Based on several research findings, the project is based on a shared concern about the mobility of children and adolescents and its impact on learning outcomes. The aim is to increase common awareness of the use of functional methods in teaching and education and thereby increase physical activity in children and adolescents. Many research findings support international findings where exercise has been found to promote knowledge-based activity, especially activity management, which plays an essential role in decision-making, problem-solving and new learning. Versatile movement supports neuromotor development and learning of motor skills, and possibly cognitive function, as motor and cognitive skills develop in parallel and are controlled by the same central nervous system mechanisms. Exercise also provides social situations and opportunities for interaction that support the emergence of peer relationships. Such peer relationships promote pupil coping, school enrollment, and school success. In addition, exercise has been found to increase self-esteem, increase school enjoyment, attendance at lessons and work peace. These are other possible explanations for why mobility is good for school success and learning. Our project covers the age range from early childhood education to vocational training. The aim of the project is to collect and develop materials and to share good practice on learning through exercise.This will increase the professional skills of staff and students and thus improve the quality of early childhood education, basic education and vocational training. New teaching methods are being developed and old ones are being updated to reflect current researches. Seven organizations across Europe are involved in the project. Each has their own area of expertise; early childhood education, education for children and adolescents, vocational training, university education, and rehabilitation and therapy methods.
With the help of the project, we wanted to give the participants the opportunity to network with other professionals in the same field from different parts of Europe. This can lead to new professional contacts and future collaboration opportunities. Organized training activities offer the opportunity to learn new information and different practices in your own field of substantive expertise. Participants get new perspectives, ideas and solutions to their own professional challenges. Participants learn from each other and can share their own good practices and experiences. Through the participants, new ideas and practices can spread in the partner organizations.
Functional methods enrich teaching and therapy by offering effective and versatile ways to learn and process emotions. They can be used to take into account individual needs and improve engagement and motivation, which can contribute to better results in teaching and therapy. Different organizations were involved in the project (kindergarten, elementary school, vocational training, university and therapy centers), which enriches the understanding of the various possibilities of use of functional methods and their importance in terms of one's own teaching or therapy work. The goal was also to increase the movement of children and young people during the school and daycare day by means of functional teaching. The goal of the project was to share good practices. This was implemented through training activities organized by each partner country.