Abstract:

The skills of cooperation are acquired only during group work. The field of sports is rich in the potential of group cooperation elements. Based on the cooperative learning model, it is presumed that in a process of development of cooperation skills a tight interaction, positive interdependence should be achieved, skills of joint work developed, direct communication, ability to reflect as well as personal responsibility should be promoted.

The aim of the research is to analyze and assess the cooperation skills of students, participating in an international project Outdoor Sports and Recreation Education Summer School (OSRESS).

The following research methods were applied: analysis of scientific literature, semi-structured interview, development project OSRESS, and qualitative data analysis. Research organization. The development project OSRESS was implemented during the period of September 11-17 of 2019. The project involved 24 students, 54,16 % (n = 13) of which were males and 45,83 % (n = 11) females, from a total of 5 countries 6 universities (St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria; Latvian Academy of Sport Education (LASE), University of Malaga (Spain), University of Klaipeda and Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania). The coordinator of the project is the Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Faculty of Physical Education and Health in Biala Podlaska (Poland). The research was conducted using a case study methodology in 2019. The semi-structured interview was carried out using social media (Cooper et al., 2016) and had 20 students (11 females and 9 males).

Research results revealed that during the project a favorable environment for cooperative learning was ensured: a positive psychological climate was established which allowed the project participants to develop skills of self-expression (self-confidence, self-esteem, creativity). Students were able to feel psychologically safe, shared their experiences, were attentive and friendly, supported, and encouraged each other. They were united by a sense of unity and a common goal. Team-based and individual cooperation skills of students were developed throughout all of the tourism and sport-related activities: active games, national games, swimming, canoe and kayak, team building, evening animation tasks, and national evening events. Based on the cooperation model, the following skills of students, participating in the project, were developed: the ability to express and accept verbal and physical emotional support; cooperative learning, listening to others and expressing of own ideas; play assigned role; pursue a common goal; be a leader, supervise, organize; actively participate, when activities are organized by others; rate the activities in consideration of their efficiency and values. Results gathered from the interview responses highlighted a specific factor in regards to the development of the cooperation skill – a sense of national pride and responsibility for own country and the university had an influence on students’ sense of responsibility.

Keywords:

Cooperation skills, students, outdoor sports, international projects.