Teaching Physical Education With Video Games

What's going on everyone?

It's been a minute since my last post here. Almost an entire year. I apologize for not updating sooner as this past year has been very busy. So I'm finally back with what I think will be a cool update for you all.

This year I was told that a number of my high school students are deficient in physical education credits and that they are not on track to graduate. So I had an idea. What if I could incorporate physical education into one of my gaming classes? And that is exactly what I have spent this past semester doing. Using both the motion controls on the Nintendo Switch and virtual reality headsets, I have put together a class set of games that actually gets my students moving. I thought I could share the games here with you all in case this could help out any other teachers or students who are in need of physical education credit.

So the games I am having students play this semester are

• Nintendo Switch Sports

• Ring Fit Adventure

• Just Dance

• Fitness Boxing

• Beat Saber

• Superhot

• Pistol Whip

Let's break down what each of these games are about.

Nintendo Switch Sports

Nintendo Switch Sports is a game collection developed for the Nintendo Switch. It is a spiritual sequel to the immensely popular game Wii Sports that took the world by storm a number of years back. It features a variety of sports such as soccer, volleyball, bowling, tennis, and golf. The reason it works well in this class is that the students play through motion-controlled gameplay using the Switch's Joy-Con controllers. Players can engage in single-player tournaments, multiplayer matches, or enjoy various mini-games tailored to each sport. The game emphasizes accessibility, fun, and engaging gameplay for players of all ages and skill levels. Students can stand, run around the room, or even play while seated if needed. My students in particular were really into playing volleyball.

Ring Fit Adventure

I haven't played this game yet with my students, but I will as the semester continues. Ring Fit Adventure is a fitness-based role-playing game developed for the Nintendo Switch. It combines gaming with real-life exercise using accessories like the Ring-Con and leg strap. Players embark on a fitness-themed adventure, battling monsters and completing challenges by performing various exercises.

In the game, players take on the role of an adventurer guided by Ring, a sentient fitness ring. The goal is to defeat a bodybuilding dragon named Dragaux who's wreaking havoc on the land. To progress through the game and defeat enemies, players perform exercises like squats, jogging, yoga poses, and more, all detected and tracked by the Switch's Joy-Con controllers attached to the Ring-Con and leg strap. I personally can't wait to start this one with my students later this year. I played it myself back when the world was still in quarantine and it is a big workout.

Just Dance

Just Dance is a video game series developed by Ubisoft. It's primarily a dance simulation game where players follow on-screen choreography to various songs. Using motion controllers or a smartphone app, players mimic the dance moves displayed on the screen and earn points based on their accuracy and timing. I have been playing this game with my students using my Nintendo Switch which allows for motion controls. The game features a wide selection of songs across different genres and eras. Each installment typically includes a mix of recent chart-toppers, classic hits, and regional favorites, providing a diverse playlist for players to enjoy. So far I have only played the 2017 version of the game, but I will probably buy the newer 2024 version as well. The kids have surprisingly been super into it. Even the students who don't love dancing themselves.

Fitness Boxing

This is a boxing game with motion controls on the Nintendo Switch that I haven't used yet, but will later this semester. Fitness Boxing is a video game developed for the Nintendo Switch that combines exercise routines with boxing-themed workouts. The game aims to provide a fun and engaging way for players to get active while learning boxing techniques. The players use the Joy-Con controllers as virtual boxing gloves, following along with on-screen instructions to perform a variety of boxing-inspired exercises. The game offers personalized workout routines based on the player's fitness goals, allowing them to set up their schedules, track progress, and customize workouts to suit their needs.

The game incorporates various difficulty levels and workout durations to accommodate different fitness levels and schedules. Additionally, the game tracks calories burned and provides progress tracking tools to help users stay motivated and monitor their fitness journey. By gamifying exercise routines with boxing elements and providing feedback and progress tracking, it hopefully makes fitness enjoyable and accessible to players of all ages and fitness levels, encouraging them to stay active while having fun.

Virtual Reality: Beat Saber - Superhot - Pistol Whip

I was luckily enough this year to get funding for three virtual reality headsets. So far, I've had them play three different VR games.

Beat Saber is a virtual reality rhythm game that has gained immense popularity since its release. Developed by Beat Games, it's available on various VR platforms like Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, and others. In the game, players wield two lightsabers and slash through blocks and obstacles that fly towards them in sync with the beat of the music. Each block has a directional arrow indicating the direction to slash, and players must slice them in the correct direction and timing to score points. Additionally, players need to dodge obstacles that come their way, requiring physical movement to avoid them.

Like Just Dance, Beat Saber features a diverse selection of music across multiple genres, including electronic, pop, and more, with additional tracks available through downloadable content (DLC). This was also a game I personally got into myself during the pandemic and it is quote the workout. I need to clean sweat off the headsets each time a student plays this one.

Superhot is a first-person shooter (FPS) game. What sets it apart from traditional FPS games is its gameplay mechanic where time moves only when the player moves. This game is basically what it would be like to fight in The Matrix. The players find themselves in a minimalist environment where time moves at an extremely slow pace when the player remains still. However, as the player starts to move, time speeds up accordingly. This mechanic creates a strategic and tactical experience where players need to plan their movements and actions carefully to overcome enemies and obstacles. This is definitely more of a leg workout than one might realize as you will be doing a lot of squats in order to doge all of the oncoming bullets.

Pistol Whip is an action-packed virtual reality rhythm game. It combines elements of on-rails shooters and rhythmic gameplay. The game is a stage based shooter where the player automatically moves through the level and has to defeat enemies to the music. The game blends shooting mechanics with music and rhythm-based gameplay. Players must shoot targets, dodge incoming bullets, and avoid obstacles while moving to the beat of the music. Just like Beat Saber and Superhot, This game gets the students sweating.

And that's about it so far. What's cool about using video games as a means of fitness is that they are infinitely accessible and can be modified to match individual students. I know I am very lucky, however, to be provided with the funding to even be able to buy and incorporate all of this technology into my classroom. I hope this was helpful and that it may help any physical education teachers out there looking for cool ways to get your students physically active.

Thanks for reading,

Zack

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