4.1. Evaluation of sport curriculum “Kid Athletes” by pupils
Sports classes were attended by 772 pupils in 15 schools in the area of the Town of Rijeka. The results confirm the principal aim of the project was achieved – the children who go through sports classes with the aid of the textbooks are exceptionally motivated to start doing sports. It is to be expected the wishes expressed in the evaluation questionnaire will not create the actual choice 100%, but the project undoubtedly creates great interest in children to do sports en masse.
Local environment:
- Fostering the link between primary schools and sport associations when targeting kids into sport
- Accepting sport as the alternative to insufficient physical activity and as prevention to many a negative sociological phenomenon
- Greater importance of sport in the local setting, in terms of social values
- Dissemination of bulletins of project implementation to participants and schools’ archives, as well as the archives of sport clubs and the town hall
How interesting was this for you? The sports classes overall was very interesting to children.
LECTURE EVALUATION: useful
LECTURE EVALUATION: very useful
LECTURE EVALUATION: exceptionally useful
How did you like the books “Kid Athletes?” They have also liked the books very much.
LECTURE EVALUATION: useful
LECTURE EVALUATION: very useful
LECTURE EVALUATION: exceptionally useful
Did you like any of the sports so much you would like to train? Children most often manage to find the sport they want to train, meaning the books and the sports classes are very motivating.
LECTURE EVALUATION: useful
LECTURE EVALUATION: very useful
4.2. Evaluation of teachers – physical education “Kid Athletes”
Teachers (32) from 15 primary schools of the Town of Rijeka evaluated the programme via the Progress Diary, where they analysed each curriculum segment individually. Most represented are those teachers that implemented the class in secondary grades, one from each extended stay classes and one from the special division.
They also provided the oral feedback at the final workshop. The results are condensed as follows. They ranked the following parameters on a five point scale ( 1 – not at all, 2 - some, 3 - enough, 4 – quite sufficient, 5 – very, given that no table included the responses of – none or little:
“What did you like best?” There is a wide array of responses to the question, which confirms each teacher found something he or she especially liked. Except for naming individual sports, they often point out:
- The manner of writing is simple, understandable and adapted to children; the stories are interesting.
- The illustrations are funny and follow the story and the characters children easily relate to.
- The message that there is a sport for everybody in which they can be successful.
- The introduction for mums and dads and the inclusion of parents (children brought the books home and discussed doing sports with their parents)
- The interest developed in children, their inclusion and the ability to connect the subject matter to other subjects.
How interesting was this for pupils? 83% of teachers rank the class as interesting sufficiently and very (grades 4 and 5).
LECTURE EVALUATION: useful
LECTURE EVALUATION: very useful
ECTURE EVALUATION: exceptionally useful
How interesting was this for teachers? Practically all teachers confirm this was sufficiently or very interesting, and this was also confirmed by the enthusiasm at the final workshop. They easily connected the content of the sports classes to other subjects – natural history, IT, painting, civic education, life skills training, even math. Except for interesting content, they were especially inspired by the interest exhibited by children.
LECTURE EVALUATION: useful
LECTURE EVALUATION: very useful
ECTURE EVALUATION: exceptionally useful
How do pupils participate in commenting the sports, illustrations and photographs portrayed in the books? Practically everything reinforces great activity by pupils, while the final workshop confirms the sports classes were interactive, and that the children readily and quite engage in demonstrating sports they train. They also talk of their experience, ask questions, disseminate information etc.
LECTURE EVALUATION: useful
LECTURE EVALUATION: very useful
ECTURE EVALUATION: exceptionally useful
How much are teachers aided by the books in the implementation of classes? All teachers confirm the books help a lot and very much, and that the books should be an indispensible textbook in the implementation of sports classes.
LECTURE EVALUATION: useful
LECTURE EVALUATION: very useful
ECTURE EVALUATION: exceptionally useful
Results
- Formation of the positive attitude in pupils towards the physical activity through fun and games that sports afford
- Motivation of pupils to start doing one of sports and to get a membership in a sport club
- Education of pupils on the types of sports, recognition of the fundamental characteristics of individual sports, which will help them in own selection of the right sport
- Help with the implementation of the teaching tasks and the programme of the Physical Education of Health Culture subject, in the segment of including pupils into extracurricular sport activities
- Guest appearances by athletes para-Olympians form a positive attitude in pupils regarding persons with disabilities, while we simultaneously send the message that children with disabilities can be included into sport
- Demonstration of the work by the official police dog; prevention – sending the message that drugs are bad and creating trust in the police – we can in all situations ask for protection
- Mass inclusion of children into sport
- Increase of membership in sport clubs
