AlevelPE_Contemporary

The Contemporary Studies course is in three sections:
A) The conceptual basis of Physical Education and Sport
B) Sociological Aspects of Physical Education
C) Specific Issues in Physical Education and Sport in the UK

Physical performance as if falls within such activity categories as play, physical recreation, sport and physical education. Recognition of the broader concepts of leisure and recreation, and the sub-categories of outdoor recreation and outdoor education; the continuum from �mass participation� to �sporting excellence�. Identification and explanation of shared characteristics, based on the candidate�s view and practical experiences.

Interpretations of leisure activities and associated characteristics. Leisure as an activity and as an experience.

Leisure in a cultural setting: a critical analysis of leisure as a spare time activity; leisure as it reflects a class-orientated society / an economic condition; purposeful leisure as a social process; and leisure as creative fulfilment / self realisation.

Recreation as a positive aspect of leisure: active leisure; associations with privilege and purposefulness.

Characteristics of play: freedom and time, space spontaneity; enjoyment orientation; intrinsic values, and non-serious non-productive assumptions. Child at play increasing mastery over reality. Adult at play: escape from reality, stress release. Indirect educative values: physical, social, cognitive, moral and environmental learning.

Interpreting physical recreation in a leisure and cultural framework. Analysis of characteristics and their links with play using the candidate�s experience of physical recreation.

Concepts associated with outdoor recreation: appreciation of the natural environment; adventure and risk to the individual and respect for the countryside.

Contains course notes, worksheets, revision questions and answers and relevant links to useful web sites.

Candidates interpretations of sport and sporting attitudes from their own experiences. Definitions and characteristics of sport including such vales as prowess, endeavour and fair play in the context of amateurism and professionalism.

Definitions and characteristics: knowledge and values; dimensions of physical activity in school.

Theoretical basis of physical education as a subject and as a process in education including such aims as: instrumental vales of health and motor skill; preparation for active leisure and as a career; personal values of self realisation and socialisation; potential as an enhancement of the quality of life.

Outdoor and adventurous education as a part of physical education. Definitions, characteristics of the outdoor and adventurous experience / classification. Candidate discussion on pollution and conservation issues based on personal experience.

Health and Safety in adventurous natural situations: subjective and objective danger, real and perceived risk.

An analysis of the various relationships between the teacher / coach and the child / performer using role play situations.

Tribal societies: functional, ritual and ceremonial characteristics. Examples from such cultures as the Somoans, Trobriand Islanders, Eskimos and Aborigines. The effect of colonialism and post colonialism on these tribal cultures and the impact on international developments. An analysis of the relative development of a candidate�s physical activity in tribal societies.

Emergent societies: nation building, integration, health and social control, disproportionate funding and focus on a specific sport. The significance of initial elitism, role models, appeasement and international recognition. Examples from such countries as Kenya, West Indies, Indonesia and Brazil.

Advanced societies: reflecting capitalist economies, and their cultural attitudes to sport. Characteristics of sport and commercialism; sport and politics.

Notions of �high� and �low� culture in advances societies including functional and dysfunctional features.

Ethnic Sports: the survival of certain traditional sports and festivals in Britain, for example the Lakeland and Highland Games; mob football at Ashbourne; Cumberland and Devonian Wrestling and Hurling in Cornwall.

School Physical Education: starting from the candidate�s own experience of primary and secondary school PE, a review of current initiatives and strategies in school sport, Primary initiatives like the Millennium Games and Top Sport. Secondary initiatives, especially the Sports College Programme and Sports Mark. Involvement of sports coaches / sports development officers and the influence of the Youth Sports Trust.

Candidate analysis of the Performance Pyramid, elitism and personal achievement. Supportive administrative frameworks and agencies. Initiatives and the funding of these programmes. Professionalisation issues.

Review of such issues as drugs and sport; media and sport; sponsorship and sport. A review of player behaviour and corruption; and crowd behaviour.

Candidate awareness of cultural issues arising from previous Olympics. Political and win ethic extremes.

Candidate analysis of sports provision in their locality. Opportunity, Provision and Esteem as basic needs. Urban and Rural Schemes to enable greater participation.

Candidate analysis of gender variables in their PE programme. Traditional issues linked with women and sport. Opportunity, provision and esteem constraints.

Candidate analysis of global problems linked with race and sport. Stacking in society and discrimination at player, management and ownership levels in different sports. Opportunity, provision and esteem constraints at performance and crowd levels in different sports.

Candidate review of personal physical and temperament changes in their lifetime. Opportunity, provision and esteem variables in sport for young and elderly people. Stereotype and separation issues.

Candidate review of types of disability and the notion of handicap. Opportunity, provision and esteem and the cycle of oppression for the disabled in sport.

If the title of a section below is underlined and in blue then it is a link to a page full of notes!! Yippee!