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About Jean:
Jean is a physical educator at Blue Valley Northwest High School (BVNWHS). She’s been teaching for 20 years total, and has been using Polar technology for 14 years. She’s a member of KAHPERD and AAHPERD and has presented at Kansas and Missouri state conventions. In 1999, she was honored as Kansas and Central District Secondary PE Teacher of the Year and in 2000 was Blue Valley Northwest High School’s Master Teacher.
About Blue Valley Northwest High School:
Blue Valley Northwest High School is part of the Blue Valley district in Overland Park, Kansas. In this suburban area the typical P.E. class size is 30-35 students. Students are in grade levels 9-12 and currently use Polar E600 heart rate monitors (HRMs) along with the TriFIT700 System and Companion Pocket PCs.
Core Activities:
Jean uses a variety of activities to teach physical education at her school. Giving students choices keeps them involved and participating.
Using Polar:
A district bond and technology monies provided the funding for BVNWHS to use Polar technology. BVNWHS started using Polar in P.E. classes as an assessment and fitness tool. Jean uses Polar technology in her lessons one to two times a week. For Jean, the most important reason to use Polar is because, “We have the ability to challenge students based on their own needs which motivates students who might otherwise be intimidated by PE, urging them to strive for improvement that can lead to a healthier commitment to physical fitness throughout their lives.”
The Buzz:
Jean likes how Polar provides “the ability to motivate students who might otherwise be intimidated by PE. The technology allows each student to participate regardless of his or her athletic ability…no child is left behind.”
Students “like the immediate feedback they receive from Polar technology especially downloading heart rate monitors to the companion.
Administration likes how “the data is valid and reliable.”
Personal Highlight:
Jean had a student who had made several attempts to pass PE, and when he did, he was given his TriFIT fitness data—and was so excited with the results, he asked for another copy. “Kids really want to know about their health and fitness” says Jean.
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