Why students learn better when they move their bodies – instead of sitting still at their desks

Katie Headrick Taylor, associate professor in Learning Sciences and Human Development, wrote about the importance of movement for students' learning outcomes in an op-ed in The Conversation. Dr. Headrick Taylor argues that current models of remote education are inefficient for learning, teaching and productivity. She points out that sitting in front of a computer screen subdues or detaches people from many of the sense-making abilities of our bodies and cites research from embodied cognition ― the study of the body's role in thinking ― that shows that the body must first be interacting with the world to activate and open up the mind for learning. Whether students remain online or return to in-person classrooms this year, Dr. Headrick Taylor believes both models of school can better incorporate the body to support learning and provides tips for how educators can encourage and sustain an active classroom culture.