First of all - MONTH 10!
Now that I've gotten that out of my system, LET'S MOVE on.
The THIINKFit Project- Amy Barnabi
On the second day of graduate school I was thinking about my "thesis" project. I contacted Dr. Wyly and asked her about a project that I was thinking about. That project was the THIINKFit Project. I explained to her, that as a runner, I was overwhelmed at the inactivity among kids today. When I was a kid we played from sun up, until sun down, and that some of my favorite memories of my life, took place then, during those hot days of summer vacation. If I knew how running made
1. Data: I had a great conversation with Dr. Bedard yesterday about my A.R. research. It was one of those "forest through the trees," type of thing. The hardest thing about this project has been staying on task and staying grounded. On the other hand, I kind of get psyched about the fact that I've found it difficult to actually find the evidence needed to finalize my Action Research. One of the questions Dr. Ludgate asks for us to reflect on this month is, "Is any of your work truly innovative?" (A sheepish grin comes across my face) There's not a lot of research in the area I'm truly wanting to find the answers to: Does exercising before school with technology increase attendance, GPA scores, Ohio Achievement scores, and self-esteem? And does it combat childhood obesity AT THE SAME TIME - allowing children to be active before school with the number one gaming system in the world?
Let me get this right, and see if you are following me on this - Two problems, one stone. The THIINKFit Project gets kids up, out, and active first thing in the morning, over time, allowing them to fight childhood obesity (and increase their flexibility and strength), as well as, exercising their minds (and my studies have shown), and preparing them for more success in the classroom? Hmmmmm....This is what I know. My sixth grade students have been using the THIINKFit project, combining Wii Fit Plus aerobic exercise, strength training, and yoga, with an early morning routine supervised by yours truly.
I'm very excited about Michelle Obama's Let's Move Campaign, http://www.letsmove.gov/. I feel selfish in saying that Mrs. Obama's push to fight childhood obesity couldn't happen a better time. Her goal is to reverse the numbers of childhood obesity by 2015. 30% of our school-age children are considered overweight. Of those 30%, 13% are obese. (See statistics for childhood obesity a MedTv http://weight-loss.emedtv.com/childhood-obesity/childhood-obesity-statistics.html)
"Everybody has been wringing their hands for a decade about what a big problem this is, but having the first lady involved could really make a difference," says Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy for the Center for Science in the Public Interest. "The first lady not only brings the weight of the White House, but she also understands this issue as a parent." (Hellmich, 2010)
My push for my THIINKFit project will not be an easy one (see above mentioned, forest through the trees), but it will be a worthy one. What started out as a pipe dream has become a possible dream come true. Three years ago I envisioned a way to help kids get more active. I believe that the THIINKFit project can be the answer to successfully allowing for students to be more active.
LMO & Action Research
The Learning Management System I am currently working on will hopefully propel my project to a step closer in getting picked up for a grant. My hope is to develop a training module for further developing the use of the THIINKFit Project in other school buildings. The more I am able to experience the use of the THIINKFit Project in various settings, the more I see the overwhelming need for it. What continues to make this project unique is the ease in which children see participating with the Wii system. They are exercising and having fun first thing in the morning.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-01-20-michelle-obama-obesity_N.htm
http://www.letsmove.gov/
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