LSU is developing a physical fitness testing and assessment methodology for Lithuanian pre-school and primary school pupils
An international project “Modernisation of Pre-school and Primary Education Content and Teachers' Professional Development through Introduction of Physical Fitness Testing Methodology”, carried out by Lithuanian Sports University (LSU), was started by an opening event in Kaunas. The project is being implemented by LSU together with a foreign partner, the University College of Southeast Norway. The project is implemented under the LT08 “EEA Scholarship Programme” and is funded by the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism. The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania is the programme operator, while a part of the operator functions is carried out by the Central Project Management Agency.
The aim of a half-year project is the modernization of pre-school and primary education content and teachers’ professional development through introduction of physical fitness testing methodology in Lithuania.
“There are not many scientifically-based instruments to test pre-school and primary school pupils’ physical fitness. For the development of physical fitness testing and assessment methodology, we are going to use our partners’, Norwegian scientists’ best practices. They developed a set of physical fitness tests for children several years ago and published the whole procedure and outcomes in a prestigious journal “Physical Therapy”. The methodology is very adaptable because the tests do not need a lot of additional hardware and their applications are easily managed. This methodology allows determining not only the individual components of physical fitness, but also the overall complex pupils’ physical fitness. This will enable monitoring of the changes in pupils’ physical fitness throughout an academic year. Moreover, teachers and parents will be able to individually assess pupils’ skills”, said project manager Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arūnas Emeljanovas.
Lithuanian Sports University teaching staff members participating in the project are going on internship to the University College of Southeast Norway. Norwegians, who are the experts of physical fitness assessment methodology, will introduce physical fitness testing methodology intended for 4–11 year-old Norwegians. They will organize workshops and, together with the representatives of LSU, analyse testing and assessment procedures, as well as their adjustment to children of all ages and needs.
Experience and theoretical knowledge gained on internship will be used in the development and implementation of testing and assessment methodology for Lithuanian children’s physical fitness. The representatives of LSU Arūnas Emeljanovas, Brigita Miežienė, Vida Janina Česnaitienė, Ilona Tilindienė, Rasa Kreivytė and Kristina Zaičenkovienė will organise and carry out the research.
On the basis of the research findings, a professional development programme for pre-school and primary school teachers will be developed in order to implement the methodology. It is expected to develop a qualification development programme and deliver professional development courses for 1,200 teachers of pre-school and primary education in 60 municipalities.
LSU researchers together with Norwegian colleagues are planning to prepare a few scientific reports on the basis of the research findings, present them in international scientific conferences and publish an article in a scientific journal.
At the project presentation, project participants, LSU teachers and students were joined by some guests: the chairperson of Kaunas city primary school teacher methodological circle Jolanta Vengalienė, the chief specialist at Kaunas City Department of Education and Training Dileta Tindžiulienė, and the president of the Republican Pre-School Physical Education Teachers Association Audronė Vizbarienė. Project manager Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arūnas Emeljanovas expressed satisfaction with the discussion between the participants of the meeting and the advice given by guests on research organisation and courses for teachers.
Information provided by project promoters
