The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of knowledge of results (KR) frequency and task complexity on motor skill acquisition. The task consisted of throwing a bocha ball to place it as close as possible to the target ball. 120 students ages 11 to 13 years were assigned to one of eight experimental groups according to knowledge of results frequency (25, 50, 75, and 100%) and task complexity (simple and complex). Subjects performed 90 trials in the acquisition phase and 10 trials in the transfer test. The results showed that knowledge of results given at a frequency of 25% resulted in an inferior absolute error than 50% and inferior variable error than 50, 75, and 100% frequencies, but no effect of task complexity was found.

Este estudo teve por objetivo verificar a relação entre o desempenho em tarefas de habilidade motora grossa com o índice de massa corporal (IMC) em meninos e meninas de quatro a seis anos de idade. Para tanto, foram analisadas 27 crianças, sendo 16 meninos e 11 meninas, com idade média de 5,64 ± 0,67 anos. As crianças foram submetidas ao Test of Gross Motor Development - Second Edition (TGMD-2), proposto por Ulrich (2000) e ao Körperkoordinations-test für Kinder (KTK), proposto por Kiphard e Schilling (1974). A pontuação obtida nos dois testes foi reduzida a uma escala comum a ambos. Foi verificada a correlação entre essa escala e o IMC das crianças por meio do teste de correlação de Spearman, com P < 0,05. Não houve interação significativa entre as variáveis quando analisados meninos e meninas ou quando a análise foi conduzida com distinção de gêneros. Inclusive, não houve interação do IMC com tarefas que exigiam maior demanda de capacidades físicas, o que deve ser verificado em futuros estudos. A partir dos resultados, concluímos que o desempenho das crianças de quatro a seis anos em tarefas que envolviam habilidade motora grossa não se relacionou com o IMC.

No abstract

It has been suggested that guidance, encouragement and opportunity are crucial factors for children's motor development. They are especially important to promote the mastery of fundamental movement skills. The present study investigated the association between two elements related to those factors -proposed curriculum of physical education and the most popular sport in a given country -and the incidence of mastery in the FMS in children from 4 to 10 years of age. In order to carry out a cross-cultural comparison, three studies from different countries (Portugal, China and USA) that used TGMD-II were selected. The results indicated association between proposed curriculum and the number of children mastering FMS. This association increases in older age groups of children from USA, the most structured curriculum related to FMS, presenting the highest average percentage of mastery. Additionally, we did not find association of the most popular sports in a given country with the mastery of the related skill. These results are interpreted as evidence for the importance of guidance on the mastery of FMS.

O objetivo do estudo foi investigar o efeito das dicas verbais na aquisição da habilidade rebater na Educação Física Escolar (EFE), com foco de atenção no seu aspecto perceptivo e motor. Participaram do estudo 84 alunos de três turmas de uma escola (faixa etária entre seis a oito anos). Cada turma correspondeu a um grupo: sem dicas, com dica perceptiva e com dica motora. O experimento teve três fases: pré-teste, aulas de EFE e pós-teste. O grupo com dica perceptiva apresentou melhores resultados. Portanto, verificou-se o efeito das dicas relacionado com a especificidade da tarefa no que se refere às suas demandas de processamento. Assim concluiu-se que a dica de aprendizagem relacionada à especificidade da tarefa mostrou o seu potencial como um conhecimento que orienta os alunos em direção à melhoria da qualidade do movimento, confirmando a possibilidade de sua inclusão como conteúdo de ensino da EFE.

Growth and motor development of Muzambinho children and adolescents: a research project with academic, social and of inter-institutional political implications This paper presents a broad overview of a mixed-longitudinal study about growth and motor development of children, adolescents and their families from Muzambinho, Brazil. This study is multicenter, linking researchers from Brazil, Mozambique and Portugal aiming at the multifocal investigation about the dynamics of growth and development. It aims also at the interpretation of multiple interactions of a broad array of variables, as well as the varied facets of intraindividual change and interindividual differences. The implications and challenges are highlighted using a multidisciplinary and multicenter approach in Portuguese speaking countries. The study is devised in two phases with semester data collections: the first part sampled 470 subjects from 7 to 12 years divided in 4 cohorts; the second phase included 634 subjects from 6 to 14 years divided in 5 cohorts (linked to the structure of the first phase). We included also 200 nuclear families. We present some of the main research themes for each phase, their academic, social and inter-institutional implications.

Blood pressure (BP) and physical activity (PA) levels are inversely associated. Since genetic factors account for the observed variation in each of these traits, it is possible that part of their association may be related to common genetic and/or environmental influences. Thus, this study was designed to estimate the genetic and environmental correlations of BP and PA phenotypes in nuclear families from Muzambinho, Brazil. Families including 236 offspring (6 to 24 years) and their 82 fathers and 122 mothers (24 to 65 years) were evaluated. BP was measured, and total PA (TPA) was assessed by an interview (commuting, occupational, leisure time, and school time PA). Quantitative genetic modeling was used to estimate maximal heritability (h2), and genetic and environmental correlations. Heritability was significant for all phenotypes (systolic BP: h2 = 0.37 ± 0.10, P < 0.05; diastolic BP: h2 = 0.39 ± 0.09, P < 0.05; TPA: h2 = 0.24 ± 0.09, P < 0.05). Significant genetic (rg) and environmental (re) correlations were detected between systolic and diastolic BP (rg = 0.67 ± 0.12 and re = 0.48 ± 0.08, P < 0.05). Genetic correlations between BP and TPA were not significant, while a tendency to an environmental cross-trait correlation was found between diastolic BP and TPA (re = -0.18 ± 0.09, P = 0.057). In conclusion, BP and PA are under genetic influences. Systolic and diastolic BP share common genes and environmental influences. Diastolic BP and TPA are probably under similar environmental influences.

O processo ensino-aprendizagem pode ser visto como um sistema constituído pela interação de três componentes - professor, aluno e matéria - que tem por meta promover mudanças efetivas nos comportamentos, capacidades e competências do aluno. Como numa visão sistêmica do processo ensino-aprendizagem, a função de um determinado componente implica sempre o estabelecimento de relação entre os dois componentes que restam, o papel principal do professor é estabelecer relação entre o aluno e a matéria. Neste contexto, a questão central é saber em que se basear para estabelecer essa relação. O presente ensaio parte da assunção de que o conhecimento sobre o desenvolvimento motor constitui um elemento fundamental quando a matéria de ensino é o esporte, discute uma fase desse processo que tem sido sistematicamente esquecida procurando identificar as suas possíveis causas e consequências e apresenta algumas sugestões para trabalhar com essa fase.