Making Learning Happen in Teaching Games for Understanding with Cognitive Load Theory

Game-Based Approaches (GBAs) to teaching and learning in physical education and sport pedagogy, such as Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU), were initially developed in response to secondary school physical education (PE) students’ difficulties in applying this technique within context. The early noughties experienced a significant body of work highlighting the benefits of adopting GBAs such as TGfU across physical education and sport pedagogy contexts. A theme residing in much of this work was understanding TGfU through the lens of social constructivism to the point whereby it seemed this was the only lens through which to consider how learning might happen through TGfU and/or related approaches. However, the exclusive alignment between TGfU and social constructivism is not heavily research-informed and/or evidence-supported, and it seems timely to question if other learning theories from cognitive science might help researchers and practitioners understand the benefits of applying a TGfU approach in teaching and coaching. We specifically approach this topic by appreciating Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) and how pedagogical concepts associated with CLT might help develop a new understanding of how TGfU could support learning.