Schools

We are based in Auckland, but are in the process of implementing our programme throughout the country. If you would like to discuss possibilities for your school or institution to be involved in the programme, feel free to contact us. Some schools have already registered, yours could be next!

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Structure of the trial

There are three phases involved in school participation. Phases 1 and 3 will require a MovinCog staff member to come to your school.

Phase 1: Pretest

This includes a series of cognitive tests, tasks completed on a computer (approximately 40 minutes), to determine cognitive performance before the programme starts. These will be completely non-invasive. A questionnaire is also conducted (approximately 5 minutes).

Phase 2: Trial

What does the programme entail? All participants will be assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention and control groups will be matched in duration (30 minutes/session). The intervention will include a combination of approximately 10 minutes of physical exercise, "Physical Space", followed by about 20 minutes of cognitive training, "Cerebral Space". The control group will include fun non-related activities in the classroom that will be determined with the school (TBD together). Assignment will be decided on our end; however, students initially assigned to the control group will have the opportunity to switch to the intervention at the end of the 10 weeks. Members of the MovinCog Initiative will not be present throughout this phase, however to supervise the program, teachers will not need to undergo any training as the Physical Space is video-based and Cerebral Space is software-based. 

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How long? The programme consists of 50 sessions of 30 minutes, one session completed each day of the school week across approximately 10 weeks. If falling across the school holidays, the programme will stop over the school holidays, and continue when the next term begins. We will check back in with you throughout the program, to anticipate your final day and schedule posttest.

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Who? Every student, regardless of learning difficulties, should be encouraged to participate as anyone can benefit from the programme, not just children who face difficulties. In addition, your participation helps refine the content of the programme, so that you can later use a better-designed, more valid tool.

We require a minimum of 20 students, with a minimum age of 7 years due to the ability required for the tasks involved. Other than these requirements, the number and age of classes/students to be involved is at the discretion of the school. 

 

What if they miss a session? In the event that the whole class misses a session (e.g. school trip, visit, camp, etc.), it is best to reschedule it. If a student misses a session or multiple sessions, feel free to find a time to reschedule, but we understand that this is not always possible.  

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Phase 3: Posttest

This phase is identical to Phase 1 Pretesting, to evaluate improvements.

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Facilities and equipment

In order to implement the programme in your school, you need to have access to a large room with a videoprojector and sound system. Each student enrolled will also need access to a computer or laptop, for pretest, posttest, and the duration of the programme. Note that the physical exercise component does not require going to sports facilities -- it is designed to take place in the classroom.

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Travel expenses

We are happy to provide you with the latest version of our programme free of charge. This is a fundamental idea behind the MovinCog Initiative. However, if you are located outside Auckland, your school will need to cover travel expenses for one researcher to visit your school twice (phases 1 and 3).

 

Other frequently asked questions

Can my child withdraw from the programme if he or she doesn't want to continue?

Absolutely, your child is free to opt out anytime. All data is confidential and anonymized, and there will be no record of your child withdrawing from the programme.

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Can my school use the software after the trial? 

Absolutely. After the trial, you retain access to the software, and should feel free to continue using it.