A5071776568- Children's Physical and Motor Development
- Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Physical Activity and Health
- Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Child Development and Digital Technology
- Inclusion and Disability in Education and Sport
- Action Observation and Synchronization
- Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes
- Hearing Impairment and Communication
- Sports and Physical Education Research
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
- Neuroscience, Education and Cognitive Function
- Science Education and Pedagogy
- Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Intelligent Tutoring Systems and Adaptive Learning
- Educational Games and Gamification
- Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Learning Styles and Cognitive Differences
- Child and Animal Learning Development
- Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Spatial Cognition and Navigation
- Early Childhood Education and Development
- Impact of Technology on Adolescents
University of Wollongong
2015-2025
Australian Research Council
2024-2025
University of Newcastle Australia
2018-2023
Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute
2021-2023
Erasmus University Rotterdam
2014-2015
Research has demonstrated that physical activity involving gross motor activities can lead to better cognitive functioning and higher academic achievement scores. In addition, research within the theoretical framework of embodied cognition shown embodying knowledge through use more subtle activities, such as task-relevant gestures, a positive effect on learning. this study, we investigated whether combining both gestures could improve learning even in 4-week intervention program foreign...
Abstract Aim This study examined the effects of different types classroom physical activity breaks on children’s on‐task behaviour, academic achievement and cognition. Methods Participants were 87 Australian primary school students (mean age 9.11 ± 0.62 years), recruited from one school. Three classes randomly assigned either to only (n = 29), mathematics combined or control conditions involving mathematical content 29). Students engaged in five minutes breaks, three times per week, for four...
In the surging field of chronic physical activity (PA) and cognition research, problems arise that prevent us from 'seeing forest for trees'. The first aim was to identify them propose solutions. Moreover, inconsistencies in conclusions a rising amount systematic reviews render necessary 'an umbrella rain evidence'. second obtain differentiated picture moderators may explain using wide-angle lens meta-review. We especially addressed role PA context causation mechanisms, complementing...
Summary: This study investigated the effects of physical activities that were integrated into a science lesson on learning among preschool children. A total 90 children from seven childcare centres (M age = 4.90, SD 0.52; 45 girls) randomly assigned across an activity condition including task‐relevant activities, nonintegrated involving task‐irrelevant or control predominantly conventional sedentary style teaching. Children learned names planets and their order, based distance sun. For both...
ABSTRACT In this intervention study, we investigated the effects of physical activities that were integrated into a geography task on preschool children's learning performance and enjoyment. Eight childcare centers with 87 four‐to‐five‐year‐old children randomly assigned across an activity condition, unintegrated control condition without activity. Children learned names typical animal from each six continents using floor‐mounted world map soft toy animals. Both conditions showed higher than...
Background Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an important marker of current and future health status. The primary aim our study was to evaluate the impact a time-efficient school-based intervention on older adolescents’ CRF. Methods Two-arm cluster randomised controlled trial conducted in two cohorts (February 2018 February 2019 2020) New South Wales, Australia. Participants (N=670, 44.6% women, 16.0±0.43 years) from 20 secondary schools: 10 schools (337 participants) were Burn 2 Learn...
Considering the convincing evidence that executive functions predict academic achievement significantly, strategies to foster in early school years are highly requested. Besides traditional cognitive training, combined physical and interventions intended be a feasible way of enhancing both children's daily activity functions. The purpose present study was therefore test effectiveness six-week physical-cognitive intervention, compare it sedentary intervention waitlist control group. Using...
Approaches to foster motor creativity differ according whether creative movements are assumed be enacted ideas, or solutions emerging problems that arise from task and environmental constraints. The twofold aim of the current study was investigate (1) an enriched physical education (PE) intervention delivered with a joint constraints-led cognitive stimulation approach fosters creativity, responsiveness is moderated by baseline skills sex; (2) may benefit through gains in coordination,...
The current and declining physical activity levels of children is a global concern. Integrating into the school curriculum may be an effective way not only to improve children's but also enhance educational outcomes. Given recent national focus in Australia on improving literacy primary school, increasing proportion time spent explicitly teaching these skills, integrating English could viable strategy at same time. aim this study evaluate impact 'Thinking While Moving English' (TWM-E)...
Despite a tendency to study executive function (EF) and self-regulation (SR) separately, parallel lines of research suggest considerable overlap between the two abilities. Specifically, both show similar developmental trajectories (i.e., develop rapidly in early years), predict broad range overlapping outcomes across lifespan (e.g., academic success, mental physical health, social competence), have neural substrates prefrontal cortex). While theoretical frameworks diverge how they reconcile...
(1) Background: Test anxiety has been found to negatively affect students’ mental health and academic performance. A primary explanation for this is that anxiety-related thoughts occupy working memory resources during testing cannot be used test-related processes (such as information retrieval problem-solving). The present intervention study investigated whether physical activity could decrease levels improve maths test performance in sixth-grade children. (2) Methods: Sixty-eight children...