ACTIVE SCHOOL
The overall goal is to generate knowledge which can help schools staff and pupils to gain the maximal benefit from physical activity on academic performance, and other parameters such as well-being, motivation, physical and mental health.
ACTIVE SCHOOL will develop school-based, PA interventions based on the current scientific evidence in close collaboration with school-staff and students, and thereafter investigate the effects of these interventions on academic performance in a large, school-based cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT).
The target group of ACTIVE SCHOOL is 3th grade pupils.
ACTIVE SCHOOL is based on two distinct lines of research investigating the effects of physical activity on cognition and academic performance:
- Embodied learning research builds upon theory suggesting that when the subject matter and learning tasks are bodily performed, then it leads to the construction of enhanced mental representations strengthening memory recall and the learning process.
- Exercise and cognition research focus mainly on aerobic exercise, not relevant to the learning task and with no temporal connection to the task. Focus is on physiological, systemic adaptations leading to enhancement of learning and cognitive performance.
The two planned interventions in ACTIVE SCHOOL will be developed in close collaboration between school staff, pupils and researchers. They will represent the two research lines described above. The two interventions are named Move & Learn and Run, Jump & Fun.
Both interventions aim at enhancing physical activity and academic performance. Because of the involvement of the practice level (teachers and pedagogues) from the start of the development process, the interventions are developed and pilot tested in the school context where they will be implemented. Furthermore, the project will evaluate the implementation process, in terms of e.g. understanding, adaptability, feasibility and school support.
ACTIVE SCHOOL is a research project with researchers from Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport (NEXS), University College Copenhagen and University College Lillebaelt and with an international scientific advisory board representing researchers from Norway, Finland and USA. Project schools will be enrolled in the project.
Jeppesen, L.S., Bugge, A., Smedegaard, S., Wienecke, J., Melcher, J.S., ‘Developing ACTIVE SCHOOL—The Design Process for Two School-Based Physical Activity Interventions’, Translational Journal of the ACSM. https://doi.org/10.1249/tjx.0000000000000251
Jeppesen, L.S., Damsgaard, L., Stolpe, M.N. Melcher, J.S., Wienecke, J., Nielsen, G., Smedegaard, S., Henriksen, A.H., Hansen, R.A., Hillman, C.H., Tammelin, T., Resaland, G.K., Daly Smith, A., Bugge, A. ‘Study protocol for the ACTIVE SCHOOL study investigating two different strategies of physical activity to improve academic performance in Schoolchildren’. BMC Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-04647-9
Involved in the project
Internal
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wienecke, Jacob | Associate Professor | +4535327346 | |
| Wulff-Abramsson, Andreas | Special Consultant | +4535336361 |
External
| Name | Institution | |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Bugge | University College Copenhagen | abug@kp.dk |