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How do performance studies scholars communicate the field to and for students, scholars, and stakeholders? Through an analysis of online data gathered from institutions of higher education in the U...

The research investigates the thoughts, needs, wishes and preferences of a pupil diagnosed with autism spectrum condition in regard to her daily experiences in a mainstream early years’ setting, in...

This essay contributes to interdisciplinary conversations about the positioning and future of performance studies within US higher education. Through an atypical research method for the field – con...

Assessment of motor development in preschool children has become increasingly important with the recent acknowledgement that motor impairment/deficit is linked with cognitive, language, social, and emotional difficulties. As there is lack of evidence regarding motor development and early intervention in children with special education needs (SEN), the purpose of this study was to assess the motor development of preschool students with SEN within the educational context to allow their teachers to design appropriate physical education activities to improve students’ motor proficiency. In the present study, the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales – Second Edition test battery was used with five groups of students with different SEN: (a) Autism Spectrum Disorder, (b) Down syndrome, (c) cerebral palsy, (d) mental disability, and (e) specific learning difficulties. Students were grouped on the basis of specific characteristics, such as gender and SEN, and statistically significant differences between groups were sought. Differences in the difficulties encountered during the subtests by children in different SEN groups were found, suggesting that evidence of certain motor weaknesses are more likely for children with specific SEN. An unsatisfactory level in overall performance in gross, fine, and total motor quotients confirmed the delayed motor development of students with SEN. The paper concludes with recommendations for an appropriate evaluative measure and early intervention programmes for children with specific motor impairments. Article visualizations

The concept of Physical Literacy was reinvigorated twenty-five years ago by M. Whitehead and has since gained an ever broader ground in all continents. It essentially describes a human activity of great importance, the individuals’ embodied ability to maintain their movement throughout the life course in order to enhance their quality of life. Because physical literacy was associated with various aspects of an individual’s life and with all ages, numerous groups around the world adopted its objectives and principles, specific policies were developed and programmes were implemented for its promotion, while books were written and several scientific articles were published on the subject. The purpose of this study was to review the research literature to establish what is currently known about the extent to which Physical Literacy has been achieved in all countries. It specifically studies which countries implemented physical literacy programmes and promotion policies, what results these brought, who they were targeted at, and who were responsible for their implementation. The study also investigates whether the assessment/measurement of physical literacy is possible and necessary, as well as which other areas of life and knowledge it can be associated with. A systematic collection and review of papers related to Physical Literacy was chosen by searching databases and the worldwide web. Their content was then systematically analysed with the content analysis method. NVivo12 qualitative data analysis software was used as a tool for codifying and analysing collected data. Research data indicate an increased interest in the concept of physical literacy, its implementation and advancement globally, mostly in Canada and the United Kingdom. The policies proposed in most countries are mostly associated with the field of education and least associated with sports, recreation or public health. A variety of programmes were found, mostly related with childhood, while the shortage of programmes focused on adults is registered as a great gap in the course of consolidating physical literacy. The non-linear nature of the concept requires rejection of conventional assessment methods and adoption of a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods for the evaluation of interventions. However, the term still seems to be unclear, many times resulting in its confusion with other similar concepts. Studies focusing on the results of physical literacy programmes are long-term and this is why a lot of them are still in progress. People’s awareness and mobilisation in this specific field nevertheless signal an encouraging sign for the future and for having healthier societies.

The research explores the implementation of the Mosaic Approach into a Greek early years’ setting. For the data collection, 21 children were observed using cameras, tours, mapping, and researcher's...

The purpose of this study was to identify certain strategies and conditions that should be used by teachers in kindergarten so as to foster creative thinking and creative behaviours to children. We used a quasi-experimental research design for 6 months in a public kindergarten in a suburban area of Greece, and we developed a creative music and movement programme. The programme was based on the 4Ps of MacKinnon (press, product, process and personality). The experimental group participated in the creative programme 2–3 times a week, while the control group participated in the unstructured free-play setting. A total of 16 interventions were applied of 45–60 min each. The intervention was conducted by an external teacher, specialised in music and movement education, who was also the observer of the intervention. Double evaluation was applied in both groups, before and after the intervention, and the results were compared based on MacKinnon's approach. The results of the study showed that following MacKinnon's...

