Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

The candidate has knowledge of:

• The body’s anatomy and physiology
• The pupil on the basis of theories of physical and motor development
• Motor development and the importance of this for child development
• Different training methods and principles
• Basic principles of movement
• Physical activity and physical education from a public health perspective
• How basic skills help to improve learning in the subject
• Characteristics of the physical education discipline
• History of sports and the place of sports in society
• Different theoretical perspectives in relation to sports’ function in society
• Different perspectives related to gender equality, the multicultural society and indigenous peoples nationally and internationally in a sports / physical education context.

Skills

The candidate can:

• Identify hazards and ensure the safety of pupils in various activities and movement environments
• Facilitate learning through varied teaching and learning methods in games and activities
• Assess skills and competence as the basis for adapted teaching
• Assess pupils’ attainments in relation to competency goals and justify assessments
• Perform a motion analysis
• Set up short- and long-term training plans

General competence

The candidate can:

• Understand, implement and develop physical education as a general subject
• Accept responsibility for the continuous development of their own professionalism
• Communicate with pupils, parents and colleagues about issues related to physical education and physical learning

Course Description

Foundation Subjects in the first year of study comprise 30 ECTS, consisting of four target areas:

• Motor Development and Learning (6 ECTS)
• Training and Physical Movement Theory (6 ECTS)
• Physical Activity and Health (9 ECTS) (This includes an introductory course in anatomy and physiology)
• Sports, Physical Education and Society (9 ECTS)

Motor Development and Learning (6 ECTS)

The target area focuses on the physical growth and motor development of children and youth, and the important role played by motor development and mastery in the overall development and learning of children and youth. Students will acquire knowledge and experience in planning appropriate learning arenas for physical activity.

The target area emphasises the following topics:

Motor development and learning:

• What are motor skills?
• Motor development theories
• Phases in motor development
• Cultural and social differences in motor development
• Measuring and testing motor skills
• Children with motor problems
• Planning a movement environment

Training and Physical Movement Theory (6 ECTS)

Training is a comprehensive process, and each individual is affected in many different ways. In order to understand the learning opportunities in movement activities, it is useful to analyse what is happening. Movement theory is mainly concerned with mechanical aspects, while training theory focuses on the organic conditions. The course provides students with important skills in relation to teaching, supervising and training pupils in various sports and activities.

Basic principles for movement:

• Basic mechanics
• Mechanical laws of positions and movements
• Organic principles of movement
• Stamina
• Strength
• Mobility
• Speed and suppleness
• Coordination
• Basic training
• Planning training
• Training of motor skills

Training theory and basic training:

Physical Activity and Health (9 ECTS)

This target area will provide students with the necessary theoretical and practical background to enable them to understand the relationship between physical activity and health. Students will also be able to explain how physical activity and health change from childhood into adulthood and how good physical activity habits can be established. The course will also help students gain insight into key national documents on physical activity and health.

The target area focuses on:

Introduction to anatomy and physiology including the following topics :

• Cells
• The nervous system’s development and function
• The senses
• The skeleton and muscles
• The circulatory system
• The respiratory system
• Temperature control
• Physical activity in relation to children and youth and in schools
• National guidelines concerning physical activity and health
• Physical activity and mental health
• Sports Injuries
• Diet
• Eating disorders and drug abuse

Sports, Physical Education and Society (9 ECTS)

Play, sport, dance and outdoor activities are social and cultural phenomena in a constant state of change. In this course, we will analyse the relationship between these body cultures and society. The course will emphasise how the historical and cultural variations of these phenomena have developed in interaction with social conditions.

The target area emphasizes five topics:

• Sport, play, dance and outdoor life as social and cultural phenomena explained in relation to various concepts, approaches and theories taken from the field of the social sciences.
• The special characteristics of sport: how sport’s autonomy is expressed through activity, organisation and facilities, amongst other things, during various historical periods.
• Sport and other institutions: sport’s relationship to the mass media, politics and the market, nationally and internationally.
• Physical activity and the individual: participation, socialisation, non-participation, gender roles and idols.
• Gender equality, multicultural society and indigenous peoples in a sport / physical education context, nationally and internationally.

In addition, students will receive an introduction to basic ethical, methodological and scientific theory.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Motor Development and Learning (6 ECTS)

The work in this target area has a practical approach. The course is planned so that students will acquire knowledge of and insight into matters that are of importance to children and young people in relation to the learning of movements and the preparation of an activity environment. The teaching will include lectures, student-guided learning, practical work and laboratory work. Students will also gain experience in testing and evaluating physical and motor skills.

Training and Movement Theory (6 ECTS)

Problem-based approaches, teacher-guided and student-guided lectures, teacher-guided and student-guided practical activity periods, and individual and group work.

Physical Activity and Health (9 ECTS)

During the course of study, students will work with various types of subject theory.

Problem-based approaches, teacher-guided and student-guided lectures, teacher-guided and student-guided practical activity periods, and individual and group work.

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology: The course will include lectures, student-led teaching, practical work and laboratory work

Sport, Physical Education and Society (9 ECTS)

The subject material is presented in the form of student work, teacher-guided lectures and student-guided lectures. When the subject material is related to the students’ own learning experiences, they will become more engaged and motivated to participate and contribute to discussions in the class or in smaller groups. Students will work with assignments related to topics in the target area. These include both individual and group assignments, which will be included in a target area portfolio. In this way, the students will actively acquire greater insight, awareness and understanding of the role that different forms of sport and physical activity have in our society. The introductory course in scientific theory, research methodology and ethics will consist of lectures and independent study work individually or in groups.

Assessment Methods

Motor Development and Learning (6 ECTS)

Obligatory assignments, part-examinations, reports and seminars must be completed and passed before the student can take the final examination.
The target area is concluded with a 3-hour individual written examination.
A final grade is entered on the diploma, graded from A to F, where A is the best and E the lowest passing grade. In order to achieve a passing grade for the major course unit, each course unit must receive a passing grade.

Training and Movement Theory (6 ECTS)

The grade for Training and Movement Theory is assessed on the basis of an oral group presentation in movement theory and 2 portfolio assessments in training theory which are weighted equally. All mandatory requirements must have received passing marks before final assessment (described in the semester plan). A final grade is entered on the diploma, graded from A to F, where A is the best and E the lowest passing grade. In order to achieve a passing grade for the major course unit, each course unit must receive a passing grade.

Physical Activity and Health (9 ECTS)

Obligatory assignments and reports must have received passing marks before the student may take the final examination, 1^st year. The grade in the target area is determined on the basis of a written examination in anatomy and physiology (3 hours, weighted 40% of the grade) and a 3 hour written examination (60% of the grade). A final grade is entered on the diploma, graded from A to F, where A is the best and E the lowest passing grade. In order to achieve a passing grade for the major course unit, each course unit must receive a passing grade.

Sport, Physical Education and Society (9 ECTS)

The grade in the target area is determined on the basis of two term papers and an individual oral examination, where the term papers count 40% and the oral examination counts 60%. The term papers must receive a passing grade before the student can take the individual oral examination. Final assessment assumes that all required assignments / seminars listed in the semester plan have been passed.
A final grade is entered on the diploma, graded from A to F, where A is the best and E the lowest passing grade. In order to achieve a passing grade for the major course unit, each course unit must receive a passing grade.

Please refer to Telemark University College Examination Regulations.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean