Gauging Growth
Featured Traditional Sport Education via Metaverse Technology: Digital Preservation of Iban Dayak Tangible Cultural Heritage of Sumpit in Sarawak
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Cassendra Gilbert
The global landscape of sport sciences and education has been significantly shaped by advancements in digital technologies. These innovations are transforming how athletes train, how sports are managed, and how education is delivered in this field. At the same time, traditional sports, which hold deep cultural and historical value, offer important lessons that can enrich modern sport sciences. By integrating Metaverse technology, we can preserve and teach these traditional sports in a way that ensures their survival in the digital age. This approach not only enriches sport sciences but also fosters a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity, positioning traditional sports like the Sumpit as key contributors to the future of sports education. This paper explores how Metaverse technology is revolutionizing education by providing immersive learning experiences that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries. In sport education, the Metaverse offers an innovative platform to preserve and teach traditional sports like the Iban Dayak Sumpit by recreating these activities in virtual environments. Through this technology, learners from around the world can engage with and participate in traditional sports, fostering cultural preservation while promoting physical activity and engagement. This approach aligns with global trends in the use of gamification, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) in sports education, which are driving the digital transformation of learning environments. By blending cultural heritage with cutting-edge technology, the Metaverse provides an exciting opportunity to enrich sport sciences education and ensure that traditional sports remain relevant in a modern, globalized world.
Transformative Connections: How Team IMPACT Enhances Student-Athlete and Child Well-Being
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Doug Blais, Christine Blais
Transformative relationships facilitated by Team IMPACT (TI) are examined in this research that has been conducted annually over the past nine years with more than 3,500 student-athletes. TI is a nonprofit organization that matches children with life-threatening or chronic illnesses with collegiate sports teams. This study explores the mutual benefits of these partnerships for student-athletes and their matches. The research aims to assess how these connections influence emotional well-being, self-awareness, and a sense of purpose among student-athletes, while fostering empathy and community engagement. The study is situated within the domains of sports sociology and community-based interventions, employing a mixed-methods approach that integrates quantitative surveys and qualitative analysis of open-ended responses. Data from the 2023 cohort, comprising 596 student-athletes, builds on a robust foundation of findings. Key results reveal that 74% of participants reported improved mental well-being, 93% experienced greater awareness of their ability to make a difference, and prominent themes included gratitude, altruism, and inspiration. The findings highlight the significant role of Team IMPACT in enhancing both personal and team experiences for student-athletes, while simultaneously providing joy and support to children and their families. Challenges such as engagement disparities among teams are addressed, offering pathways for improvement. This research affirms the efficacy of Team IMPACT’s model as a cornerstone of holistic athletic and community development, advocating for the program’s expansion and its integration into collegiate athletics. Future research aims to explore leadership opportunities for selected student-athletes participating in TI’s fellowship program.
The Effect of an Educational Curriculum Used in Learning Some Basic Skills on the Weight Beam for Female Students in Artistic Gymnastics
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Ferdous Ameen, Asad Abbas
The research considers the effect of a computer-based educational curriculum in learning some basic skills on the balance beam. The researchers have hypothesized that the educational curriculum using the computer has a positive effect on learning some basic skills on the balance beam apparatus for the experimental group. The research sample included second-year female students of the College of Physical Education and Sports Science- University of Diyala. The experiment has carried out during (15-10- 2023 - 1-2-2024) in the gymnasium hall and computer laboratory in the College of Physical Education and Sports Science. The researchers prepared special learning curriculum for the experiment using a computer to learn the skills under the study in the terms of technical and cognitive performances. This was needed six weeks from (22/10/2023 to 12/12/2023) during conducting the main experiment. While post-tests were conducted after completing the educational curriculum for all skills. The researchers have concluded that the use of computer helps in understanding and comprehend the detailed parts of the skill (technical performance) better than without using computer during learning skill.