2012; accepted April 2 nd , 2012 As interest in creativity is rising, kindergarten teachers are looking for ways to strengthen the creative po- tential of young children. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of music and movement ac- tivities to creative thinking in preschool children. A three month educational programme was designed and implemented, using an experimental research method. The effect on fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration of thought of 5-year-old children, as well as how the programme affected creative behav- iours, was studied. The results, upon completion of the educational programme, showed that the growth rate of these variables in the experimental group was statistically significant compared to the correspond- ing rates in the control group. In addition, the emergence of creative behaviours, such as an increased freedom of expression, a tendency to explore and experiment, and a questioning of what is commonly ac- cepted, were considered to be a consequence of the implementation of the specific educational programme. The experimental research produced valuable information about the design and philosophy of educational programmes, and about the teaching methods of music and movement activities in kindergarten.

Summary. The present study attempts to examine the impact of laws and legislation on the safe construction of toys and their use by young children. The research hypothesis was that the European Union (EU) and its Member States, particularly Greece, implement administrative measures and penalties for the withdrawal of unsafe toys and inform consumers. Content analysis of European and Greek legislation, notifications and penalties imposed on offenders was used to test the hypothesis and the research objectives. The results showed an excessive number of violations of toy safety standards notified to Member States of the EU through the RAPEX system. Greece, despite delayed harmonisation with EU directives and poor information provided to consumers (parents, teachers, children's caregivers, toy librarians), has taken measures to restrict or prevent the distribution of faulty products.

U metodologiji društvenih znanosti posljednjih je godina zabilježen zaokret u proučavanju djetinjstva. Djeca su se aktivnim sudjelovanjem u cjelokupnom procesu našla u središtu istraživanja. Ovaj članak je prikaz primjene i prilagodbe jednog takvog modela istraživanja u Grčkoj. Bit je ovog pristupa u slušanju kao načinu poticanja djece na sudjelovanje u osmišljavanju svakodnevnog života i okruženja u kojem žive, ali i o slušanju kao načelu i praksi učenja.

Background: In the health professions, competency in communication skills is necessary for the development of a satisfactory physician-patient interaction. Body expression is an important domain of the communication process, often not adequately addressed. The aim of this study was to describe the methodology and content of a pilot introductory training session in body expression for dental students before the beginning of their clinical training. Methods: The educational methods were based on experiential learning and embodied training, where the session's content focused on five themes representing different phases of the dental treatment session. A questionnaire was distributed before and after the session to assess any changes in students' self-perceptions in communication skills. Results: There were statistically significant improvements in the total values of the students self-perceptions of their communication skills obtained before and after the training and in specific elements such as small group situations, performing an interview, understanding the feelings of others and expressing one's own feelings. Discussion: The dental students in the present study felt that this preclinical experiential learning session improved their communication skills. The feedback from this training experience will enable further development of an effective communication course for clinical dentistry.

The DESECE Children’s Festival was launched in 2010 at the Department of Educational Sciences and Early Childhood Education (DESECE) of the University of Patras. It is organised annually by the DESECE students in collaboration with their professors and comprises a variety of educational and creative workshops for children of a preschool age. To date, it has hosted over 10,000 children, and 300 institutions and schools, and has expanded its activities into other areas as well, such as teacher training. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in order to support the children, parents and teachers, the Children’s Festival sought alternative ways of carrying out the event, creating online activities and a thirty-hour virtual festival over five days. This unprecedented experience offered great satisfaction to the Festival’s Organising Committee, which managed the crisis, and to the volunteer students, who improved their digital skills and gained experience in e‑learning. At the same time, it offered the possibility to people, both in Greece and abroad, to participate in the event, which until then had been limited to local society. Article visualizations