Physical Education at the beginning of the 21st century. Aims-Objectives-Pursuits in Secondary Education. Volume 4

The drive for better education is ongoing. Everyone has an interest in improving the quality of education. But more than that, those who are interested in a better education and correspondingly a better physical education have to move forward with projects and proposals.

But what is the most modern, the most appropriate approach to the design and organisation of the Physical Education curriculum? The answer to such a question may have different versions under the respective cultural, social environment and especially under the prism of the respective pedagogical ideal. Today, therefore, it is clear that the emphasis on “what are we aiming for in our teaching?” or “what are the learning outcomes that result from teaching?” or “what does the learner ultimately learn as a result of teaching?” are the questions that have prevailed over other questions.

At school, PE is the only class where students exercise their bodies. However, the roots of lifelong physical activity for health are not only motor skills, or knowledge alone, but mainly positive experiences of physical activity that are effectively linked to knowledge of physical activity for health, social relationships and motor skills and physical abilities which in turn ensure effective participation in physical activities. These positive experiences are captured as habits and pleasant memories in human memory. Positive emotions associated with these memories, such as pleasure, interest, enthusiasm, excitement, a sense of power, inspiration, etc., subconsciously activate pleasant images, knowledge, thoughts, goals that motivate people to exercise.

The multidimensional mission of Physical Education is reflected in the multiple purposes that the course has been called upon to serve over time. The authors of the series “Physical Education at the Beginning of the ^21st Century” grouped these into the following framework of six purposes, which are developed with examples in this writing effort:

1. Development of motor skills and satisfactory performance of some of them.
2. Acquisition of knowledge from sports science and its parallel application for effective participation in present and future physical activity conditions.
3. Develop a level of fitness for health.
4. Gaining a positive experience from physical activity and developing self-expression and sociability.
5. Understanding and respecting the diversity of individuals and working with everyone.
6. Demonstrate responsible sporting and social behaviour as a result of participation in physical activity and sports.

The present Model Curriculum for FA in Secondary Education has been structured with the above aims in mind. The bulk of the book is devoted to describing detailed daily lesson plans.