Abstract:
The long-lasting Nordic-Baltic cooperation enabled the participants of this project to rediscover a new place—the schoolyard—as an active play and learning arena and prepare recommendations on how it could be used for schoolchildren’s physical activity enhancement (Rutkauskaite et al., 2021a; 2021b). The aim of this project was to develop and provide recommendations on how schools and schoolyard affordances can be used in an authentic and supportive environment for educating physically literate and active schoolchildren in the era of digitalization and to develop an open platform for primary school teachers and physical educators to share good practices and innovative ideas.
Scientific research results demonstrated that schoolyard design and facilities are characterised by flat terrain covered mostly with asphalt and artificial cover and dominated by sports fields of international standards, which are of limited use apart from physical education lessons. It was also established that pupils prefer vegetation, comfort, and versatility in schoolyards. For pre-service and in-service physical education (PE) teachers, a manual of good practices with an innovative approach to the theoretical and practical skills as well as enhancing attractive, interdisciplinary education possibilities in schoolyards, respect for nature and surroundings, pupils’ PA, and well-being has been prepared. At present, outdoor activities in schoolyards and neighbourhoods have increased the high demand to do lessons outdoors. Blended learning has become one of the most accessible forms of education in the current situation. The intention is to support learning and well being, as well as PA during the school day, by using not only technologies to make schoolchildren more physically active but also to expand the possibilities of schools and schoolyard affordances by making interdisciplinary teaching attractive and usable within the school curriculum.
