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Monday January 28, 2008
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What if your high school gym teacher allowed you to replace the always painful President's Physical Fitness Test with a few rounds on the Nintendo Wii? Great idea, right? Not so much, according to a UK education group.
Five British schools last year decided to incorporate the Wii into its sports curriculum, specifically targeting kids who had opted out of physical education or did not participate in after-school activities.
The concept didn't sit too well with the Campaign for Real Education, which accused the Wii program of "pandering to the views of the physically idle." The group's leader apparently thinks the school systems' efforts would be better spent on "serious competitive sports."
That type of attitude is probably why those kids chose not to take gym in the first place. How many times did I pray for rain in high school so drills on the soccer field were replaced by study halls or an "educational" film strip? Not that my video game skills are any more impressive than my basketball or soccer abilities, but I'd gladly have traded in those dingy, flag football Velcro belts for some quality time with the Wii.
Heck, even the old folks are getting into it:
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January 29, 2008 8:43 AM
Except that Wii exercise has been shown to be worthless:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071221-study-wii-gaming-no-substitute-for-exercise-fatso.html
January 29, 2008 10:55 AM
Everyone points to that one ars technica article as definitive proof. No one's saying that Wii exercise has to replace a traditional exercise program, but it can certainly serve as a method to get people who dislike the same kinds of rote activities that gym teachers seem to love to punish their students with more interested in activity.
I'm with Chloe here - Wii exercise shouldn't replace gym classes, but it can certainly serve as a component in any good physical activity regimen, and rather than diminish the health benefits that come from ANY exercise (because as long as we're pointing at studies, let's Google up a few that point out that any exercise, or any level, can be significantly beneficial over no exercise at all) that playing Wii sports, getting off our butts, and maybe even doing some DDR can provide. Heck, it could even encourage companies to develop peripherals and games that challenge people to get some real exercise using the Wii. People thought the PS2 was worthless from an exercise perspective until people starting designing biking race games with controllers that hooked up to stationary bikes.
Frankly, I think it's time for a little more ingenuity and imaginative teaching in the old gym class. Not everyone wants to play dodgeball and flag football, and not everyone thinking there's any benefit to forcing kids to run laps around the building. It's no wonder American kids hate exercise if our gym classes are representative of what it means to "be active."
January 30, 2008 11:02 PM
When the basement ends up smelling like a gym and the kids come up drenched in sweat, I can't believe that there is no exercise benefit from the WII sports games.
The only games on X-Box or Playstation that get them to the same level of workout are the dance mats. I will vouch for the workout they provide.
I would prefer that they be outside playing soccer or capture the flag, but I will take the WII over watching a screen any day. JDD
February 1, 2008 12:31 PM
I tend to agree. I've actually considered buying a Wii just to provide a way to get some exercise. I wouldn't substitute it for a regular workout at the gym, but for people with little or no ability to do heavy fitness routines I think it's a great option. And there are a few companies coming out with fitness "games" for the Wii in the next year...perhaps they'll be more creative than just step aerobics?
February 16, 2008 12:36 AM
I would take a Wii exercise any day, then to have to do worthless and painful exercise. Those adults need to learn that it's not the 70's anymore, people nowadays have gone digital in their lifestyle.