TY - JOUR
T1 - Low-cost and scalable classroom equipment to promote physical activity and improve education
AU - McCrady-Spitzer, Shelly K.
AU - Manohar, Chinmay U.
AU - Koepp, Gabriel A.
AU - Levine, James A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Human Kinetics, Inc.
PY - 2015/9
Y1 - 2015/9
N2 - Background: We tested a low-cost and scalable set of classroom equipment, called Active Classroom Equipment, which was designed to promote physical activity while children learn. We hypothesized the Active Classroom Equipment would be associated with increased physical activity without impairing learning. Methods: Fourteen first-grade students in a public elementary school (7 females, 7 males, aged 6.9 ± (SD) 0.4 years, 24 ± 5.4 kg, BMI 15.8 ± 2.6 kg/m2) used the Active Classroom Equipment for 30 minutes each day throughout the school year. Five-day physical activity was measured using validated triaxial accelerometers at baseline (before the intervention began) and on 4 sequential occasions during the 9-month intervention. Results: For the baseline period, 5-day physical activity averaged 157 ± 65 AU/min. When the 14 children accessed the Active Classroom Equipment, their mean 5-day physical activity was 229 ± 103 Acceleration Units (AU)/ min (P < .0001). There were sequential increases in physical activity over the 9-month intervention (Quarter 1: 163 ± 94 AU/min, Quarter 2: 227 ± 108 AU/min, Quarter 3: 278 ± 61 AU/min, Quarter 4: 305 ± 65 AU/min). Students' Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) scores improved. Conclusion: Active Classroom Equipment may be one approach to increase physical activity.
AB - Background: We tested a low-cost and scalable set of classroom equipment, called Active Classroom Equipment, which was designed to promote physical activity while children learn. We hypothesized the Active Classroom Equipment would be associated with increased physical activity without impairing learning. Methods: Fourteen first-grade students in a public elementary school (7 females, 7 males, aged 6.9 ± (SD) 0.4 years, 24 ± 5.4 kg, BMI 15.8 ± 2.6 kg/m2) used the Active Classroom Equipment for 30 minutes each day throughout the school year. Five-day physical activity was measured using validated triaxial accelerometers at baseline (before the intervention began) and on 4 sequential occasions during the 9-month intervention. Results: For the baseline period, 5-day physical activity averaged 157 ± 65 AU/min. When the 14 children accessed the Active Classroom Equipment, their mean 5-day physical activity was 229 ± 103 Acceleration Units (AU)/ min (P < .0001). There were sequential increases in physical activity over the 9-month intervention (Quarter 1: 163 ± 94 AU/min, Quarter 2: 227 ± 108 AU/min, Quarter 3: 278 ± 61 AU/min, Quarter 4: 305 ± 65 AU/min). Students' Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) scores improved. Conclusion: Active Classroom Equipment may be one approach to increase physical activity.
KW - Childhood obesity
KW - Exercise
KW - School program
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U2 - 10.1123/jpah.2014-0159
DO - 10.1123/jpah.2014-0159
M3 - Article
C2 - 25409097
AN - SCOPUS:84954234714
SN - 1543-3080
VL - 12
SP - 1259
EP - 1263
JO - Journal of Physical Activity and Health
JF - Journal of Physical Activity and Health
IS - 9
ER -