Games exchange

	This kit provides a simple idea on how to carry out an international school project within Physical Education classes between two (or more) PE teachers. Nevertheless, this basic concept can be further developed into a more cross-curricular and student-oriented project (see Options).

Age of students: 10-15 years old

Duration: 1-3 months

ICT tools: e-mail, presentation tools/video editing software, word processor, image processor, digital camera.

Subjects: Physical Education, foreign languages and ICT (not necessarily)

Model: Two (or more) Physical Education teachers from different European countries

Objectives:

PE teachers
• Developing new ways for teaching Physical Education through distance international collaboration
• Improving computer literacy and language skills

Students
• Getting to know another European culture through playing the other culture’s traditional games

Process:

1. Introducing the concept – the initial phase

PE teachers communicate via e-mail to exchange basic personal and professional information.

2. Exchanging information

PE teachers exchange the rules of a game that is typical of their country. They make sure that their partner(s) understand the rules and concept of the chosen game. In order to be clear, they can play the game with their own students, take pictures and build a detailed PowerPoint presentation as learning tools for their partner school(s). As an alternative to a PowerPoint presentation, teachers can also film the students while playing the game and create a short video with subtitles explaining the rules of the game.

3. Learning from each other

Teachers teach the game in their classes, using the students’ mother tongue. Here, they can present the PowerPoint presentation (or video) and introduce the students to their partners abroad. Afterwards, the students take time to learn how to play the game.

Outcomes:

Students officially play the game during a special function/celebration at their school. Here, they can explain more about their project and their partners to other classes, as well as teaching the game to other students. Pictures, videos and audios from the day can then be published on the Internet using publication tools (e.g., websites, weblogs, podcasting, etc.).

Options:

Students can be directly involved in the project from the very beginning: they themselves can suggest the games to be played, summarise the rules of play and prepare the PowerPoint presentation (or video). They can also begin to learn together the rules of their partners’ game(s) without their teacher having to lead them. In addition, they can then learn existing variants of the new game as well as suggesting changes to their own game.

Students can discuss directly with their partners using any number of communication tools (e.g., e-mail, discussion forums, Skype, videoconferencing, etc.). It is recommended that in addition to PE classes, the work be carried out during language and/or ICT classes, as it implies the use of foreign languages and computers.

A Similar Project:

Old Games are Still Alive

Original idea:
By Kostas Papathanasiou, a PE teacher at Kavassila junior high school in Greece, and Alena Mayová, a PE teacher at Česká Lípa grammar school in the Czech Republic

(Read the interview Old Games Brought Back to Life Across Borders).

	Web Editor:	Katerina Bavorova

	Published :	24/05/2006

	Last changed :	19/03/2007

	Other languages :	bg | cz | da | de | el | en | es | et | fi | fr | hu | it | lt | lv | mt | nl | no | pl | pt | sk | sl | sv