Movement in learning

Movement in learning or movement-based instruction is a teaching method based on the concept that humans learn better through movement. This teaching method can be applied to students, who should have the opportunity throughout a class period to move around to take "brain breaks" to refocus their attention so they can learn new material. Brain research suggests that physical activity prior to class (in PE for example) and during class, increases students' ability to process and retain new material. This is a new and controversial development in education, and, to date, has little research and empirical data to support this trend. However, anecdotal evidence regarding the benefits of incorporating movement in the classroom is promising.

Benefits

Physical movement stimulates long-term memory and recall because it has been associated in the human brain with survival and this is supported by brain imaging studies.[1] This is confirmed by findings such as the studies that show exercise shapes muscles along with the strengthening of some areas of the brain, growing brain cells and increases alertness in the process. It is said that the harder the task is for students, the greater the cerebellar activity.[2] Specifically, short movement breaks for the brain is said to lead to more opportunities for information processing and increased memory formation.[3] It contributes to the overall cognitive development of the students because it sends oxygen, water, and glucose to the brain, helping it grow and improve mood and motivation.[4] In addition, the area of the brain that processes movement is also the part that processes cognitive tasks.[5] The link between movement and the cognitive development has been proven as early as the 1960s during Richard Held and Alan Hein's experiments that revealed the role of physical activity on the development of brain networks that are important for adaptive mental function.[6]

Students through brain breaks to engage in physical activities can facilitate physical development. In combination with the socialization, which also contributes to the learners' socio-emotional development - movements offer a quick and convenient way to support the rapid development, especially among young learners.[4] This can be demonstrated in the efficacy of using physical tasks to address the needs of hyperactive students because they release stress and energy, allowing them to focus on their studies without causing disruption in the class.[7] Movements also eliminate lethargy that results from sitting for long periods of time. There are recorded cases, for instance, that show marked improvement in school performance for learners who were made to do physical tasks such as walking in mid-afternoon.[8]

Applications in the classroom

Ideally students should be getting physical activity before they try to learn new material. However, if it is not possible for students to have physical activity before a lecture, there are many ways to get students out of their seats and moving during a class period. Students can get out of their seats to turn an assignment in or to pick up a handout. You could have students stand up to share their answers to questions posed by the teacher. After they have shared their answers with each other they may sit down. If students are acting tired and drowsy a teacher could give students a quick break to stand up and stretch. Once they get out of their seats and move around for a bit they will act more alert. Students that struggle to stay focused or are seen as disruptive can benefit greatly from movement in the classroom.

Younger students can benefit from a variety of activities that get them moving and also reinforce what they are learning. Brain based learning supports the use of movement in learning. According to the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, a core principal of brain-based learning states, "Learning engages the whole body. All learning is mind-body: movement, foods, attention cycles, and chemicals modulate learning." Another core principal states, "Complex learning is enhanced by challenge and inhibited by stress. Another state,"Enrichment: The brain can grow new connections at any age. Challenging, complex experiences with appropriate feedback are best. Cognitive skills develop better with music and motor skills. (Dï Arcangelo)" The U.S. National Institute of Health as well as the Mayo Clinic list exercise and movement as a way to decrease stress levels. Elementary aged children can only absorb 15 to 20 minutes worth of material at a time. Taking brain breaks is a win-win situation. Students can learn during these brain breaks plus return to a task renewed and energized.

Also try Drums Alive Academic Beats for ideas that will help in science, and math lessons.

