In its effort to promote health and fitness among youth, Konami has teamed up with a few health and fitness organizations such as Let’s Move in Schools to introduce DanceDanceRevolution Classroom Edition to select high schools around the country.
The game that once swept arcades will now be making its way into classrooms letting students burn some calories while also dancing to licensed master tracks from today’s hit artists. Up to 48 wireless mats will be able to connect to one PC, letting the whole classroom dance and exercise together. The system allows teachers to track vital information about their student’s health and progress including steps taken, body mass index (BMI) and caloric burn rate.
Konami has collaborated with the following organizations that all agree DDR is changing the way “schools and educators look at physical education:” American Diabetes Association, National Foundation on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, Let’s Move in Schools, and Sony Music.
Studies have even shown 40 minutes of playing DanceDanceRevolution is equivalent to a 5k run, so it’s a great alternative to traditional gym class activities such as dodgeball, a game I personally dreaded growing up. What are your thoughts on the inclusion of these kinds of games in the classroom?
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