Abstract

This study aims: (1) to examine life skills acquired by students attending different levels of swimming courses. (2) To investigate the relation between teaching/learning methods used by swimming teachers and the level of life skills acquired. The population of this study were students who attended one of the three levels of the swimming courses in the Faculty of Physical Education /University of Jordan (n= 236). The sample of the study consisted of 142 students. Both “Life skills through swimming context scale” and “Teaching/ Learning methods in swimming context scale” were used to collect the required data. The data was analyzed using descriptive and statistical analysis. Results showed that the sample acquired the life skills through swimming context on a high level scale. Students believed that communication and self-confidence/self-esteem were the most important skills acquired (86%), followed by teamwork (85%), decision-making/responsibility (84%) and problem-solving (80%). There was a significant relation between life skills acquired and the teaching/ learning methodologies used including brainstorming, demonstration and guided practice, small groups, games and situation analysis. Therefore swimming context using the efficient participatory teaching methods proved to have a positive effect on life skills and youth development.

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