Prof. Andrzej Rokita
Leader of the EDUball Team, co-creator of the Eduball EDUball/BRAINball and mini-EDUball balls. Author of over 100 publications and co-author of four books on the possibilities of using balls in early school education. Author of the scientific monograph: “Exercise classes with Edubal balls in integrated education and students’ physical fitness and reading and writing skills.”
Since 2004 he specializes in diagnosing the effects of using educational balls like Edubal/EDUball/BRAINball and mini-EDUball in preschool and early primary education, as well as students’ interests in physical activity. Developed an objective method for planning physical education class schedules to meet students’ interests in physical activity.
Co-author and principal executor of the research project funded by the State Committee for Scientific Research (KBN), project number 2 P05D 058 26, entitled “Integrated Education Utilizing EDUBAL Educational Balls” (2004-2007). Head of the research project of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education No. 0002/RS2/2013/52 entitled “Assessment of Youth Sports Training Aptitude in Team Sports” (2013-2016).
Member of the European College of Sport Science, Polish Olympic Academy, Polish Society of Physical Culture Promotion, founder and secretary, currently a member of the International Society of Scientific Games.
In 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, he taught classes for students in Germany (Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln) – teaching the subject “Educational ball – Edubal”. He has conducted numerous lectures, trainings and workshops in many countries (including: the USA, Singapore, Taiwan, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic and online for An Giang University (AGU) in Vietnam). He cooperates with scientists from abroad and from Poland, including: the University of Warsaw, the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, the Maria Grzegorzewska University in Warsaw and the University of Wrocław
Recipient of several awards, including two from the Minister of Science and Higher Education for educational achievements, particularly innovative approaches in teaching using EDUball and innovative teaching materials. Since 2016 Rector of Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, since 2020 – Chairman of the Conference of Rectors of the Academy of Physical Education, member of the Presidium of the Conference of Rectors of Polish Academic Schools in Poland.
Assoc. prof. Ireneusz Cichy
Assistant professor, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences Team Sports Games Department (manager). Vice-Rector for Organizational Affairs and Cooperation with the Environment at Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences (2020-2024).
Certified physical education teacher with 15 years of experience and integrated education teacher (University of Wrocław). His scientific interests focus primarily on the psychomotor development of children in early school years, as well as the motor and somatic development of team sports athletes. He is the author or co-author of over 50 scientific publications and instructional scripts in Polish and English. He is also a co-author of the new specifications for EDUball/BRAINball educational balls (contributing to the commercialization of research results using educational balls and their distribution to the US and Canadian markets). He is the author of the industrial design for mini-EDUball balls. His teaching activities are primarily related to preparing students for careers as physical education teachers (Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences) and preschool/early school education teachers (University of Wrocław). He deepened his scientific and teaching experiences during numerous visits to educational and research institutions in Europe, Asia, and North America. He conducted movement classes with EDUball balls for teachers, students, and elementary school students in various locations including Singapore (National Institute of Education and Grace Orchard School), the USA (University of Wisconsin – River Falls and Greenwood Elementary School in River Falls), Taiwan (National Taiwan Sport University and Wen-Shing School in Taipei), University of North Georgia, University of Central Florida, and during the SHAPE America National Convention & Expo in Tampa, the largest professional development conference for physical education teachers in the USA. He is the chairman of the School Sports Association “Lower Silesia”. He has organized numerous educational, sports, and recreational events and has been twice awarded by the Minister of Science and Higher Education for his teaching and implementation activities.
Sara Wawrzyniak, PhD
Academic teacher at the Team Sports Games Department at Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences. Member of the team conducting research on the use of EDUball/BRAINball in school education. Her research focuses on the effects of EDUball/BRAINball activities on the results of children, adolescents and seniors in the physical sphere (fine and gross motor skills), cognitive (including school achievements) and social sphere. Author of several scientific articles and textbooks in Polish and English. Participant of national and international scientific conferences and teaching and training trips, including: Taiwan, Singapore, USA, Portugal, Greece. Supervisor of the EDU-SPORTS Student Science Circle (formerly EDUball) and the academic Floorball section.