Outdoor Physical Activity with Cognitively Engaging Tasks May Affect Students’ Creative Thinking: A Pilot Study for an Innovative Didactic Approach in Educational Contexts

Authors

  • Francesca Latino Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs School of Medicine; Aldo Moro University - Bari, francesca.latino@uniba.it https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0302-6145

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7346/-fei-XX-03-22_46

Keywords:

Qualitative exercise, Academic achievement, Cognitive functions, Natural environment, Physical activity

Abstract

Although creative thinking is described as an important factor of student’s intellectual development and it is classified as one of the most valuable twenty-first century competences to achieve success and remarkable progress in academic, professional, personal, and social life, a limited amount of published research has explored how outdoor physical activity with cognitively engaging tasks may affects it. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to explore the relationship between outdoor physical activity and creativity among students. 120 students (aged 13-14) participated in 12-week of either an outdoor physical activity program (60'/ 2 days per week) or a regular and easy-to-perform physical education class (60'/ 2 days per week). The findings from the present study support the idea that outdoor physical activity with cognitively engaging tasks may promote the development of students’ creative thinking.

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Published

2022-12-30

How to Cite

Latino, F. (2022). Outdoor Physical Activity with Cognitively Engaging Tasks May Affect Students’ Creative Thinking: A Pilot Study for an Innovative Didactic Approach in Educational Contexts. Formazione & Insegnamento, 20(3), 677–689. https://doi.org/10.7346/-fei-XX-03-22_46