Sport & Education in Australian Society

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Total Time Commitment: 120 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Focused on physical education and community sport, this subject examines the place and significance of sport in Australia as a form of social education. It examines both historical and contemporary issues related to growing tensions between sport’s traditional role as a form of moral education and the emergence of sport as a commercial commodity. It will include topics such as elite sport versus sport for all, health and participation rates, gender, violence and race.

On completion of the course it is expected that students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the changing place and practice of sport and physical education in the curriculum of Australian schools.
• Explain why sport and physical activity assume such importance in lives of many young Australians.
• Illustrate how sports programs can be used to engage young people with education and provide opportunities for socialization into Australian culture.
• Identify major social and educational issues arising from tensions between the traditional model of sport in schools and community settings, and a model of sport as a commercial commodity in Australia.
• Describe how elite level commercial sport can impact on learning and on the practice of community-based sport and sport in schools.

1. Online quizzes testing understanding of readings and theories 20% in total, spread through the semester;
2. A case study of a particular sport or sporting event,1200 words (30%), due mid semester;
3. Analysis of the representation of a sporting event in the media, 2000 words (50%), due at the end of semester.

Attendance at all classes (tutorial/seminars/practical classes/lectures/labs) is obligatory. Failure to attend 80% of classes will normally result in failure in the subject.

Subject reader or readings online.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.