Project SMART: The Gamification of Physical Activity in Schools

Participation in physical activity is associated with better performance in school, but most children do not meet the recommendations of the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans for 60 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The prevalence of inactive behaviors such as sitting and screen time are on the rise, and schools have become largely sedentary environments despite the known health benefits of physical activity. This project is using technology integrated with educational goals to increase rates of physical activity participation and healthy eating to reduce the risk of disease. We are exploring the use of a cooperative educational game coupled with lightweight wearable devices to promote both active transit to and from school and physical activity within school. Students join the scientific process by making their own observations, providing interpretations, and solving problems. Further, students can program the wearable devices themselves, which engages them in their own physical activity monitoring through STEM-connected activities that are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills learning outcomes. 

Progress and Results: Findings from the initial data collection suggest that younger children tend to overestimate the amount of physical activity, while 5th grade students underestimated the physical activity's intensity. The game has now been converted to played both in-person and remotely, with children reporting their physical activity participation from the home and school settings. Teachers focus group interviews suggest that they are concerned about the lack of physical activity participation among children and welcome more opportunities to help them engage. We continue to work alongside teachers and students to involve and engage them in collecting data that will inform the way how we identify the health benefits associated with the larger Whole Communities–Whole Health cohort study.