We began Generation FIT with the initial goal to
impact youth fitness and help with childhood obesity by adding
10-30+ minutes of technology delivered physical activity in a
grade 3-12 classroom. Blostering activity in schools where PE
had been reduced or eliminated had to be delivered in an
easy and time-effective manner that didn't disrupt
the learning or burden busy teachers. To our
surprise, academic and behavioral progress soon followed.
Others were doing similar things, capturing the attention of
neuroscientists, who in the past few years have explained the
link between exercise and cognitive function.
Does your school deliver 150-225 physical activity minutes to students each week? That's a tough mandate!
Daily physical-education classes maximize brain power, according to Harvard researcher, Dr John Ratey, author of "Spark: The Revolutionary Science of Exercise and the Brain." Ratey says cardiovascular fitness improves academic achievement and reduces school discipline problems. Choosing between P.E. or academics sets up "a false debate, because our moving brain is our thinking brain. The same ... cells that we move with ... are the ones we use to think. When we move, we activate them."
So how does FootGaming increase attendance? When students are allowed to play a video game at school they are curious and eager to participate. That's a short-lived incentive - much like stickers in the younger grades and pizza parties later. There are many reasons why our more at-risk and struggling students choose to be absent from school. Unless these students experience exactly the brain and body movement they need along with authentic success, value and confidence while at school FootGaming won't deliver its optimal benefits. A program like FootGaming connected solidy to ExerLearning hits the students in the areas most in need of support:
- Frustration and boredom - not being able to do the work leads to disengagement and frustration. This a major reason many students fake being sick or simply skip school. ExerLearning teachers have found that the expectation of several 10-minute active game-breaks during the day encourages more attendance. We have found that when the targeted students are given a leadership role in managing the games and related technology they are more likely to be present. For more on that please explore TEAM E3.
- Love of games - in some Districts there is a problem with students skipping school to stay home and play their games. When games are part of the learning philosophy and curriculum, students appreciate school awareness of the power of "their" games. See our area on DigiForce G
- Brainy Stuff - Many at-risk students begin to experience greater success in cognitive tasks after a regular program of 10-minute ExerLearning breaks. By learning the direct connection between heart rate rising physical activity and balance practice to academic success, often the at-risk student is relieved to learn a new and effective strategy. By taking the time to teach students the basics of recent brain research they become part of the solution strategy. Confidence and school engagement rise along with attendance rates
When the teachers in the ExerLearning
program, Generation FIT, filled out a survey that
reported from just within the Generation FIT student mentor
team the figures were beyond our expectation. The absenteeism
among the control group didn't change from the pre-program
quarter to the intervention quarter. The results from our Gen
FIT mentor student group were profound. In summary, 52% of the
program mentors had a reduction in absenteeism. If total
numbers of days in attendance were counted compared to the
control group - the Gen FIT mentors attended school 22.8% more
days - or an increase of 28% in attendance from the previous
quarter (even though the quarter we measured was during winter
flu season). More important to the teachers are the areas that
are more subjective: increase in leisure reading, decreased
negative behaviors and more self confidence, responsibility and
focus.
Legislation pending in Congress, called the "Fitness
Integrated with Teaching Kids Act" (FIT Kids Act), would update
current physical fitness standards in K-12 schools and hold
educators accountable for a portion of their students' health.
For full details on this act click
here. This is great news for FootGaming and Exerlearning - we have the "plug and play"
solution busy teachers and over-burdened schools need.
