Post on 16-Feb-2016
description
Fit BodyFit Mind
Physical Fitness & Wellness Department
Lansing Community College
Amy Stoakes, MS, CESProgram Director
Fit Body – Fit Mind
Fit Body – Fit Mind
• Old and new research is coming together regarding physical activity and learning and the bottom line is….
• Physical activity is related to brain health
• Brain Rule # 1
SPARK
“Both the body, and the brain, work together. We have to see it as part of the
curriculum.”
The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain
John Ratey, MD (2008)
Key ingredient
Exercise fires the same
neural connections
that the brain uses to read,
write & compute
Exercise benefits (CDC, 2010)
Exercise increases biochemical changes: • cerebral capillary growth• blood flow to the brain• Neurotrophin production• Growth of nerve cells in the
hippocampus• neurotransmitter levels• nerve connections• density of neural networks• brain tissue volume
Research (Ratey, 2008)
Exercise improves learning:
Optimizes mind-setImproved neural
connectionsAngiogenesis
Executive Function
Exercise feeds the brain:
glucose + oxygen=
builds greater connections
between neurons
BDNF – “Miracle Grow” for the brain
Exercise activates, BDNF, a neuron growth factor:
• Enhance knowledge• Improve memory• Increase critical
thinking skills• keeps us alert• reduces stress
= ready to learn
Memory & Learning
Exercise has the most
effect on the hippocampus
…Where memory
and learning take place
10
Students should have a kinesthetic brain break every 25-30 minutes.
Exercise Intensity
There is a linear relationship
between heart rate &
academic performance
Academic Performance (CDC, 2010)
Exercise impacts: • standardized test scores• Grade point average (GPA) • Attention• Behavior
Mind and Body
• Exercise can not only keep you fit, but can make you smarter.
• A school in Illinois has developed a program that gets students moving and learning.
• Mind and Body
Naperville High School, 1990’s
How Exercise for Learning Readiness started…
Zero Hour PE•Freshmen needing to increase Literacy
•Expanded to include Algebra
Naperville Zero Hour PE classYear's growth
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
PE + Literacy groupLiteracy only
Naperville Zero Hour PE class% improvement standardized test scores
0
5
10
15
20
25
PE + AlgebraAlgebra only
Zero Hour PE class delay
% Improvement - Algebra
% Improvement - Literacy
0
5
10
15
20
25
LRPE several hour delayLRPE Immediate prior
Grade Level Increase0
0.20.40.60.8
11.21.41.6
LRPE several hour delayLRPE Immediate before
Titusville Pennsylvania, 2000
• Low income district • Below state average in reading & math
tests• Restructured school day: shaving
time from academic classes to make time for daily gym.
• Increased standardized test scores•17% above state avg – Reading•18% above state avg - Math
• Decreased aggressive behavior!
California Department of Education, 2001
• Longitudinal study (since 2001)• > 1 million students 3-9th grades• Students with higher fitness scores have
higher standardized test scores•Fit kids scored twice as well on academic tests
as unfit peers•Lower SES status kids scored higher than unfit
peers• Lead to requirements for students to
participate in physical education in school
Texas 2007-2008
2.4 million Texan students grades 3-12
• Students who are physically fit are more likely to:•Perform well on the state standardized tests
•Have better school attendance
•Less likely to have discipline issues
University of Illinois Study, 2009
Expanded version of CDE study
During cognitive testing used EEG measured- attention, working memory & processing speed
Increased fitness correlated with increased test scores
Decrease in the number of mistakes kids made during tests
Lead to a formal recommendation from a panel of researchers!
22University of Illinois Study, 2009
Saginaw Valley State University, 2010
• 266 undergraduate students
• Students who regularly exercise vigorously = higher G.P.A.’s
• Does exercise really boost grades, or are academic achievers more likely to be higher achievers in exercise as well?
•YES! It does boost grades. •Controlled for confounding factors
2424
The Association Between School-Based Physical Activity,
Including Physical Education, and Academic Performance
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division of Adolescent and School Health www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouthApril 2010
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The association between school- based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2010.
2525
Implications for Policy• Substantial evidence physical activity improves academic achievement• Physical activity impacts cognitive skills, attitudes, & academic behavior = academic performance• Schools should continue to offer and/or increase opportunities for physical activity•Increasing/maintaining time dedicated to PE may help & DOES NOT adversely impact academic performanceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. The association between school- based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2010.
College student barriers
College students:
• Physical activity levels decrease after high school•Participate in fewer organized sports•No physical education curriculum•Significant change of life events
•School•Work•Family •Balancing new demands•Not enough time
LCC physical activity survey, 2010
Physical Activity Survey
• Fall 2010 Semester
• Survey results (n= 612)
Knowledge of physical activity benefits
Control weight
Lower risk of
disease
Improve attention
Improve memory
Improve grades
0102030405060708090
% students perceived activity benefits % students perceived activity benefits
Does knowledge = participation?
Students who knew about the cognitive benefits of physical activity, had a higher probability of participation in walking or
moderate physical activity:
ADHDImprove GPA/test scores/class gradesImprove learning
LCC’s “Zero Hour PE” class
Exercise & Learning Readiness
PFFT 110
Tues/Thurs 8:30-9:30 AM
• Started in Fall 2009
Physical Activity Classes
Any physical activity class:
Provides aerobic exerciseIncreases heart ratesProvides academic encouragement
Will provide cognitive benefitsMore is better!
Physical Fitness & Wellness Department
Brain Break activities
Activity Breaks
PFW Department website link:
http://www.lcc.edu
Knowledge CAN = Participation
• There is a positive relationship between physical activity & academic achievement• Unfortunately, not enough students know about it…
Improve student success
Inform students about the relationship between physical activity and academic performance
Perform Brain & Activity breaks in your classes
Include this information in your class if possible
Encourage your students to exercise
Questions ???
Questions ??You may also contact me at:
stoaka@lcc.edu
Desk: 267-5907
PFW office: 483-1227