Review for the Monograph of Asta Šarkauskienė "Development of Innate Physical Abilities of 11-13 Years Old Children in Non-Formal School Education"

Abstract

Relevance and novelty. The latest scientific studies are focused on human individuality, its development, and the promotion of health. Hence, A. Šarkauskienė has conducted research and related her monograph to reflect the modern scientific and educational needs. The content of the monograph and the logical arrangement of materials prove that the selected sequence of all the procedures and stages of the research is purposeful and logical. The monograph consists of the introduction part and six chapters. The first chapter is the largest and provides a conceptual validation of the development of innate physical abilities of 11-13 years old children and the significance of non-formal physical education under the modern conditions of learner’s hypodynamics. The latter chapter refers to the works of most prominent educators, philosophers, and researchers of different epochs, starting from the Antique to modern times and gives a review of various interpretations of human nature conception as well as deepens the understanding of mysterious human nature, i.e. identifies the main physical abilities and reveals factors determining their development. The chapters referring to the conception and objectives of non-formal physical education at school are significant from the theoretical-methodological viewpoint. The author reveals a diverse and broad approach towards the conception of non-formal physical education. Referring to the documents of the European Council and scientific studies conducted in different countries, she consistently highlights its aims and significance. The author has determined that non-formal education differs among countries in a number of aspects: its system and traditions; position of the state towards non-formal physical education; different legal regulations; financial, scientific, and informational support, etc. The analysis of the objectives of non-formal physical education allows stating that the key objective of non-formal physical education is education of special and general competences that conform to children’s physical and psychological development. It is noteworthy that the empirical part of the monograph contains not only the data of the classical research but also the results of the study of the changes of younger teenagers’ innate physical abilities. It shows the author’s maturity, growth, and scientific mission in its direct meaning as well as the ability to employ and compare own research with the ones conducted by other scholars, and draw conclusions. From the point of view of conceptuality, the theoretical and empirical parts of the publication are complete and informative. A. Šarkauskienė has mastered research methodology and methods of empirical research, has an excellent ability to statistically process, methodologically systematise, evaluate, and compare the obtained data. The current monograph is a complete work that is significant not only for the research field of the author but also for the science of Education in general. The monograph meets the requirements set for this genre of scientific writing. It is written in the correct scientific language and is accessible to researchers of sports pedagogy, teachers of physical education, and sports coaches.