Does Classroom-based Physical Activity Influence Test Results?
Assist. Prof. Dr. Miraç Özar
Journal of Education and Human Development, 1(1), pp. 01-12.

Abstract
The traditional view of intelligence is based on the belief that it is static, genetically inherited and does not change much as a result of education. However, cognitive neuroscientists agree that well-balanced nutrition, nurturing environment (organized learning experiences) and exercise are critical to brain development. There have been a number of intervention techniques which could be incorporated into the curriculum, especially during the implementation of classes, in order to enhance learning and improve students’ academic performance. Classroom and activity-based intervention is one of those techniques. It is based on the assumption that children need to develop specific motor skills, at critical developmental stages, for efficient neurological and intellectual development. The main purpose of the present research was to test whether or not some classroom activity-based intervention would enhance students’ test results. The design of the research was based on three basic steps as pre-test, intervention/treatment and post-test. Although the students in the experimental group performed slightly better than those in the control group after the intervention, there was no statistically significant diffrence between the means of experimental and control groups on the post test. The results could have implications for pre-service and in-service teacher training curriculum developers.

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Özar, Assist. Prof. Dr. Miraç. (2012). Does Classroom-based Physical Activity Influence Test Results?. Journal of Education and Human Development, 1(1), pp. 01-12.

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Miraç Özar completed his MA and Ph.D. degrees at Middle East Technical University based in the capital of Turkey, Ankara in 1996. He also received a post graduate diploma in ICT in education from King’s College London with a scholarship received from the British Council. Miraç Özar joined the British Council in 2000 and ran the Department of Science and Education as the manager until 2007. He initiated and conducted a number of joint projects between Britain and Turkey on quality assurance for universities, techno parks, ICT in schools and collaboration under both National Agencies. He also worked as a Community Service Volunteer (CSV) in Bristol for about nine months in 1989. Miraç Özar is now working for Istanbul Aydin University (IAU) as a faculty member at the IAU Faculty of Education and as the Head of Turkish Language Teaching and Research Centre for international students. He is also the Head of the Department of Recruiting International Students on behalf of IAU. In addition to his national and international articles and books in the field of education, Miraç Özar has released his own jazz CD, called “Bird over Bodrum” with his own compositions.