Thursday, October 1, 2026
As the idea of incorporating motion into education to bolster student learning gains steam in the academic world, Jessica Whelan and her fifth-grade class at Jennie E. Hewitt Elementary School are among the pioneers.
“Nothing ever really works for all, but with this, it kind of hit every area that I needed it to,” Whelan said of the six HOVR desk mounts that were installed on the back table of her classroom this past spring.
The technology, which includes a strap that hangs from a desk and two plates for feet to rest on, was designed for people that often sit for long periods of time to keep moving, burn calories and stay engaged in what they’re doing. Originally marketed to adult professionals that sit in an office for eight or more hours per day, the product has now reached students in schools around the country, including Rockville Centre.
The idea of students staying in motion is one of the trends in education, Whelan said, and while doing research into implementing some in her classroom, she heard about HOVR desk mounts from a friend. After learning about some of the benefits of the product, she applied for a grant, and the Hewitt PTA grant committee approved six of them, which she received in April.
Whelan added that her students normally had a hard time sitting in their seats for a long time, and that after getting the HOVRs, she had kids that used to get up from their chair every 10 minutes or so sitting for up to an hour.
“It’s so amazing; it’s far greater than I even thought,” Whelan said. “…They all say I feel so much more relaxed, I feel like I’m moving, I don’t feel antsy. They’ve even said it helps [them] focus.”
HOVR launched an online crowd-funding campaign last year, and this past February, some of its informational videos about the product went viral, according to HOVR co-founder John Godoy. The product went on to win the Gold Award in the category of office accessories at NeoCon, one of the most recognized trade shows for the commercial design industry, which was held earlier this month in Chicago.
The John J. Pershing Magnet School in Chicago was the first school to implement the desk mounts in diverse learning classrooms, Godoy said, and about 80 different schools are now using them in some capacity.
HOVR Co-Founder Dr. Ron Mochizuki said the product, in many cases, is used by children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The company is planning some studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago, he added, involving kids with ADHD and the impact of movement on that population, as well as another regarding how it affects other students’ engagement and focus.
“One of the exciting things about HOVR is that it’s a very simple device, but I think its simplicity lends itself to a lot of different applications,” Mochizuki told the Herald, noting that it can be used for senior citizens to stay active.
After testing the desk mounts, Whelan contacted HOVR and asked for a whole class set. The company agreed to give her 19 more desk mounts — priced at $89 each — free of charge, and the Mayo Clinic, Whelan said, a non-profit medical research group, is interested in using her class in a study.
“There’s a great deal of research around movement and its role in teaching and learning,” said Chris Pellettieri, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, “and we feel these HOVR desk mounts will help students to move in a way that will not distract others, but keep them engaged physically and mentally.”
