Movement in the classroom is very important for students to be actively engaged in the learning. The more movement involved the more attention the student is paying to the activity and the higher chance of retention. Movement allows whatever is being done to go into procedural memory, so it is more easily remembered. If students can have their information go into procedural memory, they would have no issues recalling information later for a test or just for an activity. Movement has to be related to the material, so that students are kept on task and don’t use it as an excuse to check-out mentally from the activity. Having something required while they are moving is essential to the success of movement in the classroom.
Application:An application of a movement activity in an intro level class would be if everyone was standing in a circle in the classroom and I had a beach ball with questions written about the topic we are learning. The students would pass the ball around the room and wherever their two fingers landed they had to answer one of those questions. This would keep the students engaged and enjoying the material, while also allowing them to share what they have been learning with the class. I could have music playing in the background to improve everyone’s mood as well. The students who are not as outgoing would still enjoy this activity because of the environment around it and also everyone being comfortable with one another. They would be standing and throwing the ball which would be engaging their procedural memory, increasing retention.
Assessment: Muddiest Point (Angelo & Cross, 1993, 154-158)For this activity, it is a form of formative assessment itself, but it would also be useful to know what the students are still confused about after the activity. If I did muddiest point, I would be able to see what they need clarified and then introduce in the next class period. It also would be a way for them to reflect on the activity and what all they have learned from the lesson.