Physically active academic lessons in general upper secondary school

Physically active academic lessons in general upper secondary school research is a consortium carried out as a collaboration between Likes, Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences and University of Oulu. 

This four-year consortium is funded by Research Council of Finland, Scientific Council for Social Sciences and Humanities.

The multidisciplinary study project increases the understanding of teachers’ and students’ experiences and engagement in physically active academic lessons in upper secondary school. In addition, the acute effects of physically active academic lessons on students’ cognitive prerequisites of learning and situational engagement are measured. 

This consortium combines solid knowledge of both teaching and physical activity to study this phenomenon from both students' and subject teachers' perspectives from different layers of action (collected experiences and measured prerequisites of learning).

The project provides evidence-based recommendations of physically active classroom practices for teachers and teacher education 
•    to support the development of subject teachers’ competence 
•    to enhance student learning and well-being in lower secondary schools.

Physically active academic lessons in general upper secondary school (PAAL)

Implementation time: 2023–2027

Head of consortium: Principal Researcher Tuija Tammelin, Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences, Likes 
Subproject 1: Responsible researchers Professor Kati Mäkitalo and University Lecturer Susanna Takalo, University of Oulu, Faculty of Education and Psychology.
Subproject 2: Responsible researchers Principal Researcher Tuija Tammelin and Senior Researcher Heidi Syväoja, Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences, Likes, School of Health and Social Studies.

National collaborators: University of Jyväskylä, University of Turku, University of Helsinki, the Students on the Move programme.
International collaborators: Northeastern University, US; University of Bradford, United Kingdom; University of Granada, Spain; University College Copenhagen, Denmark; University of Education Upper Austria, Austria.

Funding: Research Council of Finland, Scientific Council for Social Sciences and Humanities.