Research Analysis #1: Using the Wii in Physical Education

The Nintendo Wii (and its accompanying Wii Sports and Wii Fit games suites) simulates numerous physical activities. In recent years, the Wii has begun to appear in educational contexts. As a future PE teacher, I was interested in use of the Wii for physical education (PE) purposes. My initially broad investigations researched whether the Wii had been used in PE to date. Further inquiries led to more specific target questions such as whether the Wii could be a worthy substitute for ‘regular’ PE. Ultimately, my investigations led me to address the question: In what ways (if any) can the Wii be a beneficial tool in Physical Education?

Initial investigations revealed that the Wii had been introduced in PE classes in a number of schools around the English speaking world (including Australia, England, and the USA). Chalk’s (2008) article in online magazine ‘The Escapist’ reported that the UK government had approved a program to introduce the Wii for PE programs across the country. This year The Daily Telegraph reported that a number of NSW schools were offering the Wii as an option in PE classes (Mayoh, 2010).

These reports show that the Wii is being embraced by the education sector. However, this does not certify that the Wii is effective. It appears as though these schools/organisations may have made the decision to use the Wii with little empirical evidence to support the notion that it is actually beneficial. My research found few reputable studies in this new field. Evidently, this is something that will need to be addressed before any solid conclusions can be drawn as to the Wii’s efficacy in a PE context.

Though few studies have been undertaken so far, one report that did give an indication of the validity of the Wii as a substitute for other forms of physical activity was released by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) last year. The press release by the ACE reported that in all cases performing the actual activity yielded much greater calorie expenditure than performing the virtual equivalent (ACE, 2009). Results also revealed that the Wii Sports suite provided opportunities for greater calorie expenditure than the Wii Fit suite. A small number of other studies have supported the suggestion that Wii Sports’ boxing activity provides the most vigorous physical activity and most closely replicates the activity levels of the actual sport (Baumann, 2007; Trout and Christie, 2009).

These results seem to suggest that the Wii may not be valuable in the realm of physical activity levels. Nevertheless, the console could prove useful for other purposes. Hayes and Silberman (2007) listed a number of potential benefits of using video game consoles for educational purposes. Using the military as an example of how simulations can help improve performance of the actual task (i.e. flight simulators), they argued that this same principle can be applied to video game consoles in schools (Hayes and Silberman, 2007). This means that although the Wii cannot replicate the physical activity levels of the ‘real’ sports, it may help students develop the motor and other skills needed to successfully play a given sport. Further research is needed to determine whether the Wii successfully simulates elements of sports other than physical activity levels.

In a classroom context, it should be noted that the Wii can only be used by a maximum of 4 students at a time. This means a significant drop in student participation levels when contrasted with traditional outdoor PE. Student engagement is also at risk of plummeting if the majority of students are inactive during much of the lesson.

Although the Wii seemingly cannot provide a suitable replacement for outdoor physical activity in terms of providing vigorous exercise, it may have other benefits. For example, it may have the ability to aid students in learning, improving, and refining their skills in a given sport. It could also be a useful tool in teaching students the basic rules and concepts of a new sport before they move outdoors and attempt to learn the practical skills of that sport. The Wii can provide an alternative for outdoor sports on rainy days. Furthermore, the Wii has the potential to aid students with disabilities to gain skills in sports that may otherwise be beyond their capabilities. Using this technology in PE classes may also help to improve student ICT literacy.

This is a relatively new field in the sphere of ICT in education. Studies focusing on the topics mentioned above will greatly increase people’s awareness of the benefits and shortcomings of this technology. This will ideally lead to the Wii being used more effectively in educational contexts.


References

American Council On Exercise (2009, November 11). Test Results Reported on Fitness Benefits of Nintendo's Wii Fit and PC-Based Exergame, Dancetown. Retrieved from http://www.acefitness.org/pressroom/442/test-results-reported-on-fitness-benefits-of/

Baumann, M. (2007). Slimming Down with Wii Sports. Information Today, Apr2007, 24(4), p.47.

Chalk, A. (2008, January 30). U.K. Government Endorses Wii For Physical Education Programs. The Escapist. Retrieved from http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/81028-U-K-Government-Endorses-Wii-For-Physical-Education-Programs

Hayes, E. & Silberman, L. (2007). Incorporating Video Games into Physical Education. The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, March 2007, 78(3), p.18-24.

Mayoh, L. (2010, April 4). This is the future of sport in schools - Wii instead of PE. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/this-is-the-future-of-sport-in-schools-wii-instead-of-pe/story-e6freuy9-1225849277763

Trout, J. & Christie, B. (2009). Do Interactive Video Games Stimulate Enough Activity? JOPERD: The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, Aug2009, 80(6), p.3.

Hey, if the Wii turns out to be rubbish for PE purposes, how about some of this stuff!

ACE gives thumbs down to Wii!

This article/press release from the American Council On Exercise (ACE) provides some solid evidence regarding the physical fitness benefits of using the Wii and other similar systems (i.e. Dancetown). The study by the ACE focused on the most challenging activities of the Wii Fit program. This decision initially suggests that Wii Sport activities (such as golf and bowling) were not included due to their relative lack of physical challenges. This would help validate my previous suspicions that using these games in schools would have little effect on student fitness and activity levels. However, ACE's chief science officer in the article, states that:


"While we found that playing the Wii Fit burns twice as many calories as a sedentary video game, the outcome of the study suggests that Wii Sports, the Wii's suite of exergames that includes tennis, boxing, golf and bowling, is a better option and more capable of helping consumers meet minimum intensity guidelines for exercise".

