“STAR WARS™: The First Jedi” Gamification Program: Improvement of Fitness Among College Students

in Journal of Teaching in Physical Education

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Jose Mora-GonzalezPROFITH “PROmoting FITness and Health Through Physical Activity” Research Group, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

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Carmen Navarro-MateosEducación física y transformación social, SEJ546 Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

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Isaac J. Pérez-LópezEducación física y transformación social, SEJ546 Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2021-0309
Keywords:
aerobic fitness; health; innovation; motivation; university; young adults
First Published Online:
16 Sep 2022
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Ahead of Print
Page Range:
1–9
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Purpose: To examine the effects of a 14-week gamification-based physical education teaching program on fitness in college students. Method: A convenience sample of 112 college students (21.22 ± 2.55 years) was distributed among a gamification-based group or a control group (i.e., traditional teaching). College students from the gamification group used a game-based mobile app under the narrative of “STAR WARS™” with a countdown, so they had to gain lifetime. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by the 20-m shuttle run test. Muscular fitness was measured by the handgrip strength and the standing broad jump tests. Results: Participants from the gamification program reported a significantly higher cardiorespiratory fitness and upper and lower body muscular fitness at postintervention, indicated by an effect size of 0.86 (p < .001), 0.18 (p = .018), and 0.52 (p < .001), respectively. Conclusion: Gamification can have an important implication on students’ motivation toward higher fitness.

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Journal of Teaching in Physical Education

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