Dennis Slade
Doctor of Philosophy, (Sport and Exercise Science)
Study Completed: 2018
College of Health
Citation
Thesis Title
"Please Sir, Can We Play a Game?" Transforming games teaching and coaching: A Practioner's Perspective
Read article at Massey Research Online: 
In New Zealand, traditional skill-based game teaching models in physical education (PE) and coaching have gradually been supplemented by instruction under an inclusive banner of Game Centred Learning (GCL). Although elements of GCL had been employed for at least forty years, no detailed research existed on how, when and why they developed. Mr Slade’s examination of this phenomenon in New Zealand between 1945 and 2015 established that it was not mandated by educational policy. Rather, development and dissemination of GCL evolved through various combinations of insights from early luminaries in the field, a new guard of physical educators in pre-service teacher education colleges, and a new socio-ecological perspective in PE syllabi in 1999 and 2007. The findings also presented a child centred model of GCL designed to transform the first building blocks of play, games and sports, that when holistically integrated into PE programmes could contribute to and enhance citizenship.
Supervisors
Professor Andy Martin
Associate Professor Geoff Watson