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About Al:
Al is a Physical Education teacher at Medea Creek Middle School. He’s been teaching for 20 years total, and his school has been using Polar technology in their lessons for the past eleven years!
About Medea Creek Middle School:
Medea Creek Middle School is part of the Oak Park Unified School District in Oak Park, CA. In this suburban area, the typical P.E. class size is 36 students. Students are in grade levels 6-8 and have been using Polar E600s every week. Additionally, students and teachers at Medea Creek use the TriFIT 700, TriFIT software, and the Companion with PE Manager and TriFIT software installed. Medea Creek Middle School was awarded the National Blue Ribbon School Award, as well as the California Distinguished School, and The California Schools to Watch—Model Middle School Award.
Core Activities:
Al and his co-workers use a variety of sports, cardiovascular and fitness related activities to teach Physical Education at Medea Creek. These include rotating every other day through endurance, speed, circuit training, and power runs with a timed mile run three times per quarter. Al also incorporates the 5 components of fitness and nutrition as well as 2 week individualized fitness plans into his lessons.
Using Polar:
Medea Creek Middle School used School Improvement Funds (SIP), Parent-Faculty donations, and department money to fund Polar technology at school. According to Al, “We wanted to take our PE program to a new level and begin to get an objective look at student health. We began by purchasing 32 E600s and implemented them into our daily curriculum. We contacted Polar and made a great connection and have continued since.” For Al, the most important reason to use Polar in P.E. is because “It individualizes PE for each student. They get a real time look at their body which empowers them to take control of their personal fitness level.”
The Buzz:
Al likes that “the technology really catches the students’ attention. It’s real data that means something to them and us. It’s the technology that interests kids at first, and then gives them something that they can really use to take control of their fitness. It is individualized and objective. No more guessing or comparing apples to oranges. Their fitness is their data. We can baseline test early in the year, set goals for the year, come up with individualized fitness plans, and then post test at the end of the year. We can also do the same 6-8th grade. Additionally, the technology also helps with standards and hitting the five components of fitness. It simplifies grading and the grade can actually represent the student.”
Students “love to see where they are in their fitness. They eat up the technology emphasis and learn that very quickly. Many also appreciate the ability to get credit for things that in the past, they might not have. When they improve their performance you should see the smile on their face.”
Administration likes “Differentiation for students. They are not competing against others but working within themselves to improve.”
Personal Highlight:
“I see students who traditionally struggled with PE and running now have a much more positive experience. They can get credit for working hard (we can now measure intensity and effort) where in the past, it was time based. These students now know they will be recognized for trying and their effort in class has definitely improved.
There are also students who have become interested in fitness. They run with their parents or friends outside of school and enjoy it. They are developing the life long habits they need to have.” -- Al Calce
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