Presentation 4
Presentation 4
Presentation 4
Approach
Whatsallthefuss?Aguideforparents/caregivers
What is exactly is Game Sense?
Gamesenseisafairlynewapproachtoteachingphysicaleducationwhichusesgamesasthe
focusofthelesson.Itreplacesatraditionapproachthatseesafocusonperforming
techniquesinisolationtothegame(Light,2013).
Astudentcenteredpedagogythatallowsstudentstodeveloptheirownskillsandknowledge
duringtheactiveinvolvementofagame.Playingofthegamesisareatthecenterofthe
lessoninsteadofteachingspecificskillsandtechniquesofasport(Light,2013).
Gamesenseismorethanjustgamesforlearning,insteadthegamesaresequencedtoachieve
particularoutcomes,discussionisincludedtostimulatehigherorderthinkingandprovide
studentstheopportunitytocollaboratewithpeerstoevaluateandmodifythegamestheyare
playing(Pill,2014a).
Tell me more..
Socialinteractionisattheheartofthisapproach.The
interactionbetweenstudentsinthesegamesandthe
developmentofunderstandingmakesthemfunand
motivating.
Researchshowsthatadoptingagamesenseapproach
hasthepotentialtodevelopcognitiveandphysical
abilitiesthroughmovement(Light,2013).
Thekeyfeatureistheunderstandingthatstudents
developaboutasportratherthanjustlearningabout
performancestrategiesthatarebrokenawayandareout
ofcontext(Pill,2014a)
What does a physical education (PE) lesson
using a game sense approach look like?
Practice Return to
tasks the game
Warm up
game
Warm Final
Discussion/ down reflection
explore
solutions to
Game game problems
AdaptedfromPill(2014b)andLight(2013).
Pedagogical features of game sense
AssuggestedbyLight(2013),therearefourfeaturesatthecoreofthegamesensepedagogy:
1.Thelearningenvironment
Studentlearninghappensthroughtheirparticipationinmodifiedgamesratherthanthroughteacher
instruction.Theteachersplanninganddesigningofthemodifiedgamesarecrucialtothelearning
environment.
2.Emphasizingquestioning
Teacherquestioningisimportantforstimulatingdiscussionandreflection.Afteragameisplayed,the
teacherwillbringtheclasstogetherandposeopenendedquestions.Herestudentshavetheopportunityto
evaluategameplay.InagameofMonkeyintheMiddlethequestioningmightlooklikethis,Whatare
youfindingchallenginginthisgame?Wasthereonepersoninthemiddleforalongtime?Howdidthis
effectyourengagement?Whatcouldyouchangeaboutthegametoovercomethis?.Itisimportantfor
questionstobeopenendedandforstudentstoknowtherearenorightorwronganswers.
Pedagogy continued
3.Collaboration
Followingquestioningtime,studentsformulatestrategiesto
improvethegamethroughgroupdiscussion.Thegameis
thenplayedagainwiththesemodifications.Throughout
gameplay,studentsinteractwitheachotherandcollectively
decidethemosteffectivewaytoplaythegame.
4.Supportiveenvironment
Duetothecollaborativenatureofthegamesenseapproach,
itisimportantfortheteachertocreateanenvironmentthat
issafeandsupportiveinwhichstudentsfeelcomfortableto
engage.Theteachercandothisbycreatingaculturewhere
itisokaytomakemistakes.
Game Sense and the Syllabus
Usingthegamesenseapproachinphysicaleducationhasstudents
buildinguponall5skillsoutcomesoutlineinthesyllabusforStage
3learners(year5):
CommunicatingCOS3.3Communicatesconfidentlyinavariety
ofsituations
DecisionMakingDMS3.3Makesinformeddecisionsandaccepts
responsibilityforconsequences
InteractingINS3.3Actsinwaysthatenhancethecontributionof
selfandothersinarangeofcooperativesituations
MovingMOS3.4Refinesandappliesmovementskillscreatively
tovarietyofchallengingsituations
ProblemsolvingPSS3.5Suggests,considersandselects
appropriatealternativeswhenresolvingproblems.
Game sense and the Syllabus
Italsolinkswiththeknowledgeandunderstandingoutcome:
GamesandSportsGSS3.8Appliesmovementskillsingamesandsports
thatrequirecommunication,cooperation,decisionmakingandobservation
ofrules.
Asastudent:
Devisesgamesorrefinesrulesofgames
Participatesingamesandsportscombingstrategy,teamwork,
movementskillandfairplay
Explainstherationaleforparticularstrategiesandrulesinteamsports
Developsstrategiesforeffectiveteamwork
Why I think it is the BEST approach to
teach your children
Whenteachingyourstudentsphysicaleducation,Iwillbetakingonagamesense
approach.Ibelieveitwillbenefittheminthefollowingways:
Increasemotivationbylettingthemplayagamefirstbeforebeingintroducedto
skills/techniques
Learningismoremeaningfulastheyhavetheopportunitytomodifythegames
themselves
StudentcenteredIamnottellingthemthebestwaytheplaythegame,theyare
workingitoutforthemselves
Collaborationstudentsformulatestrategiesasateam
Supportscriticalthinkingandproblemsolving
Studentshavemoretimeforphysicaleducationasthereislessteacherled
instructiontime
References
BoardofStudiesNSW.(2007).TheNewSouthWalessyllabusfortheAustraliancurriculum: PDHPEK6Syllabus.Sydney,Australia:Author.
Light,R.(2013).Gamesense:Pedagogyforperformance,participationandenjoyment.New York:Routledge.
Pill,S.(2014a).Anappreciativeinquiryexploringgamesenseteachinginphysicaleducation. Sport,EducationandSociety,119.
Phil,S.(2014b)DevelopingNetballGameSense:teachingmovementandtacticalskills. ACHPER,chapter1(pp112)
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