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About Ken:
Ken has spent 24 years teaching and has experience teaching grades 7-12 as well as higher education. He’s been using Polar technology in his program for the last 10 years. He’s a member of AAHPERD, PSAHPERD, and the International Society for Technology Education. Among many honors and awards he’s received are the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Summer Academy Guest Lecturer, 2006; Edinboro University Technology Scholar, 2004; Health Professional of the Year – Eastern District Association AAHPERD, 1999; and Health Educator of the Year – PSAHPERD, 1998. In addition, Ken recently co-authored Technology Integration in HPE: Essential Basics and Labs, and is currently the HPE Curriculum Specialist for Leading & Learning with Technology, a publication of the International Society for Technology Education.
About Edinboro University:
Approximately 8,000 students attend Edinboro University, located in northwestern Pennsylvania. Programs of study include a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education, with concentrations in Teacher Certification, Sport Administration, Health Promotion, and Recreation Administration. Also available is a Master of Education in Middle and Secondary Education degree with a concentration in Health Education.
Using Polar:
Six heart rate monitors (HRMs) and one copy of TriFIT software were purchased with department funds in 1995. Subsequently, students have been assessed a technology fee ($150 per student per year) by the university. This money is pooled and departments may submit proposals to fund special technology initiatives within the department. It is with the support of this fee that all technology in HPE has been purchased since 1995.
Every student at Edinboro is exposed to Polar technology through a mandatory 3-credit wellness course. In this course, each student receives a personal profile based on TriFIT’s health risk appraisals and fitness assessments. Students who are seeking a degree in health and physical education are exposed to all Polar technology in various courses through both lecture and lab format. HPE students use Polar HRMs, TriFIT hardware and software, Companion Pocket PC with Pocket TriFIT and Pocket PE Manager and PE Manager.
The Buzz:
Ken likes how “The technology supports our goal of providing students with age and gender specific fitness and health risk appraisal results that motivate and support their behavior change efforts. Results help students understand the big picture and better design an individualized program for enhancement of quality of life. Technical support is always available at Polar, and the hardware and software are continually enhanced to meet ever-changing needs.”
Ken’s Department says, “Incorporating Polar technology into all wellness courses has is seen as a huge recruitment and retention tool. In addition, it has increased our visibility across campus enabling us to be more competitive in our request for technology money.”
Students find that with the procurement of PEP grants, school districts are looking for teachers who can walk in the door and hit the ground running. Understanding and knowing how to use the Polar software and hardware leads to easy documentation and reporting of student and program outcomes. Our students are significantly more marketable as a result of their technology skills.
Personal Highlight:
“Because of the technology proficiency displayed by the students within the health and physical education department at Edinboro University, the department was selected by the academic deans to develop a pilot program of PDA use by all HPE student teachers. They use the PDAs to record and report fitness results, develop lesson plans, track attendance, and store student records. The Polar Pocket TriFIT and Pocket PE Manager software provides the structure for this project.” –Ken Felker
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