Game to get fit
It’s all fun and games. At least that’s the way Dwayne Sheehan hopes children will see physical activity.
Sheehan, assistant professor and coordinator of Mount Royal’s Department of Physical Education and Recreation Studies has collaborated with researchers from the University of Calgary to change elementary school students’ perception of physical activity and education.
Sheehan’s research is called exergaming. It involves the use of blending technology, specifically video games, and physical activity.
The Exergaming Research Centre — the first interactive facility in any elementary school in Canada — is 70 square metres and houses several types of exergaming activities.
They use popular games such as Wii Fit, Wii Sport, Dance Dance Revolution and a snowboarding station called XRboard.
Resistance is futile
Many children play video games these days so Sheehan and his colleagues have embraced them as positive tools.
“We can’t say don’t play video games, so instead of trying to fight it we decided to work with it,” Sheehan says.
Exergaming research targets eight to ten year olds at the Foundations for the Future Charter Academy’s Southwest campus. The collaborative relationship is part of a five-year research commitment with the largest charter school district in Canada.
But it’s not all about playing video games.
The potential improvements in postural balance and other fundamental movement skills through the use of exergaming may affect how children perceive physical activity in general.
Sheehan notes, “Children begin acquiring fundamental movement skills between the ages of six and 12 so it’s important they develop healthy and positive attitudes towards being active.”
Addressing a serious issue
Physical inactivity is the leading cause of childhood obesity.
Exergaming is not intended to replace physical activity, but as an alternative to sedentary video games.
“Our goal is to keep kids engaged in physical activity … to create a culture of new generation gamers who are active,” says Sheehan.
It’s also designed to capture the attention of children who aren’t otherwise interested in participating in physical activity.
“Teachers are excited about this project, because the students are excited about it. The kids don’t want to miss school,” Sheehan says.
Getting everyone involved
In addition to getting children excited about physical education, teachers from other disciplines are able to join in on the fun.
Math and science teachers are encouraged to use student data in their classes to show that exercise and fitness are not just for physical education classes.
“Students are more excited about math and science when they are using data about themselves,” says Sheehan.
Students record their physiological performance using a number of tools such as heart rate monitors, step counters and stop watches.
The schools are seeing so many benefits that they are adding more teaching stations in the centre for winters.
Let there be light
The most recent addition to the centre is a 2.4 x 1.2 metre wall-mounted panel of colourful lights called a Lightspace Play. It is one of the rare exergaming activities that require upper body use to participate.
Students jump and move quickly from side to side depressing one of the 64 lit panels that are programmed to train reaction time. Elements of agility, laterality, and coordination are also important in this game.
Sheehan sees tremendous potential for this type of technology and hopes to expand his balance studies to include seniors and those with physical disabilities.
— Fred Cheney, Dec. 1, 2009
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