Hundreds of NSW teachers have already attended the workshops known as Thinking while Moving in Maths. Based on Nick Riley’s EASY Minds (Encouraging Activity to Stimulate Young Minds) research the workshops support classroom teachers in enhancing student engagement and behaviour during mathematics lessons through movement based learning.
Watch this video to see how effective TwM can be in engaging students and improving teacher practice then go to MyPL and find a workshop near you!
Dr Riley is currently investigating how learning outcomes can be enhanced in English lessons and in 2019 a new Highly Accomplished course will be available for teachers to promote the Thinking while Moving in English pedagogy in schools.
Based on the recent studies (NEAT and ATLAS) which investigated factors affecting adolescents’ engagement with physical activity the School Sport Unit has developed and registered a workshop known as Resistance Training for Teens (RT4T).
The workshop provides innovative training and motivation for both PDHPE and non-PDHPE teachers and aims to encourage teachers to role model/teach health and fitness in either school sport and/or PDHPE sessions.
Resistance Training for Teens has been shown to have significantly positive outcomes for students with low levels of perceived competence and poor physical self-concept. It is viewed as a foundation concept for lifelong involvement in physical activity and offers a variety of activities to stimulate interest and maintain motivation.
Teachers are trained to deliver a program of resistance training sessions using printed resources and accessible apps - all designed as effective tools in creating and sustaining a positive learning environment for disengaged students.
Workshops for teachers are scheduled around the state– check the Sport Unit calendar for available dates and venues and enrol in MyPL.
The ‘Burn 2 Learn’ project involves working with senior school students to help improve not just their physical health, but also their cognitive and mental health.The Burn to Learn (B2L) program involves teachers working with senior school students to help improve not just their physical health but also their cognitive and mental health.
The program is designed to allow students to choose the type and timing of high intensity activities to meet their needs and interests.
Resources for boxing, dance, running, resistance training and sport-based HIIT sessions are all linked to an app that gives students individual or group information, prompts, performance feedback and motivational messages.
Teachers will have access to training and to a total of 8 hours of professional learning at the Highly Accomplished career stage later in 2018 when the NESA accredited Burn to learn – improving fitness and wellbeing in senior students course will be available in MyPL and workshops will be scheduled on SSU professional learning calendar.
iPLAY (internet based Professional Learning to help teachers promote Activity in Youth) aims to increase the physical activity levels of primary school students and improve teacher confidence to deliver PE and sport lessons through the completion of on-line learning modules.
iPLAY has a whole-of-school focus, develops strategies to impact curriculum outcomes and offers resources to inform and encourages the wider school community to provide more sport and physical activity opportunities for students.
Mentors directly assist schools to be involved in iPLAY. They offer advice and support to those teachers who take on the responsibility of being an iPLAY leader and help them to complete 9 hours of professional learning at the Highly Accomplished career stage. Classroom teachers who choose to be part of iPLAY can achieve up to 14 hours of accreditation at the Proficient career stage.
Explore the iPLAY website to learn more about this exciting professional learning opportunity and how your school can sign up to be part of this exciting program.
Physical Activity for Everyone (PA4E1) is a Hunter New England Health initiative offering support and resources to review, renew and enhance secondary school sport, physical education and physical activity programs.
38 department schools signed up early in 2018 to be part of a study to measure the impact of seven practices proven to enhance physical activity opportunities within schools. Policy, teaching practice, the school environment as well as community and family considerations are all addressed by the practices.
The School Sport Unit has collaborated with HNE Health in developing this initiative and encourages schools to access departmental professional learning opportunities such as Resistance Training for Teens, Developing procedures for school sport and Reviewing procedures for school sport to strengthen existing sport and physical activity programs.
Schools interested in strategies to improve student engagement are encouraged to enrol in the Resistance Training for Teens course mentioned above and access templates provided in the online courses mentioned above. These professional learning experiences also support the implementation of the revised Sport and Physical Activity Policy.
HAPPY (Healthy Active Peaceful Playgrounds for Youth) is an inclusive and evidence-based approach to primary school physical activity environments that was successfully trialled in schools in 2015.
Teachers who participated in HAPPY training reported improved confidence and commitment in delivering physical activity sessions in school playground spaces at recess and lunch, more positive relationships between children when engaged in physical activity and enhanced peer and teacher social support for physical activity in playground spaces during the school day.
The School Sport Unit promoted HAPPY as a strategy to increase student physical activity levels and improved teacher confidence to lead students in playground activities.