99796 - Physical Education in Developmental Age

Learning outcomes

Basic knowledge: methodological, didactic-organizational and relational aspects that characterize the areas of motor education/physical education in the different stages of developmental age, as well as in different operational areas (school education, sports initiation, recreational education). In particular, the student is able to:

- Choose educational styles and methods appropriate to the various age groups, goals and stage of psycho-physical development of the students.

- Prepare content (exercises, drills, playful applications, games) appropriate both to the goals to be achieved and to the pupil for whom they are intended.

- Modulate activities according to the principles of variability and polyvalencegradualness applied to different educational paths: simple-complex; easy-difficult; known-unknown.

- Organize the training session/motor activity/Physical Education, according to the principles of: individualization, quantity, variability, appropriateness and gradualness

- Structure the appropriate educational setting, with respect to the objectives to be achieved, in relation to its constituent elements: age of the pupil, available spaces and equipment, available time.

- Relate to learners, according to age and stage of intellectual development, with appropriate, understandable and effective communication.

- Use the didactic aspects of communication, especially in the various stages of motor learning, in relation to the effective stimulation of the pupil's proper use of internal and external feedback.

Course contents

1) MOTOR ACTIVITY and Physical Education at school.
1a)The sensorimotor system - motor skills - motor skills.
1b)The psychomotor development in developmental age. Ontogeny of skills from basic motor and postural patterns. Cognitive development from sense-motor intelligence. Affective development (egocentrism and sociocentrism). Motor load in developmental age.

2) BODY AND CORPOREALITY. Body schema and body image. Self-perception and self - efficacy concept.

3) METHODOLOGY AND DIDACTICS. The educational situation in the teaching-learning context. The educational relationship. Educational communication. Teaching styles. Disciplinary didactics. Educational setting. The contents of motor education. Programming and planning. Formative verification and evaluation. Specific focus on Physical Education at school.

4) MOTOR SKILLS and COMPETENCES. Concept and classification. Motor learning. Motor program. Feedback and learning.

5)THE PLAY Theories compared. Play as an educational medium. The transversality of play. Play and cognition. From sense-motor play to play-sport.

6) LEARNING EXPERICENCE. The organization of the motor activity/physical education/sports training session. The methods of presenting the motor task. The individualization of learning. The learning objectives and the different pedagogical paths. Specific focus on Physical Education at school


7) EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIES.

7.1) Outdoor Education. The outdoor adventure and outdoor learning. Technology and outdoor activities. Outdoor activities and developmental age needs. Outdoor activities and education for environmental sustainability. Specific focus on Physical Education at school

7.2) Cooperative Learning. Organizing and leading cooperative groups. Positive interdependence. The Jigsaw method in physical education and sports. Specific focus on Physical Education at school

Readings/Bibliography

FOUNDAMENTAL BOOKS:

1. Ceciliani A. (a cura di), 2020, L’educazione motoria nella scuola primaria. Roma: Carocci ISBN 9788829000883
2. Ceciliani A. Corpo e movimento nella scuola dell'infanzia. Riflessioni e suggestioni per itinerari educativi nella fascia tre- sei anni. Edizioni Junior Spaggiari, 2015.
3. Ceciliani, A. (a cura di) Aggressività gioco e sport. Educare nell'infanzia e nell'età evolutiva. Parma: Edizioni Junior Spaggiari

  Other materials provided by the teacher:

1. Educational Evaluation at school and sport environment.
2. Handouts prepared by the teacher on the topics carried out in the lessons.
3. PPT presentations used in the lessons.
4. Manuals on contents and concrete educational activities.

Recommended journals:

Rivista di Educazione Fisica CAPDI https://www.capdi.org/home/index.php/9-rivista-e-f/871-archivio-rivista-e-f-2011-2015

Giornale Italiano di Ricerca Educativa (IJEduR)
https://ojs.pensamultimedia.it/index.php/sird/index

European Journal of Research on Educational and Teaching
https://ojs.pensamultimedia.it/index.php/siref/index

Teaching methods

Teaching will focus on the following strategies:

Interactive lectures.

Cooperative learning through group and intergroup work - Presentation and discussion of the results of cooperative activities.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, teaching will also be conducted through simplified EAS (Situated Learning Experiences) procedures.

Assessment methods

The assessment will be conducted on three levels:

a) Written test on the program. The test will contain various types of questions (closed-ended, complete-the-text, true-false, short open-ended). This test will be graded out of twenty-seven points (n/27).

b) Laboratory instructors' evaluation of participation during the activities presented in the gym. A maximum of 2 points will be added to this evaluation.

c) Group work will be assessed in addition to the scores for points "a" and "b." A maximum of 2 points will be added to these activities.

The final score will be given by the sum of the scores of the three tests: 27 + 2 + 2 = 31 (30 with honors).

Teaching tools

Laboratory activities.

Materials and multimedia links.

Thematic literature searches, coordinated with the teacher for group work.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Ceciliani