The California Endowment and Konomi Digital Entertainment have announced their partnership today to help reduce hildhood obesity and increase students’ access to fun physical activities. They hope to accomplish this by bringing KONAMI’s new DanceDanceRevolution (DDR) Classroom Edition to Fresno Unified School District. DDR Classroom Edition is the latest iteration of the wildly popular dance game that has shown to encourage physical activity among adults and children.
The DDR Classroom Edition is an interactive video game that combines physical activity with energetic music and visuals, also known as an exergame. Not only is it fun but it helps get players moving in a way traditional video games do not. The classroom edition of the popular game was developed by Performance Designed Products and enables up to 48 students to participate simultaneously, using wireless mat controllers that feature a smart card reader that tracks each student’s individual progress. While students move to the beat, teachers receive vital information about their students’ health including steps, body mass index (BMI) and caloric burn rate. The project was funded by a grant from The California Endowment.
Konami has signed on as a part of The California Endowment’s Building Healthy Communities plan– a ten-year, comprehensive community initiative that is creating a revolution in the way Californians think about and make health happen in their communities. In 14 places across California, including Fresno, residents are proving that they have the power to transform the health of their neighborhoods and schools.
Effective today, all eight middle schools in the Fresno Unified School District will receive DDR Classroom Edition. The participating schools, with assistance from KONAMI and The California Endowment, will use the game to track its impact on students’ health, well-being and exercise habits.
Clara Baum, senior director of strategic marketing and partnerships, KONAMI, said,
“KONAMI recognizes the impacts of childhood inactivity and the need to keep children engaged in a healthy and active lifestyle. By partnering with The California Endowment to bring DanceDanceRevolution Classroom Edition into Fresno schools, we’re taking a progressive approach to keep kids in California up and moving and providing educators with new tools to make getting kids hearts pumping fun.”
Kathlyn Mead, executive vice president and chief operating officer for The California Endowment, also commented,
“When students are healthy, academic achievement improves, schools perform better overall, and students live happier and more complete lives. We would like to see all children pass all aspects of the state’s most physical fitness test. Exercise is a key component to overall wellness and as such it is crucial that we provide access to innovative programs such as DanceDanceRevolution Classroom Edition. We are delighted that the Fresno Unified School District is taking up this new opportunity and looking forward to engaging students in play that benefits their health.”
The partnership builds on KONAMI’s deep expertise in developing fun and innovative gaming experiences that encourage children to be active. It is recognized by leading researchers, schools, and doctors as an innovative and fun solution to promoting a healthy lifestyle and fighting childhood obesity. DDR Classroom Edition launches with support from key partners, including the American Diabetes Association and Sony Music, who provides the soundtrack that features chart-topping artists of today and hits from yesterday.
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