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Computers Replace Stop Watches for Evaluating Gym Students

By Jon Sherman - The Titusville Herald

Polar Body Age System TestingEighth 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."

©Copyright Polar HealthFirst 2002. All rights reserved.

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