ACTIVE SCHOOL - Effects on Academic Performance of Novel Approaches to Increase Physical Activity in School-children

University College Copenhagen

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Academic Performance

Treatments: Behavioral: 'Move & Learn' intervention; Behavioral: 'Run, Jump & Fun' intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05602948

Alias: 200511110

Details and patient eligibility

About

The overall aim of ACTIVE SCHOOL is to investigate the effects of two different physical activity (PA) interventions on academic performance (AP), cognition, wellbeing, health and motivation. The two different approaches to PA in schools are based on;

1. 'Embodied cognition' focusing on fine and gross motor PA closely related and highly relevant to the learning task. 'Embodied cognition' builds upon theory suggesting that movement and performing actions leads to the construction of enhanced mental representations e.g. strengthening memory recall. This intervention is called 'MOVE & LEARN'.
2. 'Exercise and cognition theory focusing mainly on gross motor movements (e.g. aerobic exercise) which is not relevant to the learning task and with no temporal connection to the learning task. The assumed positive effects are explained by physiological adaptations leading to changes in cognition, which potentially can affect AP. This intervention is called 'RUN, JUMP & FUN'.

Based on this, the aims of ACTIVE SCHOOL are to develop two types of school-based PA interventions in close collaboration with the participating teachers, students and schools AND to investigate the effects of these two interventions on AP in a large school-based cluster-RCT with an intervention length of one school year.

The ACTIVE SCHOOL study consists of three phases: Phase 1) Development of the intervention, Phase 2) Pilot testing and, Pase 3) A three-armed randomized controlled trial (RCT). Participants will be students in 3rd grade (8-10 years-old) and their teachers/school pedagogues.

The development phase started in August 2021 and is still ongoing. The pilot study will run in September-November 2022 and the RCT from August 2023 to June 2024. In the RCT, schools will be randomly allocated to one of three intervention/control arms: 1) 'MOVE & LEARN', 2) 'RUN, JUMP & FUN' or 3) control. Primary and secondary outcomes will be collected before and after the intervention period to assess the intervention effects. Both the pilot and RCT study has been granted approval by the local ethics committee, and all rules from the Danish Data Protection Agency and GDPR will be followed. The RCT study will follow the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines for RCT studies.

Enrollment: 1,200 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 8 to 11 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Children in 3rd grade

Exclusion criteria

• Children with cognitive or physical disabilities hindering participation in the project activities

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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1,200 participants in 3 patient groups

'Run, Jump & Fun' intervention

Experimental group

Description:

The "Run, jump \& fun" intervention consists of four 30 minutes sessions per week for one school year. Activities are mostly conducted as whole class activities. Head of schools and teachers/school pedagogues are involved in an initial intervention establishing process, guided by Active School personnel. The aim is to create a local plan for the intervention tailored to the particular school. Examples are "movement band", structured activities during recess with older students (13-15 years olds), etc. Activities are created to be fun, motivating and with moderate to high intensity PA.

Treatment:

Behavioral: 'Run, Jump & Fun' intervention

'Move & Learn' intervention

Experimental group

Description:

This intervention is implemented as PA for 30 min in two Mathematics and two Danish lessons each week for one school year. Activities are conducted at whole-class level. The physical activities in "Move \& Learn" are closely linked to the Mathematic curriculum and the Danish curriculum. The way the body is integrated in the learning task can vary. Examples are bodily or motor-skill demanding activities or less vigorous activities, e.g. standing up miming, using hand gestures or facial expressions. An important aspect of the interventions is that movements should be task relevant. The intervention is developed based on the embodied learning theory.

Treatment:

Behavioral: 'Move & Learn' intervention

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Control schools will continue their usual practice.