Jump into Exergaming

The Exergame Network (TEN) is a not for profit advocacy group promoting exergaming and wishes to give students new opportunities to research this exciting new field.

The Exergame Network Chairman of the Board, Richard Coshott, will undertake a sponsored skydive in August this year to raise awareness and money for TEN towards funding students study designs into research reality. TEN will be inviting students to submit study designs for consideration by the board of directors towards an award.

Awards will be made in October and not limited to funding but include donation or free borrowing of exergame equipment and, most valuable, expertise from TEN exergaming researchers in to form of help, advice and study quality assurance.

"I am raising money by way of a sponsored skydive in August 2012 to provide TEN with funds to support aspirations towards quality research in exergaming, by engaging the new generation of researchers. The skydive is a solo jump, which represents the leap of faith and commitment of purpose we would expect to see in candidate submissions into the field of exergaming research from the students." said TEN Chairman Richard Coshott.

The Exergame Network already freely provides a rich source of exergame information at it's wiki http://exergaming.pbworks.com and is supported by the sectors leading, independent experts. The awards for the Future of Exergaming Research will be made by TEN following an international invitation for study designs open to all universities across the globe.

Please support the inititive by showing your support at https://www.fundraise.com/the-exergame-network/active-gamer. All donations will be attributed directly to award winners, full details of the contest will be available via TEN.

Active Gaming Highlighted with President Obama's Fitness Director

The University of South Florida's College of Education will be hosting the annual Education in Action Luncheon in November. Each year the College chooses a topic in which to focus at the event. This year the focus in on childhood obesity while highlighting active gaming. See the article below and also here.

USF SHOWCASES ACTIVE GAMING RESEARCH FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA’S FITNESS DIRECTOR
Executive director of President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to address area educators, tour USF’s active gaming research lab

TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 2010) – From Wii Fit to Dance, Dance Revolution, interactive fitness, known as active gaming has added a new dimension to once sedentary video gaming, opening the door to an innovative and effective method for combating childhood obesity.

Experts at the University of South Florida who have been on the leading edge of active gaming research will have the opportunity to showcase their findings for the nation’s top physical fitness director, Shellie Pfohl, when she visits Tampa on Thursday, Nov. 18.

President Obama named Pfohl as director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) earlier this year. She leads the efforts related to First Lady Michelle Obama’s national “Let’s Move” campaign to solve childhood obesity.
Pfohl will be in town to deliver the keynote address at the USF College of Education’s 14th Annual Education in Action Luncheon. USF’s Education in Action luncheon brings together hundreds of community leaders and educators in an effort to increase awareness of the importance of partnerships among the college, K-12 schools in the Tampa Bay area and community.

Work conducted by the College of Education’s School of Physical Education and Exercise Science related to childhood obesity and active gaming (the use of technology to promote physical activity), will be highlighted during the event.
Prior to delivering the keynote address at the luncheon, which will take place at the Florida State Fairgrounds at noon, Pfohl will tour USF’s active gaming research lab located at Belle Witter Elementary School at 9 a.m. The school, located at 10801 N. 22nd St. Tampa, serves as a research and outreach program of the USF College of Education’s active gaming labs. The media is invited to attend both the Belle Witter tour and the Education in Action luncheon.

“Active gaming is gaining in popularity around the country,” said Lisa Hansen, assistant professor in the School of Physical Education and Exercise Science and co-director of the active gaming research labs at USF. “We are proud to be one of the first to not only embrace this contemporary movement, but research active gaming in order to learn more about the potential technology has in turning children on to daily physical activity.”

“Research shows that daily physical activity can improve academic performance,” added Stephen Sanders, professor and director of the School of Physical Education and Exercise Science and co-director of the active gaming research labs. “Together, we can put research into action to develop active, healthy kids.”

Posted on behalf of Lisa, who is busy setting up for the event and originally via http://pecactivegaming.blogspot.com/2010/11/active-gaming-highlighted-with.html

Teachers Demand Physical Education Overhaul

Scientific research supports physical activity as an effective approach to minimize mounting health concerns and Physical Education teachers are using this research and exciting new methods to re-define "what is PE". PE teachers are the doing their part by rasing awareness that fitness can be fun, in a way that kids today understand - technology.

These technology skilled PE teachers of today are learning to use "exergames" in classes - exergames are video-games combined with fitness. Nothing engages today's school children more than technology, so it is no surprise exergames dramatically raise interest in PE class by making the class fun, challenging and rewarding. Exergaming is advocated throughout the U.S. by The Exergame Network (TEN). TEN's mission is to share information, success stories and act as a portal resource for exergaming via it's education wiki and blog.

Pioneering teachers PE encountered early challenges, sometimes experimenting with games consoles, like the Nintendo Wii, as a format to drive a PE class. Leading PE teachers now eagerly share the formula for success by using a wide range of exergame implementations. Successfully trailed exergames meet recommended exercise guidelines and can be integrated into structure PE lessons to the enjoyment and benefit of students. Many PE teachers have developed the skills to use exergaming in a developmentally appropriate way, according to guidelines from PE centers of excellence, as a tool can motivate and energize today's youth.

A Florida PE teacher spoke confidently in support of exergaming, "This is the first time in 11 years of teaching PE that I've had to kick kids out of class who don't want to stop exercising." One student summarizes the feelings of those involved in structured exergaming PE class "If the whole United States had a room like this, then this world would be a better place." This evidence, supported by peer reviewed research, comes directly from the University of South Florida's, Active Gaming Research Lab's web archives and represents just two of the many success stories of research into all ages and different implementations of exergaming.

The support for exergaming has reached global proportions, demonstrated by quotes from the BBC News posted in the Gamercize web archives. A PE student talks about the immersive nature of exergaming "Sometimes when you're playing netball or basketball you get a bit tired and then you say 'Oh I don't want to do this anymore' but this is really fun and I think I could do it all day." Her teacher is aware of how exergaming increases student involvement in PE, "Its certainly not physical education as we know it, but thats not what we're looking for. Some kids want to take part in this who wouldn't want to play football or other conventional sports."

Educators, researchers and editors alike are encouraged to use exergaming technology in their classes by first visiting the TEN resource sites to participate, ask questions to the worlds foremost experts, share news and ideas on exergaming in PE and PA. Resource information from TEN includes the five major categories of exergaming implementations, from dance pads to dedicated "workout" games, at http://exergamenetwork.blogspot.com/p/types-of-exergaming.html. TEN has also listed exergaming products available in the US with a collection of nearly 40 different exergaming choices covering aspects of PE with many different modes of physical activity at http://exergamenetwork.blogspot.com/p/exergame-products.html.

The Exergame Network can be joined or contacted via LinkedIn, Facebook, Wiki, Twitter or by email at info@exergamenetwork.org.