Physical+Education

= Physical Education =

Technology:
Students will utilize computers in the computer lab. The computer must have Microsoft Excel.

Curriculum Standard:
Standard 3, Benchmark A, Indicators 1 and 2
 * Participate in a variety of moderate or vigorous physical activities to meet national recommendations for physical activity.
 * Spend a portion of each day participating in physical activity inside or outside of school.

Standard 3, Benchmark B, Indicator 1
 * Set realistic goals utilizing assessment tools (e.g., log, pedometer, heart rate monitor).

Standard 4, Benchmark B, Indicators 4 and 5
 * Apply FITT principle when participating in a physical activity.
 * Apply principles of target heart rate to physical activity.

Description:
Assume students have already learned about the FITT principle (FITT = frequency, intensity, time, and type). Students have also already designed a week-long workout program using the FITT principle, have calculated their target heart rates, and have completed their exercises each day. Students have logged their workout information including a description, intensity (heart rate), time, and type for each step of the workout session.

Now that the students' logs are complete, students will organize and display their data using an Excel spreadsheet. Students will create tables for each day, color code each table, provide titles for each table, and use text wrapping. Students should size their table so that it is one page wide. Students will also create a line graph that displays their warm-up, work-out, and cool-down intensities. The graph should include a title.

Example Daily Log:

Example Line Graph:



Supporting Research:
Dillon, N. (2008). Phys tech. //American School Board Journal//, //195//(3), 32-35. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

This article discusses the role that technology plays in keeping students fit. The author discusses the use of equipment such as pedometers and heart monitors, tracking health data to show individual progress, and the benefits of interdisciplinary opportunities and exergames. Most relevant to this activity is the author's discussion of tracking individual student data. The author quotes Howit, a middle school P.E. teacher as saying, "'We needed to start relying on heart rate monitors and the ability to graph results so we could show improvement and progress. The only way we could do that was through technology.'”

Tried & True or New & Innovative:
Organizing and displaying data in Excel in tried and true, as students have been using this software for years. Creating graphs in Excel is also tried and true. However, students inputting personal information and creating a chart that reflects that personal information is new to the students.

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