Heart Rate Monitors

This peer reviewed research article evaluates high school students perceptions on the use of heart rate monitors in physical education (PE) class. Three major themes emerged from the data. One was the use of heart rate monitors to determine physical education class grades. The second included students' perceptions of fitness levels. The third theme that emerged was the consistency with which physical education instructors used heart rate monitors. All three of these themes impacted students 'perceptions of heart rate monitor use in physical education classes. Technology in schools has become an everyday tool and PE is no different from the regular classroom. A heart rate monitor can help tech savvy students find interest in being physically active and they can provide teachers with objective method of assessing students physical activity levels. Sixty minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day is recommended to be physically healthy as a kid. These heart rate monitors can help motivate students to reach their target heart rate range (moderate to vigorous intensity on the heart) as well as inform them how hard they need to work to reach that range. This is a great tool for the educator and the student, but how do students respond to using this tool?

The results of this study showed when the heart rate monitors are used for a grade the students saw it as extrinsic motivation. They had trouble relating why they needed to know their heart rates and the feeling at a certain heart rate. They worked to reach target heart rates so they could get a good grade not so they could live a long and healthy life. The results also showed that the less fit students enjoyed this tool better because they did not have to work as hard to reach their target heart rate where as the more fit students had to work much harder based on their current fitness level. It was harder for those fit students to successfully be in their target heart rate range. The findings also suggest PE teachers make individualized plans for students with the heart rate monitors so all students can see their specific benefits on a personal level.

According to Partridge, King and Bian (2011), "The health of adolescents in the United States is quickly declining due in part to an increase in sedentary behaviors and a decrease in physical activity." This will lead to lower life expectancy. This has been trending because we as a society are letting technology control our lives. When you do not have to leave the couch to see the world, we become lazy and stop treating our bodies with respect. Jobs no longer demand physical labor, but instead can be done from a chair. We are becoming less healthy as a culture and disease (heart disease and diabetes) is prevailing. I believe these heart rate monitors can be successful in the high school setting pending the reason why the students use them. If their sole grade is based on being in the target heart rate we have failed as PE teachers. PE is more than being in a target heart rate for a certain period of time. The goal is to find a sport or physical activity that you can engage in throughout your entire life. These heart rate monitors should be used as tools to help support the students knowledge of why I need to be in my target heart rate and what it feels like to reach my target heart rate. If I know the feeling of being in my target heart rate I can get rid of the monitor and trust myself to reach that range.This will help students to be dedicated to living a long and healthy life.

Reference

Partridge, J., King, K., & Bian, W. (2011). Perceptions of Heart Rate Monitor Use in High School Physical Education Class. Physical Educator, 68(1), 30-44.