Examining the Knowledge and Capacity of Elementary Teachers to Implement Classroom Physical Activity Breaks

This study examined teachers’ zone of proximal development for classroom physical activity breaks by assessing teachers’ knowledge and capacity for implementing classroom physical activity breaks. Five school districts of various sizes (n=346 teachers) took part in a short online survey. Descriptive...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Danae M. DINKEL, Jung-Min LEE, Connie SCHAFFER
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kura Publishing 2016-09-01
Series:International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education
Subjects:
Online Access:http://iejee.com/index/makale/313/examining-the-knowledge-and-capacity-of-elementary-teachers-to-implement-classroom-physical-activity-breaks
_version_ 1797916474964180992
author Danae M. DINKEL
Jung-Min LEE
Connie SCHAFFER
author_facet Danae M. DINKEL
Jung-Min LEE
Connie SCHAFFER
author_sort Danae M. DINKEL
collection DOAJ
description This study examined teachers’ zone of proximal development for classroom physical activity breaks by assessing teachers’ knowledge and capacity for implementing classroom physical activity breaks. Five school districts of various sizes (n=346 teachers) took part in a short online survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated and chi-square analyses were used to identify differences between districts. Almost all teachers utilized classroom physical activity to some extent. A third of teachers who stated they implemented classroom physical activity, experienced barriers to implementation. A majority of teachers were interested in learning more about classroom physical activity. There were significant differences between districts on the number of days per week classroom physical activity was integrated, the frequency of collaboration that occurred between teachers, the percentage of teachers who experienced barriers, and preferred delivery method of professional development. These findings support the importance of identifying teachers’ zone of proximal development to increase the use of classroom physical activity breaks. Understanding teachers’ knowledge and capacity for implementing classroom physical activity breaks can allow educational professionals to shift the implementation of classroom physical activity beyond sporadic use by isolated teachers and schools to a more systematic and consistent delivery across classrooms and throughout districts.
first_indexed 2024-04-10T12:57:47Z
format Article
id doaj.art-05179dae0a87480b8d15501b3b0e9afe
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1307-9298
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-10T12:57:47Z
publishDate 2016-09-01
publisher Kura Publishing
record_format Article
series International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education
spelling doaj.art-05179dae0a87480b8d15501b3b0e9afe2023-02-15T16:13:21ZengKura PublishingInternational Electronic Journal of Elementary Education1307-92982016-09-0191182196Examining the Knowledge and Capacity of Elementary Teachers to Implement Classroom Physical Activity BreaksDanae M. DINKEL0Jung-Min LEE1Connie SCHAFFER2University of Nebraska at Omaha, United StatesUniversity of Nebraska at Omaha, United StatesUniversity of Nebraska at Omaha, United StatesThis study examined teachers’ zone of proximal development for classroom physical activity breaks by assessing teachers’ knowledge and capacity for implementing classroom physical activity breaks. Five school districts of various sizes (n=346 teachers) took part in a short online survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated and chi-square analyses were used to identify differences between districts. Almost all teachers utilized classroom physical activity to some extent. A third of teachers who stated they implemented classroom physical activity, experienced barriers to implementation. A majority of teachers were interested in learning more about classroom physical activity. There were significant differences between districts on the number of days per week classroom physical activity was integrated, the frequency of collaboration that occurred between teachers, the percentage of teachers who experienced barriers, and preferred delivery method of professional development. These findings support the importance of identifying teachers’ zone of proximal development to increase the use of classroom physical activity breaks. Understanding teachers’ knowledge and capacity for implementing classroom physical activity breaks can allow educational professionals to shift the implementation of classroom physical activity beyond sporadic use by isolated teachers and schools to a more systematic and consistent delivery across classrooms and throughout districts.http://iejee.com/index/makale/313/examining-the-knowledge-and-capacity-of-elementary-teachers-to-implement-classroom-physical-activity-breaksPhysical activityelementaryclassroomprofessional development
spellingShingle Danae M. DINKEL
Jung-Min LEE
Connie SCHAFFER
Examining the Knowledge and Capacity of Elementary Teachers to Implement Classroom Physical Activity Breaks
International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education
Physical activity
elementary
classroom
professional development
title Examining the Knowledge and Capacity of Elementary Teachers to Implement Classroom Physical Activity Breaks
title_full Examining the Knowledge and Capacity of Elementary Teachers to Implement Classroom Physical Activity Breaks
title_fullStr Examining the Knowledge and Capacity of Elementary Teachers to Implement Classroom Physical Activity Breaks
title_full_unstemmed Examining the Knowledge and Capacity of Elementary Teachers to Implement Classroom Physical Activity Breaks
title_short Examining the Knowledge and Capacity of Elementary Teachers to Implement Classroom Physical Activity Breaks
title_sort examining the knowledge and capacity of elementary teachers to implement classroom physical activity breaks
topic Physical activity
elementary
classroom
professional development
url http://iejee.com/index/makale/313/examining-the-knowledge-and-capacity-of-elementary-teachers-to-implement-classroom-physical-activity-breaks
work_keys_str_mv AT danaemdinkel examiningtheknowledgeandcapacityofelementaryteacherstoimplementclassroomphysicalactivitybreaks
AT jungminlee examiningtheknowledgeandcapacityofelementaryteacherstoimplementclassroomphysicalactivitybreaks
AT connieschaffer examiningtheknowledgeandcapacityofelementaryteacherstoimplementclassroomphysicalactivitybreaks