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ORLANDO, Fla. (July 2, 2007) – Want to improve your child’s learning abilities? Dr. Debby Mitchell, associate professor at the University of Central Florida and principal founder of GeoFitness, Inc., said the smart way to make kids smarter in school is to get them up moving their bodies. Dr. Mitchell recently presented her new findings at the Second Brain Basics Conference in Denver.
“Instead of using a finger to click a mouse, we get children up jumping, hopping, marching and balancing on colorful mats that include numbers, shapes, colors, letters and directions,” Dr. Mitchell explained. “We add the influence of music, a powerful stimulus, and when children are moving the motivation for learning is powerful,” Dr. Mitchell said.
Her paper presentation, Brain Development: Increasing Physical Activity & Integrated Learning Through Meaningful Movement, was one of the most popular workshops at the conference, she said.
“We had standing room only with a line out the door,” Dr. Mitchell explained. “Teachers and administrators are excited about the possibilities for learning coupled with physical movement and exercise,” she said.
Studies show that individuals typically retain about 10 percent of what they read 20 percent of what they hear, and 30 percent of what they see. Learning improves dramatically when multiple senses are engaged –– individuals typically retain about 50 percent of what they see and hear, 70 percent of what is discussed, and 80 percent of what is experienced, Dr. Mitchell said.
In addition, Dr. Mitchell reported, brain research published by Vanessa Sluming, PhD, MSC, TDCR, senior lecturer in the Dept. of Health Sciences at the University of Liverpool, indicates that music, rhythm, the repetitive practice of patterns and the use of physical skills such as balance and eye-tracking are all powerful tools for physical and central learning which are elements of her programming.
Pairing academic activities such as reading, math, and language with movement and rhythm turns on the brain, literally activating the brains RAS/Vesicular systems,” Dr. Mitchell quoted research from Larry Abraham from The University of Texas.
GeoFitness, Inc. specializes in developing physical fitness curricula for children and youth that integrates learning. The name originated with learning in mind –– geo for geometry and geography. “To improve our brains, we need to move our bodies,” Dr. Mitchell said.
“Exercise that involves learning a series of complex movements while coordinating one’s balance has been proven to generate a great number of connections between neurons. These connections make it easier for children of all ages to learn,” she stated research from John Ratey, Harvard Medical School.
“Educators who weave math, movement, geography, social skills, role play, science and recreational music-making together into brain-compatible learning see substantially better academic performance.” She supports her curriculum with research from Larry Abraham from The University of Texas.
GeoFitness is a client of the UCF Technology Incubator.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Debby Mitchell, GeoFitness, Inc. 407.657.5917 mitchellgeofitness@yahoo.com
Tom O’Neal or Carol Ann Dykes, , UCF Technology Incubator, 407-882-0202
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142
About the UCF Technology Incubator
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Technology Incubator has helped more than 80 emerging technology companies create over $200 million in annual revenue and more than 700 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. The UCF Technology Incubator was named 2004 Incubator of the Year by the National Business Incubation Association. Headquartered in Research Park near the University, the Incubator is a collaboration in economic development between UCF, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu.
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