1. The impact of a virtual fitness lab in physical
activity participation:
A Second Life’s project
SUSANA JUNIU
MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY, USA
MIRI SHONFELD
KIBBUTZIM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ISRAEL
ADIT GANOT
KIBBUTZIM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ISRAEL
2. Purpose of this project:
To explore the instructional uses of a Virtual
fitness as part of the teacher education program in
Physical Education
To support the community in becoming
knowledgeable about fitness and health and to
encourage individuals to be more physically active
3. What it’s second life
Virtual worlds such as Second
Life (SL) or as it called in
general MUVE (Multi User
Virtual Environments) are of
increasing interest to social
studies and therapy field as for
its potential to stimulate real
places, and situations
Multi-User Virtual Environments)
www.secondlife.com
4. What it’s second life
A three-dimensional (3D) shared space:
Enhances imagination, creativity, motivation and
engagement
Breaks physical, geographical, generational, and
professional boundaries
Facilitates collaboration
Provides a sense of presence and belonging
Offers an environment for authentic learning
Provides visual representations of labs, classrooms,
meeting places, and secure spaces for the individual
5. Real and Virtual World
Real world behavior is positively influenced by:
The individual own self-representing avatar behavior and
appearance (Fox and Bailenson, 2009)
Users may adjust their identity to match that of their avatars
Individuals with avatars who engage in physical activities in SL
are more likely to engage in physical activities in real life
(Dean, Cook, Keating, and Murphy, 2009)
Smoother transitions into real world fitness
6. Why an Exercise Physiology Lab?
Exercise physiology concepts are abstract, complex
and difficult to communicate through simple lectures
and textbooks
Virtual exercise physiology labs could support the
learning process by:
Providing the students with an environment that through
simulation will demonstrate a number of tests in a non-
intrusive manner
“Through visualization and education, [students]
they can try activities that they had not tried
before.” Jeanne Johnston, Indiana University
7. Virtual Research Projects - Weight Loss
Traditional health club sessions vs 3D virtual world (Jeanne
Johnston, Indiana University)
Participants in two weight-loss programs -- one involving
traditional health club sessions and the other delivered online
in a 3D virtual world -- lost similar amounts of weight and
body fat
Online in a lost similar amounts of weight and body fat, but the
online contingent reported significantly greater gains in
behaviors that could help them live leaner, more healthful
lifestyles.
8. Virtual Labs in second life
Virtual genetics laboratory in Second Life - University of Leicester
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMMfHZUNpZY
Interactive Science Lab Version 2- Ohio University
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiwG-RzeDow&feature=endscreen&NR=1
SSU Virtual Design Lab, Quick Tour 2.mov- Shawnee State
University
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeFpOCf8sQ0
9. Weight Management Gym in Second Life
Second Life Weight Management Gym Introduction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yhuMLHresk
10. Physical Education Equipment in Second Life
Market Place Secondlife
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/52817?id=52817
11. Premise
[Creating a context that emulates real-
life problems and settings is
fundamental in (a) helping students
integrate, analyze, and apply concepts of
exercise physiology and (b) engaging
individuals in meaningful physical
activity experiences]
12. Virtual Fitness Lab
Purpose:
To support classroom
instruction through virtual
simulation and
To serve the a community where
an individual can create an
avatar and experience the
effects of virtual exercising on
the level of fitness and health
through the changes of their
body shape.
13. Virtual Fitness Lab:
The project is designed based on 3
modules:
Instruction
Practice
and research
Community support
14. Instruction
Students will review:
Learning modules on the different fitness tests
Anthropometric testing
Blood pressure
Body composition
Cardiovascular endurance
Muscular Strength and Endurance
Flexibility
Nutrition
Procedures for test administration
Videos
Animation
Applications
15. Virtual Practice
Students will:
Apply knowledge acquire during the instruction session
Practice the tests through simulation
Adjust equipment based on age, weight, time, resistance,
inclination
Simulation will adjust resistant, calculate calories, etc.
16. Community Support
The clients will complete:
Pre-Tests, baseline results
Fitness Test
Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
Medical history questionnaire
Exercise Perception and Attitudes Questionnaire
Create an exercise program in the virtual fitness lab
Formative assessments
Post-test
Fitness test
Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
Medical history questionnaire
Exercise Perception and Attitudes Questionnaire
17. Through virtual simulation:
Support students in Exercise Science
Learn fitness concepts
Acquire fitness assessment skills
Apply in a real world setting.
Support classroom instruction
Virtual simulation of the various tests without bringing the
subject to exhaustion
Conduct tests and research without the need expensive
equipment and running by a trained professional
Practical and an effective alternative to using traditional
laboratory experiences that necessitate the use of subjects
and/or expensive equipment.