Gotta Catch 'Em All!: Using Pokemon Go as a Health and Wellness Education Tool
I should begin this post with an all-important disclaimer: I'm a huge Pokemon nerd. I have about 9,000 cards in my collection (and counting!) and I've played every game. The anime was a huge part of my life as a kid, and it's always been a dream to have these awesome, mystical creatures come to life. So imagine my excitement when Pokemon Go burst onto the scene. I was actually one of the players selected for the beta testing stage, so I got in on the action very early on, when bugs were plentiful (and I'm not talking about caterpie here).
Pokemon Go is a fun, interactive mobile app that utilizes GPS and AR technology to bring Pokemon into the real world. The premise is simple: the player is a Pokemon trainer that must go around catching various types of Pokemon. Different types of Pokemon appear in different areas (oftentimes, water type Pokemon appear by bodies of water, and some Pokemon like Mr. Mime are region-locked). The more the player explores their community, the more likely they are to locate more Pokemon, and the "What is nearby?" feature displays where a Pokemon can be found, usually near a specific building or landmark. Walking, biking, and adventuring in general are heavily encouraged in the gameplay, as is community interactions. Monthly community days bring people together for the hunt, as do raid battles that involve many players working to take down a powerful foe. At the game's height in popularity, it was common to see swaths of strangers hanging out at landmarks (downtown Columbia was overrun with gamers), chatting about the game and making new friends. It was a phenomenon unlike any other, and though the hype has largely died, the app is still going strong, continuously adding more and more characters from Nintendo's expansive list of beloved Pokemon.
But how can Pokemon Go be used as an educational tool? Pokemon Go's main focus is on community and wellness. Recently, the app was updated to register distance traveled even when the game is not currently in use, making it an effective method of tracking steps/distance walked. Wellness classes can utilize Pokemon go as a fun way of promoting exercise and walking. Even if a student doesn't have access to much walking space outside of the home, eggs can be hatched from inside a home simply by walking around the house's length over and over again. It is a way to get exercise without even knowing it, and by having fun, too! Class participants can trade Pokemon, hatch eggs, and battle, all while building social skills and getting exercise.
Pokemon is simple to download. You will need a mobile device with GPS capability, and if you want to use the AR feature, some phones are incompatible. But do not fear! The AR feature, though fun and more immersive, is not mandatory. Users are able to turn AR on and off at will. You can download Pokemon Go HERE.
P.S. Add me on Pokemon Go!
Pokemon Go is a fun, interactive mobile app that utilizes GPS and AR technology to bring Pokemon into the real world. The premise is simple: the player is a Pokemon trainer that must go around catching various types of Pokemon. Different types of Pokemon appear in different areas (oftentimes, water type Pokemon appear by bodies of water, and some Pokemon like Mr. Mime are region-locked). The more the player explores their community, the more likely they are to locate more Pokemon, and the "What is nearby?" feature displays where a Pokemon can be found, usually near a specific building or landmark. Walking, biking, and adventuring in general are heavily encouraged in the gameplay, as is community interactions. Monthly community days bring people together for the hunt, as do raid battles that involve many players working to take down a powerful foe. At the game's height in popularity, it was common to see swaths of strangers hanging out at landmarks (downtown Columbia was overrun with gamers), chatting about the game and making new friends. It was a phenomenon unlike any other, and though the hype has largely died, the app is still going strong, continuously adding more and more characters from Nintendo's expansive list of beloved Pokemon.
But how can Pokemon Go be used as an educational tool? Pokemon Go's main focus is on community and wellness. Recently, the app was updated to register distance traveled even when the game is not currently in use, making it an effective method of tracking steps/distance walked. Wellness classes can utilize Pokemon go as a fun way of promoting exercise and walking. Even if a student doesn't have access to much walking space outside of the home, eggs can be hatched from inside a home simply by walking around the house's length over and over again. It is a way to get exercise without even knowing it, and by having fun, too! Class participants can trade Pokemon, hatch eggs, and battle, all while building social skills and getting exercise.
Pokemon is simple to download. You will need a mobile device with GPS capability, and if you want to use the AR feature, some phones are incompatible. But do not fear! The AR feature, though fun and more immersive, is not mandatory. Users are able to turn AR on and off at will. You can download Pokemon Go HERE.
P.S. Add me on Pokemon Go!
Comments
Post a Comment