G4 h and healthivores june 2012

HealthivoresKids Getting Smart About Health

and Green Ribbon Schools

[email protected]/gamecontest

Steve Amos

An innovative program and contest that ENGAGES KIDS in

learning about personal HEALTH through VIDEO GAME DESIGN

The Problems• Childhood Obesity & Related Disease • Student Engagement• Relevancy to Kids• Peer Pressures• Media Bombardment

FOR TEACHERS: Lack Resources easily implemented in the classroom

Background• Convergence: Pflugerville ISD, AMD Foundation, Green Ribbon Schools

• Pilot: Fall 2011, HS kids mentored MS & Elem

• Observed: Grade level step up in cognitive thinking

• Created: Tool kit and national contest

Jorge’s game – high school student

Josue Monreal, the teacher Copperfield Elem. teacher:

“Within the pilot students are really enjoying being able to design the games.

Not only am I seeing the light come on in their heads about healthy foods and exercising

but they are starting to learn the vocabulary and skills around game making, which will motivate them to investigate further the mechanics behind game design and creation. “

Mariah, a Copperfield Elementary School student:

“After talking about eating healthy and working on my game, I started browsing around Taco Cabana's website. Most of the other students were looking at the usuals like McDonald’s, Whataburger, etc… but I started with Taco Cabana because, my mom's friend is real fat and I see here eating Taco Cabana all the time. Plus I heard Mexican food tastes so good because it's bad for you. I found a dish from Taco Cabana that has a total of 96 grams of fat. I was like, "holy cow, if you eat this, you can't eat for a day and a half". I decided I would never eat there again because I don’t want to be "fat".”

Kathryn, Coordinator Instructional Technology:

“… enabled the teachers to be competent facilitators …, while allowing them to engage personally with each student as they created a game that focused on Healthy lifestyles.

Students were excited to build the game they envisioned in their mind's eye & show off what they learned for other students to see and learn from.

Watching students produce a product that used technology, but represented their idea for helping someone else become healthy or choose a healthier lifestyle was amazing.”

Taking Learning from Pilot to a National Program

Teachers and Students NeedZero Game Design and Zero Game Play

Experience If you can turn on a computer…you can

complete our Lesson Plan with your students.

Let’s just say we have made it really EASY!

Healthivores Contest and Tool Kit

http://www.greenribbonschools.org/gamecontest/lessonplan

Healthivores and Green Ribbon Schools Partners

Winnershttp://www.greenribbonschools.org/gamecontest/2012winners

Top Line Impacts on Health and TechnologyPilot students reported an increased awareness and belief that game design impacted how they view healthy habits

46% saying it impacted how they view exercise and fitness as necessary for being healthy 50% saying it has made them think about and/or adjust their food choices/habits 68% saying they are more aware and concerned about obesity

Game Contest Participation Goal 12 to 15 schools Actual 46 schools – from 8 US states, even Guam About 375 games created

Contest students reported 68% reported an increase in technology interest

ObservationsAmazing Creativity: Veggie Cowboy, Health Knights

Great Thinking: Surveying other students, Videos on Flu, Having their class play their games

Interesting Applications: Stress

Kids as Digital Story Tellers

Engaged Kids and Supportive Teachers

Unexpected Competitive Spirit

Size of the Issue - Immense

What’s Next• 2nd Annual Healthivores Video Game Contest• Community voting, Badges, Student Options• Enhanced Toolkit:

– Include “get up and move” • Game Instructions & Embedded w/in games

– Alignment to Standards & Subjects– Extend & “step up” technology options

• On-going research, Feedback loops

Input from educators:

“Kids don’t think about their health” “Not cool … not discussed …”

Per District Teacher of the Year and a Culinary Arts Teacher

Our plan:Extend Healthivores Within Fabric of the School

Establish a Culture of WellnessWhere it is Cool to Think and Act

‘Cause YOU are Worth It

What’s Next – You • Share program w/others

• Serve as judge

• Participate on advisory team

• Research, improve impacts/effectiveness

• Healthivores development

• Team in Support of: Healthier, Happier, Smarter & Funner Kids

Steve AmosGreen Ribbon Schools

[email protected]

@grsteam

www.greenribbonshools.org/gamecontest

facebook.com/greenribbonschools