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Monday, September 6, 2010

Experts Rate “Exergames” for Consumers

(Cross-posted via The Exergame Network)

Exergaming (Active Gaming) combines video games and exercise to provide a physically challenging but enjoyable experience. Traditionally, laboratory tests have been used to determine exertion levels and mainstream journalists review and rate a game’s game-play.

The Exergame Network (TEN) has created a next generation rating system which is ready for world wide release. TEN’s ratings system evaluates the holistic experience of an exergame in it’s Exergaming Experience Rating System (EERS)

TEN is a non-affliated, non-profit games for health exergaming advocacy. Its website portal is http://www.exergamenetwork.org/. TEN represents an international collaboration of dedicated health and fitness practitioners, exergame developers, researchers and clinicians, wellness entrepreneurs, all devoted to promoting an active and healthy lifestyle through exergaming.

The peer-reviewed EERS results have been compiled by a panel of world renowned exergaming experts. The system used to rate the exergame experience has taken a collaboration of over 12 months, driven by the previous lack of real world consumer information into the genre.

Exergames are not only scored on exercise and game play, including the physical interface between the two, but also on the interaction of seven further attributes including sustainability and intervention capacity. Six popular video games with an exercise component have been scored in the first results, including Wii Fit, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), Eyetoy Kinetic, Wii Sports, EA Sports Active and Rockband.

"With so many different games available on the market, a rating system for exergames like the EERS by TEN, is a welcome tool for healthcare practitioners trying to help their patients make the most appropriate choices for their families." says TEN contributor Dr Ernie Medina of MedPlay Technologies LLC.

The highest rated exergame, so far, is Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), which scored 63% with the popular Wii Fit making a mid-table position with 57%. TEN has a resource of over 40 exergames listed that will be peer-reviewed and rated over the next 12 months.

"The EERS results compliment the research work being done in the Exergame Lab at SUNY Cortland. While there is no substitute for scientific research in PE, the thorough rating system is extremely useful to consumers when looking at which product to purchase." says TEN contributor and exergame expert Stephen Yang.

The full Ratings table can be viewed at the TEN Blogsite http://exergamenetwork.blogspot.com/p/exergame-experience-rating-system.html and the resource of exergames 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

Friday, September 3, 2010

Rockstar PE Teachers in the Making

Have you ever been Punk'd in a class? Well that's how we start our Basics of Effective Instruction in PE (EDU 255) because in order to best help you, we have to first see what you can accomplish right now.  It is a pre-assessment of your current teaching skills and knowledge and we will refer to these videos as starting points and for analyses of effective teaching strategies.  If you haven't already seen your video, they can be found on our YouTube Channel.


Today we will show you how to grab the EMBED code so that you can display your videos on your blog or website so that others can easily see it.

I wanted to share with you a video of an interview I did for Good Morning America Health in NYC just over a month ago. Besides teaching, my main focus is on using technology to improve health-related behaviors and attitudes and the primary way I do that is by using exergames as a stimulus for physical activity.


ASSIGNMENT
Please leave a comment here on what your reaction and thoughts are to using games for exercise, therapy or as a gateway towards other physical activities. If you don't agree with me, then please tell me why.  

I am looking forward to working with all of you and getting to know you better so that we can really make an impact on children's attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge towards health and fitness.

"Guiding and inspiring youngsters in the process of becoming physically educated and healthy for a lifetime."


Thursday, August 19, 2010

Physical Education Is An Academic Subject

Be sure to grab this latest NASPE Advocacy paper "Physical Education Is An Academic Subject". It is imperative that you start to collect your tools to support our profession and your future job.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The Air We Breathe: Ice Rink Air Quality

Ice rink in třebíč ice hockey arena.Image via WikipediaYikes!  Hearing about the poor quality of air in some arenas makes me wonder about all the time we spend at the local arenas.  What can we do to monitor the situation as teachers, parents and coaches?
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Concussion rates increase for girls. What will you do?

2005 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship game b...Image via WikipediaHere is a revealing ESPN E:60 report on sports concussions in girls.  What do you make of the reports' claims about increasing head injuries especially in lacrosse?  What should be done to slow down the rate of traumatic injuries? Mouth pieces? Helmets? New rules?  What are the implications for you as a coach/ teacher/ parent?
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Friday, June 11, 2010

Slick New Blogger Designs for Everyone!

Slick New Blogger Designs for Everyone!: "Back in March Google launched a template design tool for Blogger users. The template designer was available only in Blogger in Draft which is the public beta testing ground for new Blogger features. Yesterday, Google added Blogger Template Designer to all blogs. Now anyone with using Blogger can create aesthetically pleasing Blogger blogs without having to hack into the HTML of their blogs.

Learn more about the Blogger Template Designer in the video below and on the Blogger Buzz Blog.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Prezi on Display for racquetball



Jordan McFarlen from Regina created this great review for racquetball on Prezi. It is a great example of how effective new technology can be incorporated into any discipline.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Make Your Own Free Multipurpose Web Page With Google Sites

Make Your Own Free Multipurpose Web Page With Google Sites: "

how can I make a web page for free
As a blogger and owner of multiple websites, it isn’t often that I personally have the need to make free webpages that aren’t hosted on my own webhosting account, or accessed from my own registered domain. However, as anyone who has become entrenched in the world of Web 2.0 knows, there are so many available resources that it’s sometimes difficult to remember all of the sites where you’re a member, or to keep track of all of the information you want to receive updates about every day.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Dave Graveline Into Tomorrow Interviews Stephen Yang at Games For Health 2010

Dave Graveline Into Tomorror Radio Show Interview by Stephen Yang  
Download now or listen on posterous
06-04-2010-1 Dave Graveline GFH2010 Interview audio swap.mp3 (4243 KB)

Here is the Dave Graveline Into Tomorrow Interviewing me (Stephen Yang) at Games For Health 2010, Boston, MA. It was the second time I've been interviewed by Dave and it was great to catch up with him and let him know what's been happening in the ExerGame Lab. Ben and Beth did an awesome job pulling off the biggest and best Games for Health Conference - and if you're interested in making next year's even better - please get in touch so that we can make it happen.

Posted via email from ExerGame Lab's posterous