Using motion sensing for learning: A serious nutrition game

Abstract

A mixed reality game was created to teach middle and high school students about nutrition and the USDA My Plate icon. This mixed reality game included both digital components (projected graphics on the floor) and tangible, physical components (motion tracking wands that were handheld). The game goal was to feed the alien the healthiest food item from a pair of items. Students learned about the amount of nutrients and optimizers in the digital food items and practiced making rapid food decisions. In the final level of the game players interacted with My Plate and each food item filled the appropriate quadrant in real time. Nineteen 4th graders played through the game in one 1.5 hour session. Significant learning gains were seen on a pretest and posttest that assessed nutrition knowledge, pairedt (18) = 4.13, p