Can FootGaming Positively Impact Behavior?
You will love this story. I was in a middle school
and two very angry boys were delivered to the guidance
counselor for conflict mediation and a report on the fight they
just had. I had just set up Peggle in the media center (you can try
the game for free at www.popcap.com). I asked the
counselor if I could take the boys there and let them play for
10 minutes as she was too busy to see them right then.
She said, fine. The boys knew me a little bit because I
had been in their class, just the same they were hot headed as
I set them up to play. They each moved on the FootPOWR
pad and played Peggle – for about 9 minutes when the
counselor came back.
She couldn’t believe what she saw. The boys
were calmly playing, moving rhythmically to the sound of the
Peggle ball dropping through the pegs. They were smiling. When
asked to sit down and write their report of the conflict that
had lead to a scuffle just 15 minutes before they both agreed
that they had “just gotten mad.” They apologized to
each other calmly – and calmly again – discussed a
better way to resolve issues like that when they came up.
The boys walked back to class agreeably talking, their demeanor
was relaxed and calm. The combination of select PopCap titles
and the rhythmic physical activity has been proven to reduce
stress, improve mood and alleviate anger (
East Carolina Univ – Dr. C.
Russoniello)
Often, the negative behaviors that are so consistently
disruptive in a learning environment are simply the result of a
student needing to move, wiggle and change position. We
have found that the students most challenged with sitting and
focusing on work for longer than 15-20 minutes benefit most
from FootGaming. Making a "contract" to focus and work for 20
minutes then earning a 10 minute FootGaming break consistently
improves not only behavior, but engagement, academic success
and attendance!
The ExerLearning break shouldn't always come after the academic
task is accomplished. Many students need the activity
break prior to focusing. Please take a look at "
Brainy Stuff" to see how this works. It
is the regular practice of adding Footgaming breaks that
students learn to expect that provides the long term impact on
behavior.
It is important that you take the time to understand why
we suggest particular casual game
titles for alleviating disruptive and negative behaviors.
The games we suggest are geared to reduce stress, improve mood
and reduce anger. Often by attending to these student needs,
many outcomes we value and measure become a reality.
If meeting the needs of your most
at-risk students is something you'd like to explore with
a FootGaming solution, check out our
TEAM E3 program.
Links for Teachers
Frequently Asked Questions | Why Use Casual Games in the
Classroom? |The FootGaming Blog |The ExerLearning
Blog |
Footgaming:
Prepares Students to Learn | Socal Network for
FootGamers | Social Network for
ExerLearning | Footgaming and
Fitness
Games
for 21st Century Skills - DigiFORCE G |