It seems that, surprisingly, the Wii Sports games actually do a better job than the Wii Fit games when it comes to providing users with vigorous exercise.

However, this doesn't mean that the Wii sports suite is still able to provide sufficient levels of physical activity, merely more than the underwhelming Wii Fit suite.

The research found that in all cases, performing the actual activity yielded much greater calorie expenditure than the performing the virtual equivalent.

Using the Wii for PE leads to better ICT literacy?!

This question just popped into my head...

I have been reading about/thinking about/writing about the effect that using the Wii in PE might have on acheiving PE outcomes. What about the effect that it might have on students' ICT literacy?

Could a relevant body justify using the Wii by stating that it has the ability to increase technological literacy?

I have no resource or anything to present with this. Just a thought.

Wii instead of PE? Do I agree? Read on and see!

Daily Telegraph Article - Future Of Sport In Schools

This is an interesting article. Firstly, its Australian. Secondly, its more recent that the last one I wrote about. Thirdly, its similar to the last one I found but The Daily Telegraph provide their trademark bias (lovely) and live up to their tabloid newspaper status by throwing in a celebrity interview mid-article!


Despite having to sift through the opinions of a world champion boxer (who must therefore also be an expert on achieving Physical Education outcomes right?!) the article to does raise a few points that are worth considering when discussing this issue.


Is it reasonable to offer Wii Sports/Wii Fit as an elective, effectively offering it as a substitute for other outdoor activities/sports? Maybe. Is there additional compulsory PE that includes outdoor activity? PE is not only about physical activity. It also about spending time outdoors (important for a number of reasons including the obvious one of getting some vitamin d!). It is about socialisation of children. Does the Wii provide the same social benefits as team games and activities in regular PE class? I'm not sure that it does!


See the following image (from the article):

This image raises another question: How does using the Wii effect student participation? As a PE teacher in training I have been repeatedly taught that maximum participation is a key element of any good PE lesson. Simply, you should have as many students active at any given time as possible. This is not only to increase the amount of time the students are physically active, to maintain high levels of student engagement and give students more opportunities/time to develop and improve their skills. The picture above shows 4 active students and the rest of the class sitting and waiting. What does this do for engagement levels? Activity levels? Skill development? I can see 16 kids who look like experts at sitting on their bums! Unless schools have the means to provide multiple consoles in each class their will inevitably be less overall activity than a 'regular' outdoor/gymnasium PE lesson.

The article does mention that the Wii provided a great alternative in a school that did not have a tennis court. I can see the benefits that this may have.

It also includes the idea that the Wii can provide a means for promoting sports. Though it is not explicitly stated in the article, it is worth extending that thought and thinking about potential future research addressing a research question such as "Can use of the Wii lead to greater interest and participation in 'real' sports?"

Hmmm... ponderness...

U.K Government endorses Wii...

Article - UK Government Endorses Wii For PE


"With childhood obesity rates in the U.K. continuing to rise, the government recently endorsed a program that would see the Nintendo Wii employed in physical education programs across the country."


What are the implications of a government endorsed program that condones and encourages the use of video game consoles in class? Can the Wii provide an adequate substitute for regular PE classes/physical activity? These are interesting questions that provide a starting point for my investigations into using the Wii for physical education purposes.

The magazine article above states that the U.K. government's decision to employ the Wii across the country in physical education (PE) programs was the result of evidence gathered in a small study of 5 English schools. The research suggested that usually inactive students had an increase in their physical activity levels as a result of introducing the Wii in the school environment. A U.K. government spokesperson stated that using video game consoles can play a role in getting children to exercise. The word "can" seems like the operative one here.

To me it seems that yes, the Wii has the potential to help inactive students increase their activity levels. However, it should by no means be a replacement for regular PE.

For starters, the article states that students were lining up to play Wii sports such as tennis, baseball, bowling and golf. All of these video game adaptations require significantly less physical activity than their respective 'real' counterparts. For example, Wii golf does not require the vigorous walking that is an integral part of golf. Even in more micro terms, Wii bowling does not require the participant to repeatedly lift a heavy bowling ball (as is required in actual bowling!).

The way the study/article talks about inactive students lining up at lunch time to play these games does not necessarily fill my mind with images that reflect healthy lifestyles!

What do I see?

My mind immediately sees: overweight children, standing still inside a classroom, in front of a screen, one hand holding the controller, the other hand stuffing a donut in their face, meanwhile kids outside are running around, playing handball, shooting hoops, or kicking a ball around.

I know what you're thinking: "Wow! Dood is harsh!".

Wii bowling (and other similar Wii sports games) in my opinion would have negligible effects on student fitness. However, this doesn't rule out other Wii games. I'm going to keep hunting and see what else I can find. I think if used well, the Wii could provide a great supplement to normal PE classes.

Anyway, this article provided a nice starting point, gave me some interesting ideas, and immediately got me fired up about the topic!

Investigations will continue...

Sport and Technology in an American college

This little video demonstrates how different technology (including the Nintendo Wii) can be used in Physical Education. Its a cute little vid made by some American students. What is interesting about it is the fact that it shows how younger people (these ones at least! are they final year of high school? or maybe first year education students?) are interested and motivated to advocate the use of technology in PE classes.

Radness and a HD

here is a random technology image:


and here is a random sports image:

stuff stuff stuff, life changing comments and analysis on ICT issue (relating to PE), lots of marks...