American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - AAHPERD

 Issue: May/June 2007

Interactive Video Games in Physical Education
Josh Trout & Brett Christie

Abstract:
As the obesity epidemic in the United States spreads among children and teenagers, due in part to sedentary lifestyles, some physical education programs are using interactive video games to keep students engaged in physical activity. These innovative games make physical activity fun and challenging for both high- and low-skilled students. Although little empirical data are available on these games, countless newspaper and magazine articles describe how fun and physically engaging they are. In addition to being entertaining, these games measure heart rate, power, and reaction time; estimate caloric expenditure; search for movement deficits; and require students to aim, strike, and move in ways they never have before. This article examines five products—Dance Dance Revolution, Cybex Trazer, Eyetoy, Cateye Gamebike, and Sportwall—and gives practical strategies for implementing them in a physical education setting. Ideas for obtaining grant money, donations, and funds are also explored.

Article category: Technology