None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of the research is to determine the feasibility of a home-based program called Kick-Smart Homework. This is an initiative focusing on basic martial arts techniques and mathematics. The program integrates mathematics and physical activity conducted at home, and assessments conducted at school. Based on previous studies, increased participation in Physical Activity (PA) may improve cognitive functioning and academic achievement. Movement can aid learning and the integration of physical activity has the potential to enhance learning and student engagement in other curriculum areas. The Kick-Smart Homework program is a home-based intervention and has the potential, based on the results of previous trials, to motivate and engage students both academically and physically. Students will be asked to participate in 3 x 10 minute sessions of mathematics/martial arts (per week) over a six week period in Term 1, 2021 that promotes moderate to vigorous activity. The martial arts and fitness activities have been specifically chosen to be simple and have no greater risk than any other fitness activity. Exercises involve traditional physical activities such as squats, star jumps, chair dips. push ups etc, or variations of such activities to reflect movements commonly seen in martial arts.
Interventions
Study participants will be asked to participate in 3 x 10 minute sessions of mathematics focused, martial arts-based High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) (per week) over a six week week period in Term 1 2021, that promotes moderate to vigorous activity. These sessions will be completed at home as 'homework'.
Activities include push-ups, squat kicks, shuttle runs and object manipulation skills such as overarm and underarm throws. During these activities, mathematics concepts are reinforced th
Study participants will be asked to participate in 3 x 10 minute sessions of mathematics focused, martial arts-based High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) (per week) over a six week week period in Term 1 2021, that promotes moderate to vigorous activity. These sessions will be completed at home as 'homework'. Activities include push-ups, squat kicks, shuttle runs and object manipulation skills such as overarm and underarm throws. During these activities, mathematics concepts are reinforced through exercises such as reciting times tables each time the students complete a repetition of the prescribed activity - e.g. Complete on push-up, student says "2", next push up, they say "4" etc. Students are given a work booklet with 3x 10minute sessions to complete each week, with instructions of how to complete each exercise, and a list of equipment required. Students are provided with a small personal equipment pack (including 1x Soccer ball, 1x skipping rope, etc) to be returned at the end of the study. At the end of each week, students are to return the weekly feedback sheet to their class teacher, which includes points such as 'Who helped me with session [1, 2 and 3], 'What I found easy [list of mathematics concepts and physical exercises from that week], 'What I still need to work on' [list of mathematics concepts and physical exercises from that week]. Student participants will be asked to complete the beep test, standing jump test, push up test, fundamental movement skills assessments, an attitude to Mathematics questionnaire, a cognitive test ('Trail Making Test"), and The One Minute Basic Number Fact Test at baseline and post-test.
Sponsors
University of Newcastle
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
8 Years to 11 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Any mainstream student in a NSW public school in years 3 or 4 (Stage 2)
Exclusion criteria
None
Outcome results
None listed