Interactive Education Academy

Get Fit ... Get XRKade ... If a student has PE at school, and it’s a big “IF”, you might take a look at how much actual activity takes place in those 20-40 minutes.  Are kids actively engaged for the period, or are they watching, waiting, or sitting while other kids get their turn (or the teacher gets organized)?  PE classes can be structured to maximize activity, but PE teachers have to work at it and understand the expectations.  Wander into any high school PE class and count how many kids are sitting on the bleachers because they didn’t bring their clothes or sneakers or they have some kind of written excuse.  And if PE is a Pass/Fail course, take a look at the minimum effort it takes to pass.

Part of the problem is that the typical physical education curriculum hasn’t changed to meet the needs of today’s kids.  Instead of focusing on fitness, many physical education classes still feature soccer in the fall, basketball/volleyball in the winter, and softball/baseball in the spring.  Middle and high schools need to focus on physical activity, and while they’re at it, look at the differences in activities favored by boys and girls.

The question is; how can both boys and girls and more students participate? One thing we know for sure is that students today like games; video games, and ......

Our answer is XRKade.

What is an XRKade®?  XRKade is physical activity and fitness that is fun. iTech is the company that developed XRKade which is based on Innovation. Technology, and Fitness.  iTech's primary function has been developing and marketing interactive fitness, exergaming, and entertainment solutions. 

The University of South Florida is one of the first to implement and XRKade within the Department of Education.  It is there, more than a year ago, that IEA discussed the possibility of installing an XRKade and what it could do for IEA students.  Our observation and supporting data convinced us to move forward.  It has been a year since IEA installed an XRKade and all IEA students are involved in the program. The very best indication of its success is when students who you would never dream participating cannot wait for PE.  They are enjoying it and, most importantly, seeing the positive results of being active.

XRKade is available to all IEA students; both IEA full time students and IEA Online students.