Course Objectives

The course is aimed at providing students with the ability to relate the school subject Physical Education to the study subject Physical Education, the various science subjects within Physical Education and the relevant basic subjects. Students will develop skills, the ability to express themselves, and knowledge within the field of Physical Education and also develop awareness of sport as an activity and cultural form.

Course Description

Foundation subjects in the first year of study consist of 30 ECTS. These comprise four target areas:
· Motory Development and Learning (6 ECTS)
· Training and Movement Theory (6 ECTS)
· Physical Activity and Health (9 ECTS)
· Sport, Culture and Society (9 ECTS)
Motory Development and Learning (6 ECTS)
In the target area, students will acquire knowledge of children and young people's physical growth and motor development. The importance that movement learning and mastering has for children and young people's overall development and learning is central to the target area. Students will acquire knowledge and experience by planning appropriate learning situations for physical activity.
The target area emphasises the following topics:
The nervous system’s development and function:
· The central nervous system
· Communication between the nerve cells
· Steering and control of the body’s functions
· The senses
Motor development and learning:
· What are motor skills?
· Motory development theories
· Phases in motory development
· Cultural and social differences in motory development
· Measuring and testing motory skills
· Children with motor problems
Planning a movement environment:
· Schoolyards and playgrounds – why are they formed like they are?
· Playgrounds: a place for play and learning: design and function
· Reference area – What – How – Why?
· Local area facilities
· Safety regulations for playgrounds and playground apparatuses
Training and 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:
· The skeleton and muscles
· Muscle work
· Basic mechanics
· Mechanical laws for positions and movements
· Organic principles for movement
Training theory and basic training:
· Stamina
· Strength
· Mobility
· Speed and suppleness
· Planning training
· Training of motory skills
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 gain insight into, and experience of, preventative health care and sport.
The target area focuses on three topics:
Skeleton and muscle system:
· Cell biology
· Muscle tissue, connective tissue and bone tissue
Circulation and the respiratory system
· Circulatory system
· Respiratory system
· Temperature regulation
Health and lifestyle
. Lifestyle sicknesses
. Mental health among children and adolescents
. Ergonomics and behaviour
. Sports injuries
. Diet
. Eating disorders and drug abuse
Sport, Culture 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 been developed in interaction with social conditions.
The target area emphasises four 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, amongst other things, activity, organisation and facilities during various historical periods.
· Sport and other institutions: sport’s relationship to the mass media, politics and the market, national and international sports.
· Physical activity and the individual: participation, socialisation, non-participation, gender roles and idols.

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 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 the 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.
Sport, Culture and Society (9 ECTS)
The subject material is presented in the form of student work, teacher-guided 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 the 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.

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, 1st year.
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 will be based on portfolio assessment. The portfolio assignments will be given equal weighting. All mandatory requirements must have received passing marks before final assessment. This may also include assignments that are not included in the portfolio, and minimum 80% participation in the basic training.
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, 1st year. The target area is concluded with a 4-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.
Sport, Culture and Society (9 ECTS)
The grade for the target area is determined on the basis of portfolio evaluation and the individual oral final examination, where the portfolio assessment counts for 40% and individual oral final examination counts 60%. Portfolio assessment must receive a passing grade before the student may be allowed to take the final individual oral examination. All mandatory requirements must have received passing marks before final assessment. This may also include assignments that are not included in the portfolio.
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