By: Leena Shami

What is Games Sense?

SportsAUS
 Teaching Games for Understanding- an
approach which teaches children to play QUICK READ!
games to learn a game. It enhances
 Inclusive Education- caters for all abilities and communication,
levels. problem solving,
 Game strategies and rules are modified and decision making and
explored through the 4 Game Categories: collaborating skills.
 More Information

 Teaching Games for Understanding can be identified

as Games Sense (Pill, 2011).
 Whether sports is competitive or not, games sense
promotes and enhances their social, intellectual and
physical wellbeing and gives children self-satisfaction
on their accomplishments (Light 2013).
 Prompts thinking and reflecting, use questions to
explore, encourages collaboration and evaluation.
 Learner-centred- Students in control of their learning
 Australian Curriculum
> “Moving our body- create and participate in games
with and without equipment”.
> “In addition, students develop personal and social
skills such as cooperation, decision-making, problem-
solving and persistence through movement settings”.
 Rationale and Discussion

Games Sense is a fun and engaging technique which makes PE

more desirable. It explores the fundamental movement skills for
physical activity.
The NSW PDHPE Syllabus outlines that students learn about
movement, through movement and learn in movement. These
movements are taught through games, which break done the
dynamics of physical activity. Games Sense does not throw children
in the deep end nor are they dictated what to do. Rather they learn
through games, which lead to essential skills and tactics of a real
game. For example, Piggy in the middle explores the concept of
defence and attack by using different throwing techniques. It also
enhances decision making skills and the use of spatial awareness.
This is a more fun and engaging game than students playing the
real game. It allows flexibility of movement and choice.
 Rationale and Discussion

Games Sense can follow and implement the Australian Institute for Teaching and School
Leadership standards to ensure HPE lessons are inclusive and caters to all students.
Standards 1, 2 and 4 highlight key concepts on ensuring inclusive education. The PDHPE NSW
Syllabus address the three domains: Self-management, Interpersonal skills and movement
(SIM). The domain movement skills involves 3 different categories, Fundamental and
specialised movement skills and concepts, Tactical and creative movement and Health and
fitness enhancing movement. All in which can be are incorporated in a game sense approach.
It allows for their tactical and fundamental movements be improved upon and use their skills
and knowledge for future reference.

Games Sense is an effective strategy for involve all students to have fun in physical
education. It promotes their wellbeing positively, allows for their health wellbeing to be
maintained and is not teacher-student centred. There is a flexibility towards their learning
and children learn through playing games, rather than being dictated on what to do. Student
are in control of their learning and are provided with a safe and supporting learning
environment.
 Reference List

 Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority.2017. Health and Physical

Education. Retrieved from https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-
curriculum/health-and-physical-education/
 Australian Institute for Teaching and Schooling Leadership. 2017. Australian
Professional Standards for Teachers. Retrieved from
https://www.aitsl.edu.au/teach/standards
 Light, R. (2012). Game sense : Pedagogy for performance, participation and
enjoyment. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com
 NSW PDHPE Syllabus, 2018. Retrieved from
https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-
10/learning-areas/pdhpe/pdhpe-k-10-2018/pdhpe-skill-domains
 Pill, S. (2011). Teacher engagement with teaching games for understanding - game
sense in physical education. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 11(2), 115-123.
Retrieved from https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy.uws.edu.au/docview/1017884542?accountid=36155