Gao publishes on effects of physical activity app-integration

Zan Gao, PhD, associate professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory (PAEL), published a research article, “Effects of the iPad and mobile application-integrated physical education on children’s physical activity and psychosocial beliefs,” in the Journal of Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy as a co-author. The primary author is Dr. Gao’s former doctoral student, Jung Eun Lee, an associate professor in the Department of Applied Human Sciences at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

In the research study, a total of 157 fourth and fifth grade children were recruited from two elementary schools in Minneapolis, MN. The two-week app-integrated physical education classes were ineffective in reducing children’s sedentary behavior, as well as improving light physical activity (PA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and physical activity-related beliefs. Instructors are recommended to align the use of apps with physical education learning goals. The selection of apps and pedagogy of app-use need to be carefully considered to prevent compromising children’s physical activity for the sake of efficient management or emphasis on other learning domains. According to the study, “it is essential to examine whether app-integrated PE is effective in promoting children’s PA and PA-related psychosocial beliefs such as enjoyment and self-efficacy.”