Implementing Sport, Physical Activity and Physical Education in New South Wales, Australia, primary schools

Abstract

Abstract. A renewed focus on Physical Education in New SouthWales primary schools has the potential to act as an intervention that has positive long-term implications for the whole population. The introduction of physical education (PE) as part of the National Curriculum means the role of PE in Australian primary schools is now open for renewed attention. The rise of an international obesity epidemic means that that the role of PE in primary schools has the potential to make a positive impact on public health outcomes. There could be significant long term savings from well-organized PE programs in primary schools delivered by teaching staff educated in quality physical education. In addition there is also an historical and emerging body of research which links physical activity to academic performance. However not all teachers in primary schools have the skills or life experiences to effectively teach PE. In order to achieve these outcomes we posit that the use of a Game Centered Teaching approach and the use of an underlying pedagogy have the potential to provide more meaningful experiences for students and teachers. In order to implement a Game Centered Teaching approach we advocate the use of specialist PE teachers rather than outsourcing the delivery of PE in schools Keywords: Physical activity; physical education; primary schools; pedagogy; quality teaching; game centred teaching. Resumen. Un emergente nuevo enfoque de la Educación Física (EF) para la Educación Primaria en Nueva Gales del Sur, Australia, tiene el potencial de generar una forma de intervención que puede traer consigo positivas consecuencias a largo plazo para toda la población. La introducción de la EF dentro del Currículo Nacional va a provocar que se preste una renovada atención sobre el papel de la EF en las escuelas primarias australianas. El incremento de la obesidad como epidemia internacional abre la puerta para que la EF en las escuelas primarias contribuya positivamente a la mejora de la salud pública. En este contexto, unos buenos programas de EF para la educación primaria, desarrollados por profesorado formado para impartir una EF de calidad, pueden dar lugar a beneficios significativos a largo plazo. Por otra parte, hay también un importante corpus de investigación, pasado y presente, que vincula la actividad física al rendimiento académico. No obstante, no todos los docentes de educación primaria poseen los conocimientos ni la experiencia que les permita impartir una EF de calidad. Con el fin de lograr los resultados esperados, proponemos un enfoque de la Enseñanza Centrada en el Juego (Game Centered Teaching) y la subyacente pedagogía porque tienen el potencial de proporcionar unas experiencias más significativas para estudiantes y profesores. Para poner en marcha dicho enfoque, abogamos porque los responsables de su desarrollo en las escuelas sean los docentes especialistas en EF -y no personal subcontratado externo-.Palabras clave. Educación Física; actividad física; escuela primaria; pedagogía; calidad de la enseñanza; enseñ...

Supporting preservice teachers to transition to university through a purposely structured Health and Physical Education subject

“…Evidence suggests that children today are participating less in sport and incidental activities and spending a considerable proportion of their time in t sedentary leisure activities (Lynch 2017;Peralta et al 2019). In order to enjoy the wide range of physical, sporting and recreational activities offered in local communities, students need to learn and master certain skills and schools are crucial environments for promoting such healthy lifestyles (Evans and Curry 2018). HPE is considered an essential subject in the school curriculum (Evans and Curry 2018;Graber et al 2008).…”

“…In order to enjoy the wide range of physical, sporting and recreational activities offered in local communities, students need to learn and master certain skills and schools are crucial environments for promoting such healthy lifestyles (Evans and Curry 2018). HPE is considered an essential subject in the school curriculum (Evans and Curry 2018;Graber et al 2008). The HPE curriculum requires all young Australians to study and participate in HPE each year from Foundation (early years of schooling) to Year 10.…”

“…Despite the evidence highlighting the importance of an active lifestyle, studies nationally and internationally indicate a growing concern about the prevalence of obesity among young children and an unacceptably high number of preschool children coming to school with very poor FMS (Behan et al 2019;Hardy et al 2012). According to a range of studies (Evans and Curry 2018;Graber et al 2008;Zach et al 2017), the development of students' FMS towards developing physical competencies is vital for students in the primary years. It is therefore advocated that Australian teacher education HPE programmes designed for primary students or those in the early years of schooling include FMS to promote cognition, health, fitness and foundations for a healthy lifestyle (Barnett et al 2013;Hardy et al 2012;Peralta et al 2019;Webster et al 2010).…”