An international project carried out by LSU has come to an end
A closing even of an international project “Modernisation of Pre-school and Primary Education Content and Teachers' Professional Development through Introduction of Physical Fitness Testing Methodology” took place at LSU. The project promoters were congratulated on a successfully completed work by a spokeswoman of the Department of Physical Education and Sports Dr. Inga Gerulskienė, the Director of Kaunas District Public Health Office Laurynas Dilys, the President of the Lithuanian Association of Physical Education Teachers Dr. Laima Trinkūnienė, the President of the Republican Pre-School Physical Education Teachers Association Audronė Vizbarienė and a lot of teachers.
The aim of a half-year project was the modernization of pre-school and primary education content and teachers’ professional development. The project was implemented by LSU and the University College of Southeast Norway.
Adoption of Norwegian physical fitness testing methodology
The project was carried out in several stages. Participating teachers from Lithuanian Sports University went on internship to the University College of Southeast Norway. The experts of physical fitness assessment methodology Prof. Dr. Ingunn Fjørtoft and Dr. Lise Kjønniksen introduced physical fitness testing methodology for 4-11 year-old Norwegians, organized workshops and, together with the representatives of LSU, analysed testing and assessment procedures, as well as their adjustment to children of all ages and needs.
The experience and theoretical knowledge gained during the internship was used in the development and implementation of Lithuanian children's physical fitness testing and assessment methodology. In order to evaluate its credibility, the project promoters carried out an investigation, during which they investigated 200 pre-school and 400 primary school children’s physical fitness. Based on the research results, a training programme for pre-school and primary school teachers was developed.
In July, the representatives of LSU participated in the largest European sport science event in Vienna (Austria), where introduced the research findings of the project carried out together with the Norwegians. LSU and Norwegian scientists are preparing several scientific articles based on the research findings that will be published in international scientific journals.
1,200 Lithuanian teachers were involved in the training courses
In August, the project promoters developed a training programme and launched free professional development courses for 1,200 teachers from 60 municipalities. The courses continued throughout September.
During the courses, LSU teaching staff members introduced pre-school and primary school children’s’ physical fitness testing methodology to the teachers. The training was conducted by Dr. Rasa Kreivytė, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ilona Tilindienė and Dr. Kristina Zaičenkovienė, LSU teachers who had been on the internship in Norway to take over Norwegian best practices. During the theoretical lectures, children testing methodology and its benefits were presented. The teachers learned how to prepare for physical fitness tests and perform them in practical sessions. There is no doubt that this training will allow the development of general and professional pre-school and primary school teachers' competencies and create new knowledge.
“Lithuanian teachers enthusiastically participated in the training, and, once having completed, we received excellent reviews. Since there were more teachers who wanted to participate in the workshops than it had been anticipated in the project, we organized additional free courses. High teachers’ activity showed us, that the project was necessary and useful. That was the best evaluation for us”, said the project manager Prof. Dr. Arūnas Emeljanovas.
To better understand children’s physical fitness testing methodology, the methodical material has been translated from the Norwegian language and published in two separate publications. The aspects and requirements for physical fitness testing, methodology and assessment of test results as well as the main principles and exercise examples for the training of separate physical characteristics have been presented in the publications.
The representatives of LSU are planning to sign a further co-operation agreement with the University College of Southeast Norway. The agreement would include the methodology monitoring and improvement procedures, based on cooperation of both partners. The University intends to disseminate the methodology taken over from Norwegians to the teachers of other Baltic countries.
The project was implemented under the LT08 “EEA Scholarship Programme” and was funded by the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism. The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania was the programme operator, while a part of the operator functions was carried out by the Central Project Management Agency.
More information about the project can be found on Facebook, after entering the search LSU EEA Grants.
Information provided by project promoters
