Training the Next Generation of Physical Education Teachers in the Digital Age Using Lü
At the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC), the Physical Education and Health Teaching program offers training designed to reflect the current realities of physical education teaching in school gym environments. As digital technology continues to shape teaching practices across disciplines, the institution sought a relevant way to integrate digital tools into their teacher preparation programs.
With this objective in mind, UQAC chose to integrate Lü into its sports pavilion.
During this program, one of the key professional competencies students were tasked with developing was the effective use of digital tools, explains Nicholas Bussières, Program Director. UQAC therefore faced the challenge of using digital technology as a meaningful lever to support learning. As Vincent Huard-Pelletier, professor in the Department of Physical Education at UQAC pointed out, excluding relevant technologies from students’ physical activity programs no longer reflects the reality of today’s youth.
Rather than questioning the relevance of digital technologies, the focus was on how to integrate it thoughtfully to support the development of the required professional competencies while also engaging students.
The Solution: A Competency-Aligned Tool
Lü quickly emerged as the solution of choice for UQAC; from the very first interaction with the technology, its relevance became clear.
“The first time students come into contact with Lü, they’re truly impressed. It brings them back to childhood a little,” observes Vincent Huard-Pelletier.
Since its installation, Lü has transformed the sports pavilion into an interactive and immersive learning environment, creating memorable experiences that support rapid adoption of the tool.
Concrete and Versatile Teaching Applications
Beyond Lü’s initial wow factor, the system is capable of being fully integrated into a multitude of teaching practices. “A wide range of applications are available to our students, whether it’s warm-up routines, cool-down activities, playful games, or even health education,” explains Nicholas Bussières.
While Lü is highly appreciated by its younger users, the solution also stands out as a valuable tool for faculty members in the program to use; it supports essential teaching dimensions such as planning, assessment, and classroom management, while also remaining adaptable to learning objectives and different teaching contexts.
“A wide range of applications are available to our students, whether it’s warm-up routines, cool-down activities, playful games, or even health education,”
- Nicholas Bussières
The integration of Lü has also benefitted students’ envisionment of their future professional practices: many of them picture Lü as a tool that is likely to become essential in the ‘gyms of tomorrow’, as noted by Mathis, a student in Physical Education and Health Teaching.
Extending the University’s Impact Within the Community
UQAC’s initiative also benefits the regional community: their sports pavilion regularly welcomes students from a multitude of schools across the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. For many students and teachers, it’s been a unique opportunity for them to discover and experiment with a digital technology they may not otherwise have had access to.
By opening their facilities to the greater community, UQAC has broadened its access to innovative teaching practices while strengthening its reach and active role within the region.
Support that Makes a Difference
The accomplishments of this project are, in part, due to the support provided by Lü. From the beginning stages of the system’s implementation, the Lü team was present on-site to provide support for professors, lecturers, and students in discovering the solution and appropriately integrating it into both their current and future teaching practices. This support also extended to the project’s community component, assisting facilitators who use Lü across a range of public-facing activities, from day camps to school field trips.
The team’s ongoing availability ensured efficient onboarding and sustainable long-term use, allowing Lü to become fully integrated into life at the sports pavilion and extend its regional impact.
“Having access to a platform like Lü sets us apart from others. I’m really proud that we have this here, and that we can also share it with the entire Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean community.”
Lü is proud to support several higher education institutions in North America and Europe in the evolution of their teaching practices.
Are you also thinking about integrating digital technology into your university environment? Let’s talk!
