THE ROLE OF PHYSICAL TRAINING IN DEVELOPMENT OF THEPERSONALITY OF FUTURE TEACHERS
N. Y. Dudnik,
N. G. Makarenko
An analysis of the state of the domestic system of higher pedagogical education is a testimony to the fact that the higher school is predominantly focused on preparing a teacher-specialist in a certain subject, as a translator of the basics of scientific knowledge. As a result, society receives a teacher who is more or less capable of successfully working within the framework of the class-lesson system, but who is not capable of making an impact upon the processes of spiritual development of children. The majority of graduates of pedagogy institutions do not perceive their education as actually being professional and pedagogic education. Graduates of pedagogical institutions believe that they receive a specialty, but not a profession. This explains the social and practical importance of the problem of development of readiness to one’s pedagogical activity in the process of education at a higher educational institution, because it plays an important role in the life of a specialist and requires task-oriented development. Readiness for professional activities is a complex systematic and multi-level phenomena, in the structure of which it is possible to separate several main components: (a) psychological readiness (level of personal self-development, reflection, motivation to achieve success, emotional stability and social maturity); (b) theoretical readiness (level of mastering knowledge important for one’s profession); (c) practical readiness (level of practical skills that allows one to successfully solve the tasks important for one’s profession).
Good health and a high level of working capacity that facilitate the full-fledged and efficient use of one’s professional knowledge and skills received during the years of learning, as well as demonstration of personal qualities, are the important preconditions allowing a person to fulfill his or her biological and social functions. The tasks of strengthening and preserving one’s health and increasing the physical working capacity of future teachers under conditions of training at a higher educational institution may be solved in the process of professional and applied physical training organized taking into account the content of future professional activities. In today’s society there is a contradiction between the need for specialists with a socially acceptable level of general physical and functional readiness for professional activities, on the one hand, and the insufficient level of their development in the system of higher professional education on the other hand. The conditions of education at a higher school are characterized by a decrease in the level of health of students. Large-scale integration of technical means of education and computer-based technologies into the training process, an increase in the amount of educational information, social and economic conditions of students’ life, low level of self-organization, and the lack of ability of the majority of future teachers to develop and keep regular hours have a negative impact upon the state of health of students. Lowering of the muscular load, lack of time for going
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to play sports and do physical training, the increase in the intensiveness of nervous and psychological activity condition the decrease of working capacity, resistance to cold-related diseases, and general unsatisfactory state of health. At the same time, under conditions of higher professional education, there are high requirements of the organism of students, which explains the importance of physical training in the structure of professional preparation of students.
An increase in the efficiency of development of physical readiness for professional activities of future teachers is possible, provided several pedagogical conditions are met: (a) a procedural approach to implementation of the model of physical training (setting a target, directions, tasks, choice of specific methods and forms of work, monitoring the results of activities); (b) implementation of systematic control and correction of the process of development of physical readiness for professional activities; development of the need for a physical load and positive motivation for physical self-improvement. Gender-sensitive particular characteristics of a teacher’s profession precondition the possibility of wide use of the health-improving fitness programs in the pedagogical educational institution as a means of increasing physical activity of students. The most widely used programs are fitness programs based on the use of various types of aerobic activities. Broadly defined, aerobics is a system of exercises focused on development of the aerobic capabilities for energy supply for physical activity of a person. The most popular disciplines among students include step aerobics, which helps to develop aerobic persistency. Pump aerobics, slide-aerobics, fitball-aerobics are focused on development of a harmonious body and development of strength endurance. Dance aerobics (hip hop, aero dance, salsa, Latin America dancing, Oriental dancing, etc.) help to develop coordination and music and rhythmic skills. In order to develop the relaxation and plasticity skills of a future teacher, it is desirable to use yoga aerobics, body flex and pilates. Swimming pool lessons give the possibility to use the elements of aqua aerobics.
The above-mentioned forms of work at lessons of physical training considerably increase psychological, mental and emotional stability of students in the course of their mental process or physical activities, encourage active socialization of young people, creation of positive emotional lift and feeling of success, which has a positive impact not only upon the successful results of the educational activities, but also on development of personal characteristics of future teachers. Physical training provides for physical development and physical preparation of future teachers, involves them into systematic physical activities, helps socialization of a person, development of one’s inner world, and upbringing of high moral and volitional powers.
Translated from Russian by Znanije Central Translations Bureau
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