The 5 key benefits of screen-free active learning

Sponsored content by now>press>play

Studies show that less than half of Britain’s young people are “physically active.” While fitness initiatives like the Daily Mile are fantastic, many teachers are still looking for ways to promote curriculum-based active learning.

now>press>play is an immersive resource for primary schools that engages children through sound, story and movement. Using wireless headphones, each child becomes the main character in a learning adventure, meeting people, discovering places and solving problems along the way.

now>press>play’s recent Product Impact Report shows five key benefits of screen-free active learning:

1) Increasing curriculum engagement

Often, active learning hardly feels like learning at all. 92% of teachers agree that active learning enriches the curriculum by offering children something different. Parklands School uses now>press>play on a daily basis so that their children experience more physical activity than just PE. Headteacher Chris Dyson says that active learning “engages our more reluctant writers and mathematicians,” helping children develop problem-solving and other crucial skills.

2) Extending life experiences

It can be hard (and expensive) to give your students exciting life experiences. However, by making learning active, you can do this even without leaving the school grounds. Active learning can bring history, science and other topics to life through imagination and movement. Star Primary School serves a high proportion of disadvantaged children, using now>press>play to “give them experiences in school that they can’t get at home” — a statement that 63% of teachers agree with.

3) Developing social and emotional skills

Active learning benefits more than just children’s performance in the classroom. It’s been proven to boost social and emotional development, self-confidence, behaviour and more. Kyrstie Stubbs, Headteacher at Boothroyd Academy, says for children to perform, “they have to be in the right frame of mind mentally, and we know that physical activity supports mental health.” Boothroyd introduced tracksuits as part of its uniform, meaning children are comfortable and always ready to be active.

4) Improving retention and discussion

When they’re active, kids learn through experience. This helps them retain more information, leading to better discussions and increased progress. Also, active learning rarely involves screen time, which can badly affect children’s cognitive ability. For around two-thirds of teachers, now>press>play’s screen-free active learning helps pupils retain key facts and vocabulary and use them in whole-class discussions.

5) Making the curriculum inclusive and accessible

Giving children different ways to access learning is important because everybody learns in different ways. Stoke Hill Junior School, which serves a high proportion of SEND children, benefits from the role-play and simple verbal instructions in now>press>play’s resources. 70% of teachers found that now>press>play particularly benefits lower-attaining pupils, while over half also use it effectively with SEND children. Active learning can help all children enjoy learning, develop their skills and become more confident.

With 90+ immersive audio experiences and over 400 follow-on resources available to subscribing schools, now>press>play helps create teaching that excites and includes every learner. To find out more, visit their profile on EdTech Impact and read their full Product Impact Report.