A resource for parents Glendale Daban 16632093 CONTENTS What is Game Sense? What is TGfU? What are the benefits of Game Sense when teaching PE? How does Game Sense link to the Syllabus? Reference List
Game Sense in PE Glendale Daban 16632093 Game Sense in PE
WHAT IS GAME SENSE? Game sense places emphasis on cognitive aspects of a game like tactical understanding and awareness instead of the levels of skill and technique of the players. Game Sense makes learning new games more engaging and meaningful for students by placing games into easy to understand contexts. Although the emphasis of Game Sense is on students cognitive development, skill and technique remains at its core. The only difference between Game Sense and the traditional teacher-led approach is that skill/technique and cognitive development is being taught at the same time. Game Sense provides students with opportunities to evaluate their performance in a game. (Truong, 2014) Glendale Daban 16632093 Game Sense in PE
The first step in Game Sense is for students to understand the procedure of the game. Students then recognise the problems in the game that require solving. Students then develop a deeper understanding of the game and the rules that shape it. Students then incorporate movement principles to develop their own tactics. Once students are comfortable in executing tactics in the context of the game, they are then moved onto technical instruction.
(Towns, 2002) Glendale Daban 16632093 Game Sense in PE
WHAT IS TGfU? TGfU is an acronym for Teaching Games for Understanding and refers to a learner-centred approach to teaching that highlights the learners needs, understandings of the game and capabilities (Truong, 2014). When using TGfU, games fall under one of four categories which were formed based on connections in their structure and the skills used (Ellis, 1983): Target games eg. Darts and Golf Striking games eg. Baseball and Cricket Net/Wall games eg. Badminton and Volleyball Invasion/Territorial games eg. Soccer and Rugby (Mandigo, 2007)
Glendale Daban 16632093 Game Sense in PE WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GAME SENSE WHEN TEACHING PE? Apart from keeping students moving and active throughout the PE lesson, Game Sense fosters motivation within participants of all skill levels as games can be modified by the teacher when needed (Truong, 2014). Decision making skills are fostered through Game Sense which is a vital life skill and an imperative asset in order to function in a variety of situations (Mandigo, 2007). The Game Sense approach encourages physical literacy in students (Whitehead, 2001). Physical literacy refers to cognitive skills such as: decision making problem solving perception of the environment around them anticipation of potential patterns of play (Mandigo, 2007).
Glendale Daban 16632093 Game Sense in PE
HOW DOES GAME SENSE LINK TO THE SYLLABUS? The Game Sense approach is still relatively new to teaching and uses games as the main focus of the lessons. In keeping the focus of the lesson on games as opposed to skills, students fell less pressure and are more inclined to apply tactical awareness and strategy. Skills from the Syllabus that are applied in the Games Sense approach include: Moving Students learn to move effectively in response to different games Problem-solving Students learn this by observing problems, identifying solutions and applying them in the right context Communicating Students learn to express their feelings and ideas effectively Interacting Students learn from one another and co operate in games Decision-making Students use tactical skills and anticipation skills and apply them to the games (Board of Studies, 2007) Glendale Daban 16632093 Game Sense in PE
REFERENCES: Board of Studies, NSW. (2007). Personal development, health and physical education K- 6: Syllabus. Sydney, Australia: Author. Ellis, M. (1983). The Classification and Analysis of Games: A system for the classification of games. Unpublished manuscript. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Mandigo, J., Butler, J. & Hopper, T. (2007). What is Teaching Games for Understanding? A Canadian perspective. Physical and Education Health Journal, 73(2), 14-20. Towns, J. (2002). About Game Sense. University of Wollongong. Retrieved from https://vuws.uws.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-1202164-dt-content-rid- 13887365_1/courses/101576_2014_2h/Games%20Sense%20Supplemental%20Readin g.pdf Truong, S. (2014). Primary PDHPE Lecture 2: Childrens Movement and FMS. Taken from https://vuws.uws.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-1198000-dt-content-rid- 13866255_1/courses/101576_2014_2h/Lecture%202%20-%20Slides.pdf Whitehead, M. (2001). The concept of physical literacy. European Journal of Physical Education, 6, 127-138. Glendale Daban 16632093