Enlivening Physical Education with Life Education Elements
“Bang on the boat to get rescued!”
Noticing such an ‘emergency’, the ‘rescue team’ rushed to the front without hesitation, helping their fellow classmates escape from ‘capsizing’.
This scenario is part of the experiential course newly introduced by Associate Head of Department of Health and Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Dr Lobo Louie Hung-tak on outdoor adventure activities. Championing the concept of outdoor education, Dr Louie hopes to combine the elements of life education with Physical Education lessons, to provide an opportunity for students to be exposed to risk and reflect on the value of life.
According to Dr Louie, drowning is the third-leading cause of accidental deaths in the world, claiming nearly 200 lives in Hong Kong between 2012 and 2016. Citing a local survey, which estimated that less than half of primary students knew how to swim, Dr Louie said the result was far from satisfactory. He attributed this to parents’ over-emphasis on their children’s academic achievements.
Thanks to the University’s all-encompassing sports facilities, Dr Louie has been able to incorporate survival skills as part of the curriculum. The University’s swimming pool, an environment where risks can be controlled at a manageable level, can therefore serve as an outdoor classroom for students to develop problem-solving. To further his advocacy in this regard, Dr Louie is looking into various possibilities, including introducing stand-up canoes, to provide a variety of water sports options for students.
Among those taking this insightful course was Li Yan-tung, a Year 1 student on the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sports Science and Coaching programme, who earlier won a gold medal at the 2022 Lifesaving World Championships. She said she valued the skills acquired from the course that could help in the event of an emergency. Participants also included kindergarten teacher Li Ka-man, who is a part-time Year 1 student from the Bachelor of Health Education (Honours) programme and cannot swim. She believed such professional skills would be beneficial to her career development.
