Everybody’s moving! Students stay in step to the music by following DDR directions on the projector in the Jefferson Elementary School gymnasium. (Sheila Anderson/VCTR)

By Sheila Anderson
Valley City Times-Record

Students at Jefferson Elementary School are moving and grooving to a different kind of physical education class.
On fitness days, students get out on the dance floor using the Sony Playstation Dance, Dance, Revolution game.
The implementation of this system in the Valley City School District was made possible by a grant from the North Dakota Coordinated School Health State Plan.
Danielle Doll, Jefferson Elementary physical education teacher, said children enjoy the system.
“They respond to it really well,” Doll said.
Doll said there was a period of adjustment when everyone was learning how to use it.
Dance, Dance, Revolution, commonly known as DDR, consists of two electronic pads connected to the game control, and several phony pads. The phony  pads allow all of the students to be on a pad, which has arrows to guide steps,  during the class. The Sony Playstation is connected to the projector, and to speakers around the gym.
Instructions onscreen guide students to dance during the songs. According to Doll, the game consists of a list of songs with different levels. The students currently dance using the training level.
The DDR system was installed in February. It is used by physical education classes on Wednesdays, which are designated as fitness days. Children are given turns to lead the group using the two steel pads that are connected to the game.
Bryan Kriewald, Valley City Public Schools technology coordinator, said he believes it is a good use of technology in the classroom.
“There aren’t a lot of phy ed teachers incorporating technology,” Kriewald said. “DDR is a technology kids are familiar with and love.”
Kriewald said even children who are usually shy have had no qualms about leading the songs.
“It’s neat that it gets every kid up there,” Kriewald said. “They’re not shy about it.”