Gondo Thembelihle,
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Zimbabwe Open University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe
Abstract
This study investigates the role of artificial intelligence (AI) as a co‑evaluator in physical education assessment, focusing on its reliability, validity, and potential to strengthen social support systems in higher education sport science. Drawing on recent scholarship that highlights both the promise and limitations of AI in educational contexts the research addresses a critical gap, while technology has been widely applied to individual performance monitoring, less attention has been given to its integration into socially embedded assessment frameworks. A sample of 120 university students was evaluated using both instructor grading and AI‑generated performance scores. Statistical analyses revealed a strong positive correlation between AI and instructor evaluations (r = .81, p < .001), with AI scores demonstrating higher internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .89 vs. .74). Paired t‑tests showed no significant differences in mean scores (t = 1.42, p = .16), confirming alignment between the two methods. Regression analysis further indicated that AI scores significantly predicted overall student performance outcomes (β = .67, p < .001), underscoring their predictive validity. Exploratory findings suggested that AI was particularly sensitive to performance variations among lower‑achieving students, while instructors tended to account for contextual and motivational factors. These results demonstrate that AI can enhance the reliability and predictive power of Physical Education assessment while complementing human judgment. By embedding AI within hybrid models that integrate digital precision with relational and ethical dimensions of evaluation, the study contributes to rethinking assessment as a socially embedded process. The findings support the integration of AI into higher education and community sport science frameworks, offering pathways toward more inclusive, consistent, and data‑driven approaches to student engagement and achievement.
Keywords: Technological innovations, activity monitoring, social support, digital engagement, wearable devices, artificial intelligence, higher education, community networks.
[This article belongs to Recent Trends in Sports ]
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Recent Trends in Sports
| Volume | 03 | |
| Issue | 02 | |
| Received | 17/07/2026 | |
| Accepted | 29/06/2026 | |
| Published | 30/07/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 13 Days |