Ethics and Values in Physical Education

Activity 5: Moral Dilemmas

Duration: 60 minutes

Expected outcome Participants reflect on moral issues and dilemmas in a Physical Education setting. Participants develop readiness to take responsibility and to be accountable for their actions and choices. Participants develop their aptitude to evaluate situations and issues and to look for solutions with all parties involved.

Methods/techniques used Personal Reflection Discussion Presentation Debriefing

Resources Copy of Appendix 6 Copy of Appendix 7

Practical arrangements Arrange the space so that participants are sitting in a circle with a noticeboard that is clearly visible by all.

Procedure Step 1 – Personal Reflection (10 min) Invite participants to reflect on their own experience in sport or physical education. Have you ever found yourself in a moral dilemma? What happened? What did you do? What determined your choice? Looking back, are you happy/proud/ashamed of your choice? Invite anyone to share but do not insist if participants do not feel comfortable.

Step 2 – Discussing Scenarios (20 min) Distribute the cards from Appendix 6 and ask the participants to form micro-groups in which there is a parent, a teacher, a student and an impartial observer. Give out one scenario from Appendix 7 per micro-group. Invite micro-groups to discuss the scenario and to identify the issues at stake. What moral issues, if any, are at stake in these scenarios? Next invite the participants to consider the same scenario from the points of view of the roles (parent, teacher, student, impartial observer. What changes? Step 3 – Presenting the Scenarios (20 min) Taking turns, each micro-group presents the scenario in plenary. Allow comments after each presentation. Step 4 – Debriefing (10 min) Can you identify with any of the situations discussed? Whose responsibility is it to address such situations? What can you effectively do about it?

Tips for trainers Add scenarios as necessary. You may also change the scenarios to examples with which the participants are familiar.