Uppeldi og menntun - 01.07.2012, Page 169

Uppeldi og menntUn/icelandic JoUrnal of edUcation 21(2) 2012 169
k r i S t JÁ n Þ Ó r m ag n úS So n
Physical activity past, present, and future: A short
overview and reflections on the development of sport
and health sciences within the University of Iceland
AbstrAct
The aim of presenting our readers with these four Perspectives articles is to shine a
light on matters concerning sports education and sports sciences conducted in Iceland.
In the introduction and the first article of these reflections, Kristjan Thor Magnusson,
assistant professor at University of Iceland, argues that we should emphasize more
heavily the promotion of physical activity at all levels of education. With increasingly
stronger scientific evidence for various health benefits of physical activity he states
that this important behavior should be a daily experience of students of all ages via
closer integration of physical activity into the curriculum. Those who embark upon
studies within the field of sports, exercise and health sciences are at the forefront of
the proposed development towards more activity oriented school settings. Following
the introduction, Sigurbjorn Arni Arngrimsson, professor at the University of Iceland,
briefly outlines the history and development of sports education and sports sciences
in the country. For the past 80 years or so Laugarvatn, a small municipality about
80 km east of the capital, has been the cradle of both Icelandic sports education and
sports sciences. Sigurbjorn Arni outlines the transformation sports teacher education
has undergone, from mere 9 months of studies (one winter) in 1943 to the five year
Master’s program of both academic and practical training the University of Iceland
offers its students today. The third piece is written by Janus Gudlaugsson, assistant
professor at the University of Iceland, who discusses the importance of the elemen-
tary school sports curriculum being integrated with the core competencies outlined in
the recently proposed (2011) general curriculum. He feels it is especially important to
promote sports in line with the health and well-being aspects of education rather than
fixating on the competitive nature of sports as he argues the current sports curriculum
draft maintains. The final Perspectives article presents professor Erlingur Johanns-
son’s reflections on the future roles of those who take on the challenge of becoming
physical education teachers, trainers, sports coaches and physical activity advocates in
our society. He believes that strengthening health education within the school settings
will enable more students to make informed decisions about their health and choice of
lifestyle. Further, by securing effective health education and health promotion within
the school system we may better prevent the onset of lifestyle related diseases later in
life. These four short articles are intended to stimulate discussion on these issues and
highlight the importance of a lively debate concerning the direction we should take in
promoting health within our schools.