Physical literacy

What is the definition of physical literacy?

Physical literacy is the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life

What is physical literacy?

- The development of fundamental movement skills and fundamental sport skills that permit a child to move confidently and with control, in a wide range of physical activity, rhythmic (dance) and sport situations

- Physical literacy also includes the ability to 'read' what is going on around them in an activity setting and react appropriately to those event

What is the importance of physical literacy?

- Physical literacy provides the foundation to lead a healthy active life.

- The more physically literate a person is, the more likely they are to have the physical capabilities, motivation and confidence to be active across the lifespan.

What are the characteristics of a physically literate individual?

- Has a well-established sense of self

- Articulate interaction with the environment, engenders positive self-esteem and self-confidence.

- Sensitivity to, and awareness of, our embodied capacities leads to fluent self-expression through nonverbal communication, and to perceptive and empathetic interaction with others

- Ability to identify and articulate the essential qualities that

influence the effectiveness of his/her own movement

performance,

Physical literacy environments: on the ground

Any solid surface, such as gym floors, grass, sand or cement

Physical literacy environments: off the ground

Maintaining an awareness of where one is situated in the air and off their feet is a difficult accomplishment that requires practice

Physical literacy environments: aquatic

Being physically active in swimming pools, lakes, rivers, and/ or oceans is not only advantageous from a perspective of physical literacy, but can also save lives

What are some teaching approaches to physical literacy

- Emphasize individual progress

- Emphasize qualitative rather than quantitative performance.

- Relate physical skills to play opportunities and other activities outside of class time

- Make real connections between FMS and participation in a variety of culturally valued sport, recreation, and leisure activities

- Weave physical skill development into the fabric of daily school life

Teaching approaches to physical literacy: teacher needs to possess

- Sound content knowledge (what to teach)

- Competency in psychomotor methodology (how to teach) can influence children in a positive manner

Characteristics of an effective teaching approach

1. The ability to read and respond efficiently and effectively to the environment and to others in interaction

2. The ability to use the body as an instrument of expression and/or communication

3. The ability to articulate and/or demonstrate

knowledge, skills and understanding of health.

A good physical literacy assessment tool should:

- Celebrate progress and match an assessment for learning approach

- Highlight personal strengths and weaknesses, providing feedback for the next learning stage

Drawbacks of physical literacy assessment tools

- Many tools fail to meet PL's overall purpose

- PL assessments have been approached either as assessment of learning or for learning, particularly in health/physical education

- There is a shortage of PL assessment tools capable of capturing evidence of an individual's PL across affective, cognitive, and physical domains.

Cultural relativism in physical literacy assessment: affirmative

- Physical literacy assessments should be culturally relative, considering the diverse backgrounds of individuals, as existentialism suggests

Cultural relativism in physical literacy assessment: negative

There must be a universal standard for physical literacy to ensure that assessments are comparable and transferable across different cultures

Monism philosophy and PL assessments

- effective physical literacy (PL) assessment tools should evaluate attributes across its three domains (affective, physical, cognitive) equally, considering human nature as a whole in the PL journey

Ethical considerations of physical literacy assessments

- Student with a physical disability is enrolled in a physical education class that requires a physical literacy assessment