Hi and welcome to our blog!
Our team is for video game being used in schools.
One way to use video games in school is through P.E. class. In my high school school we used the Dance Dance Revolution game to get exercise in our P.E. classes. This is one way to get students off their seat and excited about exercising. I read a New York Times article about this subject and this is a quote pulled from the article, "In a study last year, researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., found that children playing Dance Dance Revolution expended significantly more energy than children watching television and playing traditional video games." Clearly video games can be more than just a time waster, it can promote exercising and combat the growing obesity issue. After the link to the article is a great video showing the use of DDR in a middle school and explains why they use it.
Enjoy!
~Briana
3 comments:
This use of video games in a phys. ed class is a waste of tax payers dollars because it is highly costly for minimal results. The students may be required to move their legs and even get their heart rate going but it is doubtful they are getting the level of activity necessary to be effective. In a large class with twenty plus students, the ability to see the screen must be difficult. At first glance this would seem to be an effective use of video games but turns out to be a costly investment with a minimal return.
A more traditional method of physical education including teaching skills and games would be more appropriate and cost effective.
Arguably a fraction of the cost of the video game components, could furnish the school with plenty of new balls and sporting equipment.
Jilleen Rickard
One of the best lessons that gym class has the ability to ingrain in children is teamwork. (Also, the idea of fair play.) Using a game like DDR leaves no space for team sports or true all body inclusive exercise. It has also been stated that gym class is where students strengthen peer relationships. No kids were interacting in that video. There were no teams, and some of the students were not doing enough movement to justify as exercise. Participating in team sports develop essential skills that children will need to use all their lives at home, in the workplace, and out in the world.
A. Nicole Jones
@Nicole: No one says that DDR has to be the only way doing PE class. Its a fun way for students to get involved and excited about gym. DDR could just be one unit out the many units that PE teachers go through throughout the year. Also the students were working together to do the steps, laughing and having a good time. If that's not interacting then I don't know what is.
@Jill: Why spend money on more sports equipment that no student want to play with? Why keep spending money on something that's not working? It makes more sense to try something new in hopes that students will be interested than keep investing in something that's failing.
~Briana
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