Czech-Slovak educational program conducting to improvement of better life style Erasmus Project

Project Title

Czech-Slovak educational program conducting to improvement of better life style

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Health and wellbeing

Project Summary

The presented project was designed for students of the 1st – 4th grade of the Mikuláš Koperník Grammar School in Bílovec and for students of the 1st – 4th grade of the Sports Grammar School PinkHarmony Zvolen. The project was attended by 14 students from a Czech school and by 14 students from a Slovak school aged 15 – 19 years in every round. After the initial diagnostic examination, students participated in an intervention program that was focused on regular physical activity. The project took place in two rounds, both rounds were with identical content.

In the first round, 14 Czech students and 14 Slovak students attended specialized exercises focused on the development of health-oriented physical fitness twice a week for 8 months (October – May). We preferred non-traditional physical activities using modern and very effective exercise aids. Students of the Slovak school also completed regeneration and compensation exercises. At the Czech school, exercises were not part of the lessons, however, they took place at the Grammar School in Bílovec and were carried out in the afternoon so that they would follow the lessons smoothly. In case of grammar school in Zvolen, the exercises were included into regular PE lessons. After completing the regular exercise, students underwent an output measurement, thanks to which we were able to evaluate the effectiveness of the exercise program.

In the second round, which was planned to be done same way as the first round, some changes were done due to government measures. The same number of students was involved, but we had to shorten the period of their regular exercise at school. Exercise took place only from October to March in both schools. The spring part of the project was affected on both sides by a government measures and by closure of schools. Students could not attend school and therefore not even regular lessons, however, we communicated with them by e-mail. We e-mailed them tasks related to the project as well as training lessons for home exercise.

Some of the project participants worked nicely. They regularly sent us a number of steps they performed (the goal was to reach 10,000 steps a day) and they also sent us a list of physical activities they performed (walking, running, cycling, yoga, …). However, some participants did not fulfill these tasks. This is also important information for us. We have verified that instilling the principles of a healthy lifestyle in young people’s mind is very challenging and the adherence of young people (and ultimately of adults as well) to physical activity is often dependent on motivation from coaches.

The project participants took part in two joint trips. One took place in the Czech Republic, the other in Slovakia. An essential part of the trip was non-traditional sports activities such as hiking, yoga, functional training, SM system, cross-country skiing and active regeneration. Students carried out these activities together to get to know each other and to create friendly relations. Both trips included several workshops where students tested their knowledge and skills acquired throughout the project. We also discussed the issue of a healthy lifestyle with students. It was also very important for the project creators to receive feedback from the students regarding the project.

The main goal of the project was fulfilled. Together with our Slovak partner, we have created and practically verified the educational material, which includes both the methodology of creating functional trainings using effective modern exercise aids and the methodology of the SM system to improve posture, as well as examples of practical lessons with photos and detailed description for implementation. In addition, the closure of schools motivated us to create several functional trainings, which could be performed with a minimum amount of aids in home environment. These lessons were included in the educational materials as well.

Also other goals of the project were met. We showed students not only exercises with modern training aids and the possibility of active leisure time, but thanks to joint trips, we also introduced them to other leisure activities in winter and spring.

We consider the project to be very beneficial. The final educational material is evaluated as very useful not only for PE teachers, but also for other interested persons who would like to create healthy exercise programs for young people. We highly appreciate the possibility to work with students in a different way compare to usual PE lessons. Czech students got to know many non-traditional physical activities that can positively affect their health in the future. Slovak students, who were very stressed in terms of sports, got acquainted with regenerative and compensatory activities, which will certainly affect their health in the future. We also consider the mutual international cooperation of both schools to be beneficial.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 42445,35 Eur

Project Coordinator

Gymnazium Mikulase Kopernika, Bilovec, prispevkova organizace & Country: CZ

Project Partners

• Sukromne sportove gymnazium, Kalinciakova 87 Zvolen