PauseNørd Pilot Study: Exploring the Implementation of Mini Movement Breaks in University Lectures

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Kinesiology
• Higher Education Pedagogy

Background:

• Prolonged sitting in lectures can negatively impact student well-being and learning.
• Integrating short physical activity interventions in academic settings is an emerging area of research.
• The University of Southern Denmark piloted the "PauseNørd" initiative to address these issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the feasibility of implementing very short (under 1 minute) movement breaks in university lectures.
• To assess the acceptability, practicality, and potential effectiveness of the "PauseNørd" (PN) breaks.
• To identify barriers and facilitators for wider implementation of PN breaks.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods feasibility study design.
• Data collection through direct observation, student/lecturer questionnaires, and short interviews.
• Comparison of lectures with and without PN breaks across three student groups.

Main Results:

• "PauseNørd" (PN) breaks were highly accepted by both students and lecturers.
• Implementation was found to be practical, with suggestions for optimizing timing and frequency.
• Preliminary evidence suggests PN breaks may positively influence alertness, concentration, mood, and social interaction.

Conclusions:

• Very short movement breaks ("PauseNørd" breaks) are a feasible and acceptable addition to university lectures.
• Further research is needed to address barriers related to student exercise familiarity and lecturer comfort.
• Findings will inform future studies on the efficacy of PN breaks in enhancing the learning environment.