Toward a whole-of-virtual school framework for promoting student physical activity: a scoping review protocol

Chad M Killian; Eugenia Opuda; Collin A Webster; Taemin Ha; Brian Dauenhauer; Jennifer M Krause

doi:10.1186/s13643-024-02689-9

Toward a whole-of-virtual school framework for promoting student physical activity: a scoping review protocol

Syst Rev. 2024 Oct 31;13(1):272. doi: 10.1186/s13643-024-02689-9.

Authors

Chad M Killian¹, Eugenia Opuda², Collin A Webster³, Taemin Ha⁴, Brian Dauenhauer⁵, Jennifer M Krause⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Kinesiology, University of New Hampshire, 124 Main Street, Durham, NH, 03824, USA. chad.killian@unh.edu.
² Dimond Library, University of New Hampshire, 18 Library Way, Durham, NH, 03824, USA.
³ Department of Kinesiology, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX, 78412, USA.
⁴ College Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, City University of New York-Queens, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, NY, Queens, 11367, USA.
⁵ Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Northern Colorado, 501 20th Street, Greeley, CO, 80639, USA.

Abstract

Background: The advent of full-time virtual schooling presents unique challenges and opportunities for the promotion of physical activity (PA) among children and adolescents. Despite the recognized benefits of PA as an essential component for combating non-communicable diseases and ensuring holistic development, there is a notable gap in understanding how to effectively integrate PA within the digital learning environments of full-time virtual schools. Current efforts to promote student PA are targeted for implementation exclusively in contexts characterized by physical school campuses that are bound to their surrounding local communities. This is problematic given the digital, widely distributed, and contextually unmoored nature of virtual schooling. Our aim in this scoping review is to advance research on whole-of-school physical activity promotion within full-time virtual schools by examining the published literature on whole-of-school PA promotion within full-time virtual schools. Specifically, this review will map the literature, consolidate knowledge claims and practical implications, and identify evidence gaps that merit further investigation.

Methods/design: This review will be conducted using evidence-informed scoping review methodology and reporting guidelines. Articles will be included if they are peer-reviewed English-language research, commentary, practical, or grey literature and relate to the participation, support, design, development, and/or provision of remote online PA interventions delivered through primary/elementary and/or secondary/middle school/high schools. Searches will be conducted in PsycInfo, ERIC, SportDiscus, and Web of Science. Additional hand-searching, reference scans, and grey literature searches will also be performed. Two trained research assistants will independently complete study screening and selection and data charting with guidance from a senior author. Charted data will be displayed in table form, and depending on the results, data will also be synthesized through qualitative content analysis using the Active Schools guiding framework as an analytical and interpretive lens.

Discussion: This scoping review will serve as a guidepost for the application and advancement of research on whole-of-school PA promotion through full-time virtual schools. The results will address the increased importance of equitable online learning and PA promotion due to the expanding virtual education landscape, with implications for public health and education policy.

Systematic review registration: Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/f6wau/ .

Keywords: Adolescents; CSPAP; Children; Digital learning; Distance education; Health promotion; Multicomponent; Online learning; Physical education; Whole-school.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Exercise*
Health Promotion* / methods
Humans
Review Literature as Topic
Schools*
Students*