Did you know? Children need at least 60 minutes of bone and muscle strengthening exercises every day, and yet only 35% of 5-17 year olds are reaching their recommended physical activity levels.
(Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children & Youth)
(Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children & Youth)
meet the developer
Jennifer has been integrating technology into her classroom since 2013. She is an advocate for the transformative results of game-based learning. Recognizing the growing concern of "too much screen time" and not enough daily physical exercise with today's youth, Jennifer seeks to create a medium bridging these two issues. She uses her experience with educational games as well as her own pedagogical knowledge to develop a game with features to meet those needs.
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I've been both a student who was made to complete a required amount of Daily Physical Exercise (DPA) mandated by the government, as well a teacher who had to find time in the day to cram in 30 minutes of DPA. In my experience as both student and teacher, DPA felt contrived and was not a priority. Though DPA is no longer required, it is still something that should be done. I teach children who are at an age where they are becoming increasingly attached to phones and video games. Why take them away from what inspires and excites them? Rather than viewing "screen time" and "being active" as polar opposites, DANC(E)XERCISE presents a hopeful, hypothetical future where they are interconnected and welcomed. (See: Rationale & Reflection)
With a teacher account, teachers can create a classroom for students to join. QR codes are available for easy log-in if classes are using shared devices. Assign dance games based on fitness ability or fitness goals. Use the phone camera to measure heart rate after workouts. All data will be logged into student profiles and weekly reports will be sent directly to teachers.
Teacher Dashboard
Teachers can collect authentic data about students' physical activity, increase collaboration between home and school through joint-goal setting, personalize student profiles, read and comment on reflections, and build classroom community through class-challenges.
Student Dashboard
Students can select extra dance workouts to do and add them to their profile. Finish a workout streak to unlock special characters! There is also space for students to reflect on areas they have improved on, goals they have reached, and other writing prompts sent by the teacher. If parents are connected to their accounts, they can complete dance games together to earn bonus star tokens!
With DANC(E)XERCISE, physical activity continues after 3:00pm. Students can dance anywhere with wifi and a place to prop up their mobile devices. As they move up grades, their profile will move with them!
frequently asked questions
Is DANC(E)XERCISE based on research?
Based on research from ParticipACTION and Stats Can, DANC(E)XERCISE routines are designed to fit with Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines. Research has shown that the health of body and brain are directly connected. By adding movement breaks of various intensities throughout the day, students will remember better, self-regulate more efficiently, increase focus and attention, and have higher self-esteem and self-worth. DANC(E)XERCISE games allow teachers to not only implement movement breaks, but to also track data and growth, communicate with parents, set individual and communal goals, and encourage a positive mindset towards physical activity.
Will DANC(E)XERCISE work on all mobile devices?
Currently, DANC(E)XERCISE will run on iPad 2 and higher, iPhone 6s and higher, Samsung S8 and higher, and Google Pixel 2 and higher.
How does the game measure heart-rate using my phone?
Your phone camera uses light to detect changes in blood volume beneath your skin, a process called photoplethysmography. In short, when your heart beats, blood flows at different rates through your capillaries. Because blood absorbs light, our app uses your camera's flash to "illuminate the skin and create a reflection" to get a reading (CNET).
Does the game require wifi?
Yes, in order to save student data, players will need to play using wifi or cellular data.
Where is my data stored?
You and your students are the owner of all data stored on DANC(E)XERCISE. Data is stored on Canadian servers in Toronto and Quebec City. DANC(E)XERCISE has established privacy controls that allow you to select who has access to student data, what they can access, and for how long they have access to your data.
Based on research from ParticipACTION and Stats Can, DANC(E)XERCISE routines are designed to fit with Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines. Research has shown that the health of body and brain are directly connected. By adding movement breaks of various intensities throughout the day, students will remember better, self-regulate more efficiently, increase focus and attention, and have higher self-esteem and self-worth. DANC(E)XERCISE games allow teachers to not only implement movement breaks, but to also track data and growth, communicate with parents, set individual and communal goals, and encourage a positive mindset towards physical activity.
Will DANC(E)XERCISE work on all mobile devices?
Currently, DANC(E)XERCISE will run on iPad 2 and higher, iPhone 6s and higher, Samsung S8 and higher, and Google Pixel 2 and higher.
How does the game measure heart-rate using my phone?
Your phone camera uses light to detect changes in blood volume beneath your skin, a process called photoplethysmography. In short, when your heart beats, blood flows at different rates through your capillaries. Because blood absorbs light, our app uses your camera's flash to "illuminate the skin and create a reflection" to get a reading (CNET).
Does the game require wifi?
Yes, in order to save student data, players will need to play using wifi or cellular data.
Where is my data stored?
You and your students are the owner of all data stored on DANC(E)XERCISE. Data is stored on Canadian servers in Toronto and Quebec City. DANC(E)XERCISE has established privacy controls that allow you to select who has access to student data, what they can access, and for how long they have access to your data.