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Junior Asparagus
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Joined: 23 Jan 2002
Location: Natick, MA |
0.  Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 10:47 am Post subject: West Virginia adds DDR to physical education curriculum |
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West Virginia is planning on putting an Xbox console and DDR in every public school as part of its physical education program. The San Francisco Chronicle, USA Today, and the Associated Press report that the plan is part of a new initiative to fight childhood obesity. The program is expected to cost $500,000, with partial funding coming from Konami as well as various other organizations. Officials feel that DDR may be a worthwhile alternative for students who may not be interested in traditional sports.
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Last edited by Junior Asparagus on Wed Jan 25, 2006 10:59 am, edited 3 times in total |
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Canaduh
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Joined: 22 Jan 2005
Location: Tilt in the Marketplace |
| 1. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 10:50 am Post subject: |
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Lets hope this goes well so that it can set a good example for other states. WE NEED IT HERE IN ILLINOIS!!!!!
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teamoguy21
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Joined: 26 Sep 2005
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| 2. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:01 am Post subject: |
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DUDE I LIVE LIKE A STATE AWAY!!! WHY DON'T THEY DO THAT IN MARYLAND?!?!  |
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psisarah
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Joined: 06 Jul 2005
Location: Toronto |
| 3. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:06 am Post subject: |
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The thing I find entertaining is that Roxor started this whole "dancing in the classroom" movement and now Konami has taken over WV. Heh.
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Jypsy
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Joined: 12 Mar 2002
Location: Janesville |
| 4. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:17 am Post subject: |
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ok. lets look at this realistically.
ONE console per school....
this should be fully implimented within 3 years....
wow, this has to be one of the worst ideas I have seen to date.
"BUT MR HOT DOG KIDS WILL EXCERCISE!11!!!ONE!!"
No, they wont. they will goof off on a ddr pad for 10 minutes, then spend the rest of the time sitting on their butts, and once the kids break the pad, (within a month) thats that.
Lets not get started on the theft issue.
also, THREE YEARS? the ps2/xbox era should be almost completely phased out by then, as well as DDR's longetivity in the console marketplace is brought to question.
why not just buy basketballs and kickballs, and frisbees, and tennis raquets, so not just TWO people can play at once, encourage teamplay among the students while they exercise.
/rant
edit:
"not interested in traditional sports"
This sounds like an expensive after school activity.
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psisarah
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Location: Toronto |
| 5. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:25 am Post subject: |
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| Action Hot Dog wrote: |
edit:
"not interested in traditional sports"
This sounds like an expensive after school activity. |
That's the point. There's plenty of kids that just aren't into sports that don't really participate in other forms of activity. I think one of the ideals is not to just play in school, but some kids might really get into DDR and purchase the game for themselves at home or go to the arcade.
BTW, it's not going to matter much that we're entering the 360/PS3 era. Backwards compatability for the UM series with the 360 aside, it's going to make little difference what console they're playing on as long as they are playing. It's not like kickass graphics are essential for DDR anyway.
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Kilroy(ZTC)
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| 6. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:30 am Post subject: |
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It's an interesting idea, as long as:
1.They get pads that aren't soft pads.
2.The people in charge of the console and pads aren't completely technically incompetent (Teachers not knowing how to use technology? impossible!)
3.It doesn't take too much interest away from other activites. With only one console and only as many as 4 pads, it couldn't really accomodate an entire phys ed class. 30-ish people probably couldn't even get a game a piece in in the hour or so a class takes. |
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Veguro
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| 7. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:42 am Post subject: |
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Let's not forget that the majority of these kids will be starting on light or beginner mode. Those two modes of play are less physically demanding than walking to class. 80 steps in 2 minutes is hardly what I would call a physical exercise - the kids will get more exercise walking their fat asses over to the bench they'll sit on than playing.
The only time DDR is beneficial to health is when Standard and Heavy are achieved, and that also takes time. It took me about 6 months before I saw any real weight loss - and that's the time it took me to start doing 9's and 10's. This will be a colossal waste of my state tax dollars. >.< |
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Jypsy
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Joined: 12 Mar 2002
Location: Janesville |
| 8. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:42 am Post subject: |
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| psisar wrote: | | Action Hot Dog wrote: |
edit:
"not interested in traditional sports"
This sounds like an expensive after school activity. |
That's the point. There's plenty of kids that just aren't into sports that don't really participate in other forms of activity. I think one of the ideals is not to just play in school, but some kids might really get into DDR and purchase the game for themselves at home or go to the arcade.
BTW, it's not going to matter much that we're entering the 360/PS3 era. Backwards compatability for the UM series with the 360 aside, it's going to make little difference what console they're playing on as long as they are playing. It's not like kickass graphics are essential for DDR anyway. |
I speak of the feasability of the project, not the graphics.
