Klaipėdos universitetas

The aim of the research is to explore the application of health promoting PA education methods applied by teachers of physical education in basic school. The survey included 136 teachers of physical education working in comprehensive schools of five Lithuanian cities and districts (Klaipėda, Kaunas, Kretinga, Šilalė, and Mažeikiai) selected by the convenience sampling method. Teacher survey was conducted in November – December 2012 by the academic staff of the Department of Physical Education of Klaipeda University. The article deals with some aspects of health promotion of non-exercising schoolchildren by physical activity in the context of the contemporary society. The outcomes of the conducted qualitative research and their interpretation are presented. The views of teachers of physical education on the physical activity promotion methods are analyzed, as well as their insights into the issue of physical activity promotion methods at school and major motives of schoolchildren’s exercising.

Strategic documents (Description of Pre-school Children’s Achievements, 2014; State Strategy for Education in 2013–2022, 2014; Concept of Good School, 2015; Methodological Recommendations for Pre-school Education, 2015; etc) state the need to create conditions for children to actively work, investigate, create, discuss, and learn to solve problems, etc. This changes the classic approach to the quality and outcomes of pre-school education. The article analyses teachers’ attitudes towards the possibilities for applying active learning methods in developing children’s language skills at pre-school age. The findings of the qualitative research have revealed that pre-school teachers look for the most effective, child-friendly education methods and tools in order to ensure the success of children’s language education and their optimal achievements according to the children’s abilities. From a teacher’s point of view, pre-school children whose teachers apply active learning methods have the following opportunities for language education: to think creatively, experience the joy of education, take responsibility, investigate and solve problems, work in pairs and/or groups, learn to believe in themselves, use media, develop responsible media usage habits, etc. The findings of the research reveal that children’s language education possibilities using active learning methods are highly dependent on the teacher’s competencies, creativity and willingness to work in a different, non-traditional way.