Fargo Public Schools
Location: Fargo, ND
Contact: Lois
Mauch (lmauch@cableone.net)
A Step Towards Health, Wellness and Lifetime Activity
With the implementation of the Polar Technology
TriFIT 600
Wellness Library
Fitness Center
Heart Rate Monitors and Assessments
Companion Handheld
Rubric assessments
Heart rate monitor assessments
Class protocol
Task Efficiency
Cognitive assessments
TriFIT fitness assessments
PE Manager Interactive Web Site for students and teachers
A student with a Polar Companion
at Fargo Middle School
At the Elementary level in Fargo we use the Companion
handheld to record the fitness assessments they participate in. Each student
begins with an electronic portfolio in grade four. Height, weight, along
with an assessment of their choice is entered into the companion and later
uploaded to the TriFIT software. A hard copy of the assessment is written
out on a card, which is put into the Fitness Education Portfolio. The
students with the guidance of the teacher set goals.
At the Middle School level of grades 6 through 9 Students
are introduced to the TriFit software and electronic computer assessments.
The students began building their own personal fitness profile. The demographics
are entered and height, weight, blood pressure, strength, flexibility,
and body composition are assessed. The students are given choices as to
the fitness assessments they would like to participate in. The Polar heart
rate monitors are used to help the students better understand what heart
rate is and why it is important to them when they exercise. They also
give us a documented assessment of effort. The Cardiovascular assessment
is either a one-mile run/walk, or a 9-minute run. The heart rate, using
a Polar heart rate monitor is entered to the TriFit software on the computer
and the students as to where they need to improve make assessments. The
students with the guidance of the teacher evaluate the Frequency, Intensity,
Time, and Type, (F.I.T.T.). Students use the programs to develop a cardiovascular
program for themselves at the schools library computer lab. All information
is "moved" to a disk, which is turned into the teacher and uploaded
to the main TriFit server onto their personal portfolio. The F.I.T.T.
principles are easy taught with the use of the education tool call the
Fitness Education Pyramid.
The students are also assigned one
project using the wellness library and health risk appraisal. Students are
given a choice of the topics such as nutrition, stress, tobacco, or many
others as found on the PE Manager web site (www.healthyschools.net). If
students are given choices they can apply the topic to real life situations.
The assessments along with the project allow students to apply the information
to their own real life situations. It makes all the information more meaningful
to them thus; our students began asking us questions about fitness and wellness.
The teacher becomes the guide for the students rather then the preacher.
Students take control of their health, personal profile, and problem solve
based on the discussion we have had and what they have learned.
A student explaining TriFIT reports
to another student
The students at the high schools
do several projects using the Wellness Library, Fitness Center, Polar Heart
Rate Monitors and Programs with the TriFit software. Strength, body composition
and nutrition, and cardiovascular programs are developed by the students
and evaluated as an exit outcome for physical education. The students will
be introduced to the concept of V02 max and the bike ergometer test that
measures it. The students will learn how to set the TriFIT up to perform
this test and will be able to administer the test to a fellow student. Every
student will have an opportunity to complete this test and
add it to their Personal Profile. The heart rate monitors will continue
to reinforce the importance of regular exercise and to show the students
the different levels of exertion involved in various activities. The students
also learn about different equipment, where to buy it, and what makes on
brand better then another.
Exit Outcomes based on the North Dakota Physical Education
Standards.
The student will be able to…
Understand and use all the assessments provided by the
TriFit computer.
Develop their own Personal Profile which they have compiled
from grade 4 through the 12th grade
Develop fitness goals based on the information from their
Personal Fitness Profile.
Demonstrate the ability to program and use a heart rate
monitor correctly.
Understand the importance of living a healthy activity
lifestyle.
