InnovationBeerS The XerTrainer potentials are numerous and it caters to many groups including youth, athletes, teens, seniors and special needs students. Its benefits are: Interactive technology, Group Programs, Personal Training Programs,Quick physical resultsQuick mental results, It's real, not virtual, Progressive level programming and Easy to use (XerGames, 2010). The basic concept of the XerTrainer is where teams or individual players hit targets with apparatus, body parts or throwing to reach high score. These targets are lit up and record the scores. Many different levels are involved and can be geared to the most competitive athlete for vigorous and strenuous workouts to the non-competitive student for fun games producing lighter exercise. The product consists of” interactive stations, each with seven vibration-activated, LED-lit, targets, one computer game-driven Master Control Box, Program Selector Box or Remote (2) control and one Ball Kit per station”(XerTrainer, 2010). From a case study in Kansas City, “Our students absolutely love the XerTrainer. They ask to play on it and the whole class's demeanor changes to one of total cooperation when they know we are going to work with the XerTrainer” (PE4Life. 2006). According to Rossbach “The primary reason for making exercise and sports programs accessible for everyone is the basic right of all people to be judged accordingly to their capabilities not the disabilities” (Rossbach, 1997). Historically, the approach to physical activity for people with disabilities has been focused mainly on rehabilitation. The definition of rehabilitation does not include physical activity for the joy of play and exercise to improve or maintain fitness. Today, adapted physical education includes games, sports, rhythm and aquatics suited to the individual needs, capacities and limitations of students with disabilities- a welcome change from the medical point of view. Comparing this innovation to the electronic exercise bikes and the Wii system, the XerTrainer can include different levels of students with limitations. For instance, a student in a wheelchair can participate in either arm or leg activities with the support of the chair verses riding an electronic bike with no or limited motor control (support issues). Rogers (2003) reviewed a study on the diffusion of the kindergarten to where small children had a place to go and learn through playful activities without parental influence. I find a similarity between the two cases as introducing a new learning environment as Rogers’s kindergarteners and to my special needs students. With kindergartens all over the word now, I would love to see special needs students included in activities based on capabilities, not disabilities. So if the XerTRainer can be diffused into my learning environment, I believe the students could meet success in many activities offered through the system. References PE4Life. 2006. Participation in a Case Study in Kansas City. Retrieved from: http://www.xergames.com/downloads/Kansas%20City%20Schools-PE4Life%20Case%20Study%20-%20Physiological%20Behavioral%20improvement.pdf Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations (5th ed.). New York, NY: Free Press Rossbach, P. Achieving a Balance: Proceedings of the National Conference on Adapted Physical Activity (5th, Macomb, Illinois, April 3-5, 1997). Retrieved from: http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&bquery=(SU+(special+education+AND+fitness))+AND+(exercise)&cli0=FT&clv0=Y&type=1&site=ehost-live&scope=site XerTrainer. 2010. Retrieved from: www.XerGames.com
InnovationBeerS
The XerTrainer potentials are numerous and it caters to many groups including youth, athletes, teens, seniors and special needs students. Its benefits are: Interactive technology, Group Programs, Personal Training Programs,Quick physical resultsQuick mental results, It's real, not virtual, Progressive level programming and Easy to use (XerGames, 2010). The basic concept of the XerTrainer is where teams or individual players hit targets with apparatus, body parts or throwing to reach high score. These targets are lit up and record the scores. Many different levels are involved and can be geared to the most competitive athlete for vigorous and strenuous workouts to the non-competitive student for fun games producing lighter exercise. The product consists of” interactive stations, each with seven vibration-activated, LED-lit, targets, one computer game-driven Master Control Box, Program Selector Box or Remote (2) control and one Ball Kit per station”(XerTrainer, 2010). From a case study in Kansas City, “Our students absolutely love the XerTrainer. They ask to play on it and the whole class's demeanor changes to one of total cooperation when they know we are going to work with the XerTrainer” (PE4Life. 2006).
According to Rossbach “The primary reason for making exercise and sports programs accessible for everyone is the basic right of all people to be judged accordingly to their capabilities not the disabilities” (Rossbach, 1997). Historically, the approach to physical activity for people with disabilities has been focused mainly on rehabilitation. The definition of rehabilitation does not include physical activity for the joy of play and exercise to improve or maintain fitness. Today, adapted physical education includes games, sports, rhythm and aquatics suited to the individual needs, capacities and limitations of students with disabilities- a welcome change from the medical point of view.
Comparing this innovation to the electronic exercise bikes and the Wii system, the XerTrainer can include different levels of students with limitations. For instance, a student in a wheelchair can participate in either arm or leg activities with the support of the chair verses riding an electronic bike with no or limited motor control (support issues). Rogers (2003) reviewed a study on the diffusion of the kindergarten to where small children had a place to go and learn through playful activities without parental influence. I find a similarity between the two cases as introducing a new learning environment as Rogers’s kindergarteners and to my special needs students. With kindergartens all over the word now, I would love to see special needs students included in activities based on capabilities, not disabilities. So if the XerTRainer can be diffused into my learning environment, I believe the students could meet success in many activities offered through the system.
References
PE4Life. 2006. Participation in a Case Study in Kansas City. Retrieved from: http://www.xergames.com/downloads/Kansas%20City%20Schools-PE4Life%20Case%20Study%20-%20Physiological%20Behavioral%20improvement.pdf
Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations (5th ed.). New York, NY: Free Press
Rossbach, P. Achieving a Balance: Proceedings of the National Conference on Adapted Physical Activity (5th, Macomb, Illinois, April 3-5, 1997). Retrieved from: http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&bquery=(SU+(special+education+AND+fitness))+AND+(exercise)&cli0=FT&clv0=Y&type=1&site=ehost-live&scope=site
XerTrainer. 2010. Retrieved from: www.XerGames.com