They are not going to buy 360s for the schools, and if they did, they really have a problem with priorities.
These news reports contradict each other, one references them being part of the cirriculum, the other says its "for those who dont play other sports"
as in extracurricular.
either way, kilroy is right, interesting idea, provided that there is no theft, the teachers are educated, and it doesnt attempt to replace typical physical excercise in class. LIKE JUMPING JACKS! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JUMPING JACKS!
im doing them now! WOO!
if it is part of the class there is NO WAY it would work out, you have 26 (if its a 4 player game mode, which is ridiculously hard to read unless you are on top of the VERY LARGE TV) kids messing around in the classroom while 4 kids play a song.
sounds inefficient to me.
Lets look at the numbers i just randomly came up with
(extras included to make sure that we have enough for multiple games etc.)
Baseball $5 x 20
Bat $20 x 10
total 300$ and a class kept busy/active.
Soccer Ball $20 x5
Total 100$ and class kept busy/active
XBOX $150
Game $40
Pads $20 x4(if using soft cheap pads)
TV $100 (cheap tv, kmart style)
total, $310 LOW END, in the article $740 per school was mentioned.
and 4 kids kept busy/active, and many replacements needed.
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shadow0290
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| 9. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:04 pm Post subject: |
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| psisar wrote: | | The thing I find entertaining is that Roxor started this whole "dancing in the classroom" movement and now Konami has taken over WV. Heh. |
Well, you know, Konami started this whole Dance to the scrolling arrows thing and now Roxor is trying to take over.
Which is worse? 
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Kilroy(ZTC)
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| 10. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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| shadow0290 wrote: | | psisar wrote: | | The thing I find entertaining is that Roxor started this whole "dancing in the classroom" movement and now Konami has taken over WV. Heh. |
Well, you know, Konami started this whole Dance to the scrolling arrows thing and now Roxor is trying to take over.
Which is worse? |
Well, you know, this topic started out being about a West Virginia Phys ed program and now all the Roxer v Konami drama is threatening to take IT over. good job |
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eepiccolo
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Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Location: Frederick County, MD |
| 11. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Action Hot Dog wrote: |
XBOX $150
Game $40
Pads $20 x4(if using soft cheap pads)
TV $100 (cheap tv, kmart style)
total, $310 LOW END, in the article $740 per school was mentioned.
and 4 kids kept busy/active, and many replacements needed. |
Actually, the $740 in the AP article assumes | The Associated Press wrote: | | a game console, at least two dance pads and software |
So taking out the $190 for the software and the system, that leaves $600 for pads, which is the cost of two Cobalt Fluxes! It looks to me like the cost estimate allows for some pretty nice pads. And because they will buy in bulk, perhaps they can get even more for cheaper.
And yes, I know CFs are made by a small group of people out of a garage, but I'm just trying to make the point that I don't think they're just going to get cheap pads.
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soul40k
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Apu
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Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Plant City, FL |
| 13. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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I hope it all goes well. I want one in my school!!
WHy arent they starting this in California? |
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Dawgbowl
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Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Location: Frederick,MD |
| 14. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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N00bs just get an extreme machine at your high school like I did 3 years back. XD
(middletown high school, MD)
Why XBOX?! Ps2 would be a bit cheaper overall. (games are cheaper, pads are probably cheaper, Xbox DDR mixes tend to suck)
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shadow0290
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| 15. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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| .Kilroy. wrote: | | shadow0290 wrote: | | psisar wrote: | | The thing I find entertaining is that Roxor started this whole "dancing in the classroom" movement and now Konami has taken over WV. Heh. |
Well, you know, Konami started this whole Dance to the scrolling arrows thing and now Roxor is trying to take over.
Which is worse? |
Well, you know, this topic started out being about a West Virginia Phys ed program and now all the Roxer v Konami drama is threatening to take IT over. good job |
I agree with you, which is why I posted that to begin with. I didn't mean to sidetrack. 
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j1ng
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Joined: 09 Feb 2005
Location: Kansas City, Kansas |
| 16. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like a good idea to me. Maybe one of those little kids will be the next yasu 
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PARANOiA Boi
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Joined: 23 Jul 2005
Location: Virginia Beach |
| 17. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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it's a cool idea.
it would be an even better idea if you take "west" off of the topic & add "beach" after virginia.
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namyzarc
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Joined: 29 Aug 2002
Location: Fort Collins, CO |
| 18. Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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The nice thing about all this is that the teachers don't have to worry about coming up with any kind of grading system. It's all built-in!
Just start up song X...
Kid plays song X...
Machine automatically tells kid what grade they get for their assignment today!
I'll bet all teachers wish giving out grades was this easy...
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Paranoia_Brother
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