Technology in Physical Activity - Reece

Technology in Physical activity

                  In today’s world its almost impossible to go anywhere without seeing or using technology. Technology is the new normal for a numerous amount of people. Many people wouldn’t know what to do with themselves if they didn’t have their cell phone, internet, or I pod for a day. So can technology form into an addiction? With that question in mind is it appropriate to influence technology into our school systems. Technology can be found all around in most class rooms and can be a handy tool for research and communication but when is using technology crossing a line. A line that I feel is crossed with technology is, bringing technology into physical activity like P.E class, is there a real need for it? Technology becoming physically capable can help with obesity and children who prefer to play video games over sports or any real physical activity. Using a technology device like the Wii or Xbox shows them that they can do what they love and still stay healthy. (Physical activity)

                  If a student can get him or herself out of bed in the morning and dress themselves, and do every day basic things to live and get through the day. Then they should be able to participate in physical activities at school, it’s all on the person’s mindset because other kids who might not want to participate in the activities but they still do. If a student is addicted to video games at home, then bringing video games like the Wii or Xbox kinect into physical activity class rooms will only encourage the addiction of video games. A kid will think that if they can do physical activities through technology then their perception of the world will be that they can do everything through technology. (International journal) At school students should be exposed to other options of doing things. Students can find shortcuts around certain things in the Wii and Xbox physical games because most of the games don’t require full movement. A student who doesn’t participate in regular non technology exposed activities probably will not have a drive to fully participate in physical activity on the Wii or Xbox most of the time if an easier way is a option then the student will usually take the easier way.(International journal) Bringing technology into physical actvitys in school will encourage video game addiction and shortcuts.

                  Technology like the Wii and Xbox aren’t cheap devices. They can cost hundreds of dollars for one device. If a P.E class was to bring in a technology for all the students that would be very costly. Even if you had a couple Wii controllers or pads students would have to take turns using these items and students might not get the same amount of physical activity then they would if they were all playing a sport or some activity that they can all participate in at the same time.  Teaching basically wouldn’t be required after they taught the students how to use the devices and it doesn’t take a college degree or even a high school diploma to teach people how to use a technology device like the Wii or Xbox. Doing this would defeat the whole purpose of physical activities because there would be minimal, if any interactions and no real teachings especially if the device tells what you’re doing wrong and how to fix the problem.

                  Having technology be influenced in physical activity in school can lead a student to become so dependent on it that when they are exposed to events outside of school they will not know what to do or how to act. When the students are in public they will tend to feel out of place and not sure how to act or what to say to people because their dependency on technology has caused them to forget some social skills and this can cause anxiety and depression which will further discourage them to want to socialize but turn to technology as their comfort. (Learning physical examination skills) Teaching physical activities without technology will teach children how to interact with each other because in P.E class there are other people that you interact with.

                  Technology being involved in physical activities can be a good thing for those with disabilities, but for those who are perfectly capable of doing physical activities in my opinion don’t need technology to perform physical activities. Putting technology in physical activities can cause future social and health problems for students, it can be a financial burden for schools, and continue any kind of video game addition that a student already has. It could also put physical educator’s jobs at question because of the few skills it requires to teach on those technology devices. Technology can be found almost everywhere you go in today’s world but it’s not always needed because sometimes you’re better off doing something on your own. Like in P.E class playing basketball with other people is more of a work then you would get playing on a Wii or Xbox even though students who are inactive move more on a Wii or Xbox they still don’t get the same amount of physical activity they would if they were actually playing the game.(Effects of exergaming). These are all reasons why I believe that technology should not be brought into physical activity classes like P.E because of all the circumstances that surround technology in physical activity.   

        

Works Cited

Shannon Koehler, et al. "The Effects Of Exergaming On Physical Activity Among Inactive Children In A Physical Education Classroom." Journal Of Applied Behavior Analysis 43.4 (2010): 591-600. ERIC. Web. 21 Oct. 2012.

Griffiths, Mark D. "The Use Of Online Methodologies In Data Collection For Gambling And Gaming Addictions."

              International Journal Of Mental Health And Addiction 8.1 (2010): 8-20. ERIC. Web. 21 Oct. 2012.

Cees P. M. van der Vleuten, et al. "Learning Physical Examination Skills Outside Timetabled Training Sessions: What Happens And Why?." Advances In Health Sciences Education 17.3 (2012): 339-355. ERIC. Web. 21 Oct. 2012.