, and this is continued for the entirety of the class. There were 97 SOFIT observations of specialist-taught PE classes and 97 observations of common-practice PE classes.

^bP values apply to differences between mean logit percentage values following a formal linear mixed-model analysis adjusting for random school effects.

^cModerate or vigorous physical activity denotes activity in which the energy required for normal walking (or more) is expended.

^dVigorous physical activity denotes activity in which more energy than that required for walking is expended.

^eComprised cardiovascular endurance, strength, or flexibility activity.

^fComprised ball or movement skill activities.

^gTeacher demonstrated or participated in class activities.