Simple movements can have the ability to improve cognition in just seconds (Krock & Hartung, 1992) Chart: Sample movements and classroom applications

Movement(s) Category	Examples	Classroom Application
Exercise or play	Running, chasing, recess activities	Creating dance routines, run on the spot, perform knowledge of a process
Contact or sports	Soccer, football, wrestling	PE classes
Introverted play	Puzzles, Lego, crosswords	Building using objects to show creativity or to assess knowledge of a concept learnt. Group puzzles (educator made to make connections or just general for team-building) Vocabulary crosswords
Outdoor learning	Playing in the garden, digging, physical, social, and cognition development	Relate to science lessons, hands-on experiments, observing and making real life connections
Stand & stretch	Tai chi, yoga, passive or active stretching	Simon says, goal setting on the move, gallery walks, full body stretches and stand up to get a paper or supplies before assignment
Group/team competitive games/activities	Relays	Relay teams for math questions on the board
Constructive play	Building with blocks	Model building of how something works.
Exploratory	Hide and seeks, scavenger hunts, make-believe	Hide and seek with answers. Hide clues throughout the classroom that lead to answers.
Functional	Purposeful play	Ball tossing for reviewing or building vocabulary, story-building and movements that incorporate opposite or cross-lateral movements (tap your head and rub your stomach).
Group non-competitive	Team building, social, collaborative thinking, dance, drama	Collaborative drawing and stories, role playing and group presentations
Individual competitive	Marbles, track and field, hopscotch	Spelling words on the board, math fact around-the-world game
Adventure or confidence	Walking excursions, ropes course	Field trips, walks inside the school, walks outside the school exploring environments.

Additional benefits for special-needs learners

Many special-needs learners are stuck in counterproductive mental states, and movement is a quick way to change them, movements, such as those involved in playing active games, will activate the brain across a wide variety of areas. A study by Reynolds and colleagues (2003) found that children with dyslexia were helped by a movement program. Those in the intervention group showed significantly greater improvement in dexterity, reading, verbal fluency, and semantic fluency than did the control group. The exercising group also made substantial gains on national standardized tests of reading, writing, and comprehension in comparison with students in the previous year.

References

Sousa, David (2015). How the Brain Influences Behavior: Strategies for Managing K 12 Classrooms. Delaware: Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 9781632206848.
Ivry, Richard (1997). "Cerebral Timing Systems". International Review of Neurobiology. 41: 555–573 – via Elsevier.
Mangan, Margaret (2015). Brain-Compatible Science. New York: Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 9781632209658.
Responsive Classroom (2016). Refocus and Recharge! 50 Brain Breaks for Middle Schoolers. Turner Falls, MA: Center for Responsive Schools, Inc. p. 2. ISBN 9781892989871.
Kearns, Karen (2017). Birth to Big School. Sydney: Cengage Learning. p. 71. ISBN 9780170369343.
Tomporowski, Phillip; McCullick, Bryan; Pesce, Catherine (2015). Enhancing Children's Cognition With Physical Activity Games. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. p. 10. ISBN 9781450441421.
Bluestein, Jane (2008). The Win-Win Classroom: A Fresh and Positive Look at Classroom Management. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. p. 175. ISBN 9781412958998.
Gurian, Michael (2005). The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. pp. 173. ISBN 9780787977610.

External links

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[1] Sousa, David (2015). How the Brain Influences Behavior: Strategies for Managing K 12 Classrooms. Delaware: Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 9781632206848.

[2] Ivry, Richard (1997). "Cerebral Timing Systems". International Review of Neurobiology. 41: 555–573 – via Elsevier.

[3] Mangan, Margaret (2015). Brain-Compatible Science. New York: Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 9781632209658.

[:0-4] Responsive Classroom (2016). Refocus and Recharge! 50 Brain Breaks for Middle Schoolers. Turner Falls, MA: Center for Responsive Schools, Inc. p. 2. ISBN 9781892989871.

[5] Kearns, Karen (2017). Birth to Big School. Sydney: Cengage Learning. p. 71. ISBN 9780170369343.

[6] Tomporowski, Phillip; McCullick, Bryan; Pesce, Catherine (2015). Enhancing Children's Cognition With Physical Activity Games. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. p. 10. ISBN 9781450441421.

[7] Bluestein, Jane (2008). The Win-Win Classroom: A Fresh and Positive Look at Classroom Management. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. p. 175. ISBN 9781412958998.

[8] Gurian, Michael (2005). The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. pp. 173. ISBN 9780787977610.