The Impact of Kagan’s Cooperative Learning Structure (KCLS) on Grade 9 Students towards English Language Learning

English subject has become very important in the context of Bhutanese education system. Owing to its importance in the era of modernization, the education ministry of Bhutan is providing professional development program in a form of training and workshops for all the English teachers to grow oneself professionally. Therefore the purposes of this study were to examine the learning achievement and investigate opinions of grade 9 Bhutanese students towards English subject by incorporating Kagans Cooperative Learning Structure (KCLS). The study was an experimental research and consisted of two groups pre-test post-test design at Kamji Central School under Chhuka district, Bhutan. A cluster random sampling was used to select two sections out of three sections with 38 students each in the experimental and the control groups. The quantitative data was analyzed using a pre-test and post-test scores while students’ reflective journal was analyzed using a coding system.The findings of the study showed a remarkable difference in the post-test scores. The mean scores of the control group and of the experimental group were 9.5 and 11.5 respectively. In addition,the student’s reflective journals revealed that the Kagans Cooperative Learning structure (KCLS) was interesting, provided with equal opportunities,enhanced active participation, and the brain breaks and cheers helped them keep themselves alert and boost retention level of learning.

Effects of Brain Breaks Video Intervention of Decisional Balance among Malaysians with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Brain Breaks® are structured physical activity (PA) web-based videos designed to promote an interest in learning and health promotion. The objective of this study was to examine its effects on decision balance (DB) which consists of the perceived benefits (Pros) and perceived barriers (Cons) of exercise in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A randomised controlled trial was conducted among people with T2DM at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. The intervention group received Brain Breaks videos for a period of four months. The intervention and control groups completed the validated Malay version of DB questionnaire for five times, at pre-intervention, the first month, the second month, the third month, and post-intervention. Multivariate Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance was performed for data analysis. A total of 70 participants were included (male = 39; female = 31) with a mean age of 57.6 years (SD = 8.5). The intervention group showed a significant change in the Pros and Cons factors of DB scores over time. The intervention group showed significantly higher scores for the Pros (p-value < 0.001) and lower scores for the Cons (p-value = 0.008) factors than the control group. In conclusion, the Brain Breaks video is an effective intervention to improve decisional balance in patients with T2DM to help them in deciding on behaviour change to be more physically active.

Using Brain-Breaks® as a Technology Tool to Increase Attitude towards Physical Activity among Students in Singapore

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of classroom-based Brain Breaks® Physical Activity Solution in Southeast Asia Singaporean primary school students and their attitude towards physical activity (PA) over a ten-week intervention. A total of 113 participants (8–11 years old) were randomly assigned to either an experimental (EG) or a control group (CG), with six classes to each group; the Brain Breaks® group (EG: six classes) and the Control group (CG: six classes). All EG members participated in a Brain Breaks® video intervention (three–five min) during academic classes and the CG continued their lessons as per normal. The student’s attitudes towards PA in both research conditions were evaluated using the self–reported Attitudes toward Physical Activity Scale (APAS), applied before and after intervention. The effects of the intervention on APAS scores were analysed using a mixed model analysis of variance with Time as within-subject and Group as between-subject factors. The analysis revealed evidence in support of the positive effect of classroom video interventions such as Brain Breaks® on student’s attitudes toward benefits, importance, learning, self-efficacy, fun, fitness, and trying to do their personal best in PA. The Brain Breaks® intervention provided a positive significant impact on students in Singapore. This study also revealed that interactive technology tools implemented into the school curriculum benefit students in terms of health and education.

A Process Evaluation of A UK Classroom-Based Physical Activity Intervention—‘Busy Brain Breaks’

The gap between development of effective physical activity interventions and the wide-scale adoption of these interventions in real-world settings has been reported since the early 2000s. Evaluations have been criticised for failing to report details of context, implementation, adoption and maintenance. ‘Busy Brain Breaks’ was an intervention designed to improve fundamental movement patterns whilst increasing physical activity within the classroom. This evaluation study used a mixed-methods approach including questionnaires, observations, semi-structured interviews and quantification of class-level dose. Findings suggest that giving teachers flexibility and autonomy over the way in which they implement physical activity interventions may increase the likelihood of adoption. Time was frequently perceived as a significant barrier to the intervention, giving the teachers flexibility to implement the intervention when they thought most suitable allowed teaching staff to retain their autonomy and make the intervention work with their schedule. Children’s behaviour appeared to be both a facilitator and barrier to implementing physical activity interventions within the classroom. Whilst misbehaviour can pose as a barrier, children’s enjoyment acts as a key facilitator to implementation for teaching practitioners. Teachers interviewed (n = 17) observed that movement ability had developed as a result of the intervention and recognised co-ordination, balance and stability as areas that had noticeably improved. Conducting an in-depth process evaluation has allowed for greater insight and understanding as to how, and to what extent, the intervention was implemented within the school-based setting.

Implementation of Brain Breaks® in the Classroom and Its Effects on Attitudes towards Physical Activity in a Chinese School Setting

This study aimed to examine the effects of three-months of classroom-based Brain Breaks Physical Activity Solution (Brain Breaks®) on attitudes toward physical activity levels of primary school children in Henan Province, China. The participants were 704 children enrolled in grades 3–5 who were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group participated in Brain Breaks® video intervention for 3–5 min daily, at low-to-moderate intensity for three consecutive months. The control group resumed their normal routine. The children’s attitudes in both groups towards physical activity (PA) were evaluated using the self-reported Attitudes toward Physical Activity Scale (APAS), before and after the intervention. The effects of the intervention on APAS scores were analyzed using mixed model analysis of variance with Time as within-subject, and Group as between-subject factors. The analysis revealed evidence in support of the positive effect of classroom video interventions such as Brain Break on children’s attitudes toward importance, fun, and trying to do their personal best in physical activity. Also revealed was the important role the teacher plays in this process.

Development of Attitudes Towards Assessment and Evaluation Course

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Brain Breaks® videos on preservice teachers' attitudes towards an Assessment and Evaluation course. The experimental group consisted of 47 preservice teachers of the Department of Physical Education and Sports Teacher. The control group consisted of 55 preservice teachers of the Department of Preschool Education. Pre-test-posttest control group experimental method was used. Data were collected using the attitude scale towards Assessment and Evaluation Course in Education. The experimental group watched Brain Breaks® videos and performed physical activity in the Assessment and Evaluation course for 12 weeks. Brain Breaks® videos improved the experimental group participants' cognitive levels and attitudes towards the Assessment and Evaluation course. However, there was a slight negative shift in the control group participants' attitudes towards the Assessment and Evaluation course. Results indicate that Brain Breaks® videos improve students' attitudes towards academic courses.