An Australian education program is transforming teaching and learning across the country by incorporating movement into everyday lessons.
Developed by researchers at Deakin University over 16 years, TransformUs is an education initiative that empowers educators to create positive learning environments.
Deakin University reported hundreds of teachers and schools across Australia are embracing TransformUs as a fun and engaging way to deliver usual curriculum by integrating meaningful movement within lessons and create active environments that support students learning.
Every school and teacher in Australia now has free access to TransformUs until the end of the year. Teachers can register at www.transformus.com.au.
Lead researcher and program developer, Professor Jo Salmon from Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), said TransformUs was designed to make moving the norm throughout the day.
“With children more sedentary now than at any time in history, TransformUs is what schools need to keep students active each day to engage them in their learning,” she said.
“Our research produced some amazing results showing how TransformUs helps keep students alert, on task and focused.”
The research team found that using TransformUs:
- 79 per cent of teachers reported their students’ time-on task improved
- 85 per cent of teachers reported their students experienced greater concentration
Teachers and students have endorsed TransformUs as an effective teaching tool.
Graduate teacher Rhianna McNee said the active lessons helped elevate her teaching.
“TransformUs has really allowed me to think that movement is an ally in teaching, rather than an enemy,” she said.
“It really gave me a love of learning and enjoying what my kids are doing.”
Principal Anita Elliot said the program had given many teachers the ‘ah huh’ moment.
“They love being able to look at the website and go this fits exactly with what I am needing to teach and what our children are ready to learn,” she said.
TransformUs is strongly aligned with practice principles for excellence in teaching and includes hundreds of easy-to-use curriculum-linked resources, designed to improve student engagement and learning in Maths, Science, English, Geography and History from Foundation to Year 10. These strategies provide a framework of best teaching practice and an opportunity to create a positive learning environment.
Online professional learning opportunities, lesson plans, short videos and more are provided to registered teachers to make it easy for them to incorporate meaningful movement into everyday teaching.
