Improving Pupils' Initiative Taking Capabilities through Physical Education Lessons

Abstract

This article addresses the theme of personal and social development through physical education and sports activities. The aim is to present a possible solution to the problem of improving pupils’ ability to take initiative in activity. We started from the assumption that taking initiative is a personal quality that is learned and could therefore be taught. The approach is based on Goldstein’s (1981) method of social learning and is different from what has been proposed so far. It is, within certain limits, similar to the way concepts are taught in schools. It is mostly based on explaining, questioning, demonstrating, reasoning, and reflecting. It could be implemented as a group activity. Its implementation presupposes the completion of a series of stages: concept learning, discrimination learning, principle learning, and problem-solving.