Computers Replace Stop Watches for Evaluating Gym
Students
By Jon Sherman - The Titusville
Herald
 Eighth
grader Faun McCracken prepares to "sit-and-reach" and have her performance
registered on a computer. Working with the equipment are students from the
Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences Department of Slippery Rock University,
who are partnered with the Health/PE Department of Titusville Area School
District. Data on Faun and her fellow middle school students is collected and
used to measure the impact of physical education programs.
Computer and other
implements of the high-tech age have finally found their way into the physical
education program at Titusville Middle School. The Health and Physical
Education Department has been using Polar heart rate monitors and Polar TriFit
600 Fitness Assessment Software in classes.
Heart rate monitor usage
has moved into its third year in physical education classes. This year saw the
introduction of the TriFit into classes at the middle school. Teachers at the
senior high school will be trained, and put the software into use, during the
next school year, according to Tim McCord, middle school boys physical
education teacher and department chairman.
The software allows the
school to collect and report fitness scores for a wide variety of
uses.
McCord said the advanced
reporting features include group demographic and trend reports for measuring
the impact of physical education programs. He said this reporting also helps
teachers to develop health and fitness portfolios for all students.
Under the program, McCord
explained, students having gym in the first semester of the year were pre- and
post-tested on the areas of cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility and
body composition.
Reports were given to
each student at the end of the semester to take home for parents to
review.
McCord said TriFit uses
will expand at the middle and high schools to include usage of the Wellness
Center, a web-based learning center available from any computer with Internet
access. It includes an extensive wellness library of health and fitness
information, as well as the Youth Risk Behavior Survey which enables students
to assess and understand various health risks.
On Tuesday, McCord and
fellow gym teacher Marilyn Kirkwood worked with students in the Exercise and
Rehabilitative Sciences Department of Slippery Rock University.
Working under the
guidance of Dr. Patty Pierce, seniors in the exercise physiology classes
volunteered their time to visit Titusville and gain experience in using the
TriFit Fitness Assessment Software.
The students assisted
McCord and Kirkwood in performing fitness assessments on second-semester
physical education students.
Funding for the purchase
of the systems came from the physical education budget and a partnership grant
from Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
Representatives from
Highmark have visited the middle school and "felt very comfortable" supporting
the new program, according to Highmark's Paul O'Palka.
O'Palka went on to
comment, "The way the program is structured, it's almost like each student has
his or her own personal trainer. Tim McCord has impressed us with his ability
to rally the school district, students and parents in a community-wide effort
to make physical education fun and meaningful.
"This is physical education of the future available right
now. Titusville's program continues to receive the attention of educators here
in Pennsylvania here in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation."
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