Helping PE Students Help Themselves

A Brief Assessment of Fitness Technologies

Greg Machat

We can not be advising our students at all times

Students can make poor decisions outside of class

Software and equipment can help students make good decisions

Introduction

Measure how much a person walks in a day

Easy to track day to day activity

Motivate people to walk more

Can come as a clip or a band

Pedometers

Bands are generally light and stylish

Can synch to phones or computers

Can cost as low as $10 for clip. $50-$200 for band

Can buy online or any major retailer

Pedometers

Works by tracking movement

Can be an object on bed, or a band.

Measures how long they were asleep

Sleep Monitor

Most people don’t know how well they sleep

Measures the quality of a person’s sleep

Some come with “Smart Alarms”

Can cost $20-$200

Buy online or any major retailer

Sleep Monitor

Allows a person to track their diet during the day

Easy to spot problems in diet

Helps to plan meals during the day

Can cost $5-$15 online or any book store.

Diet Tracker Journals

Allow exact measurement of food

Food is hard to judge without it

Can help people betterunderstand a serving size

Can Cost $10-$20 in a retail store or online.

Food Scales

Contain apps that can track fitness

Easy and convenient

Can synch to computer, or store info online

Can Cost Free-$10

Smart Phone Software

Tools can be used outside the classroom

They influence good decision making

Can work excellently when combined with proper health education

Conclusion