ACTION SCHOOLS!  BRITISH COLUMBIA (AS! BC)

 

OVERVIEW

 

The Action Schools! British Columbia (AS! BC) intervention is a school-based program aimed at increasing physical activity in children (grades 4 through 6).  The intervention emphasizes increased physical activity in multiple domains of the children’s lives.  In an evaluation of the program, 10 schools were randomly assigned to one of three study conditions:  1) a liaison condition in which schools were provided with external program facilitators, 2) a champion condition where individuals within the school were assigned as facilitators, and 3) a usual practice condition where no intervention was implemented.  Results indicated that children in schools receiving an intervention did not engage in more physical activity than children in schools assigned to the usual practice group.       

 

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

 

Target population:  Children ages 9 to 11 (grades 4 through 6).

 

The Action Schools! British Columbia (AS! BC) program is a school-based intervention designed to increase physical activity in children.  Physical activity occurs outside of the exercise that they receive in physical education classes.  The program encourages increased activity in six life domains or “action zones,” including:  1) school environment; 2) physical education; 3) family and community; 4) classroom action; 5) school spirit; and 6) extracurricular. 

 

Liaisons, both within the schools and outside of them, are responsible for encouraging physical activity in the children’s six designated life domains.  Liaisons strategize with the children on ways they may engage in physical activity for 150 minutes per week.   

Additionally, teacher-lead physical activity sessions are conducted within the classroom everyday for 15 minutes to target the classroom action domain.  These exercise sessions were designed to supplement the exercise received in physical education classes. 

 

EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM

 

Naylor, P., Macdonald, H. M., Warburton, D. E. R., Reed, K. E., & McKay, H. A. (2008).  An active school model to promote physical activity in elementary schools:  Action schools!  BC.  British Journal of Sports Medicine, 42, 338-343. 

 

Evaluated population:  515 children aged 9 to 11 (grades 4 through 6) at ten elementary schools in the Greater Vancouver, British Columbia area served as the sample for this evaluation.

 

Approach:  Schools were randomly assigned to one of the three following conditions:  1) a liaison condition in which schools were provided with external program facilitators, 2) a champion condition where individuals within the school were assigned as facilitators, and 3) a usual practice condition where no intervention was implemented.

 

The physical activity outcome variable was measured using a pedometer, which measures the number of steps an individual takes.  Children wore pedometers for a four day period following a six week intervention phase.  The numbers of steps taken across the four day period were averaged to produce one score per child. 

 

Results:  Results indicated that boys in the champion condition took significantly more steps than boys in the liaison condition.  Girls in the liaison condition took significantly fewer steps than girls in both the champion and usual practice conditions.  In sum, children in the interventions did not have increased physical activity compared to children in the usual practice group; however, physical activity levels did differ across the two intervention conditions for boys and girls.

 

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Link to program manuals:  http://www.actionschoolsbc.ca/Content/Quick%20Links/ASBC%20Support%20and%20Resources.asp

 

Information on implementing this program can be obtained from:

 

Action Schools! BC

#360 – 3820 Cessna Drive

Richmond, BC

V7B 0A2

Phone:  (604) 738-2468

Fax:  (604) 333-3579

E-mail:  info@actionschoolsbc.ca

Website:  http://www.actionschoolsbc.ca/content/home.asp

 

References:

 

Naylor, P., Macdonald, H. M., Warburton, D. E. R., Reed, K. E., & McKay, H. A. (2008).  An active school model to promote physical activity in elementary schools:  Action schools!  BC.  British Journal of Sports Medicine, 42, 338-343. 

 

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

 

Evaluated participant ages:  9 to 11

Evaluated participant grades:  4 through 6 

Program age ranges in the guide:  Middle Childhood

Program components:  School-Based

Measured outcomes:  Physical Health

 

KEYWORDS: Middle Childhood (6-11), Children (3-11), Elementary School, School-Based, Physical Health, Asian, White or Caucasian, Hispanic or Latino, Manual

 

Program information last updated on 8/3/09.

 

 

		© Child Trends 2003