Browsing by Author "Juntheikki, Jonne"

Fundamental movement skills are an irreplaceable part of the Finnish curriculum for basic education school. Fundamental movement skills have even more prominent role in physical education when renewed core curriculum will be implemented in 2016. The new core curriculum emphasizes fundamental movement skills the main focus of the physical education is no longer in different sports but to emphasize fundamental movement skills. Fundamental movement skills are an essential part of students daily movement skills. Developing fundamental movement skills will also improve students thinking and studying competencies. There have been previously published several studies and theses about fundamental movement skills. Different theses have estimated relationship between physical activity and fundamental movement skills or the general importance of fundamental movement skills for the pupils. The main purpose of this thesis is to survey how teachers generally conceptualize fundamental movement skills. What are the conceptions about their own competencies and knowledge to teach and evaluate fundamental movement skills. The second purpose is to find out are there any differences between teachers conceptions. Furthermore, the last purpose of these thesis is to survey does teachers have enough education about fundamental movement skills and have they received any further education about these skills during the career. The methodology of this case study is qualitative research and the objective was to use a theme interview approach to formulate the results. The study consists of two interviews of physical education teachers and six interviews of class teachers who also are physical education teachers. The interviewed subjects were precisely selected by their educational background. The data was analyzed by phenomenographic analysis and content analysis. Some significant differences were found between teachers conceptions about fundamental movement skills. According to teachers, they have good competence and knowledge to teach fundamental movement skills. All though, some of teachers thought that teaching and evaluating fundamental movement skills are difficult and demanding. Five teachers out of eight remarked that they have not received enough education about teaching fundamental movement skills in a university. None of the teachers had not received further education about fundamental movement skills, but indicated willingness interest to participate in if it would be possible.