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Sioux Falls looks to modernize gym class with more technology, personal fitness focus

Originally published March 1, 2019 in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

By Shelly Conlon

The Sioux Falls School District is about to make sure gym class no longer has the reputation of a blow-off class for students by giving them more choices, school officials said this week.

The district will be spending more than $337,000 on course work and equipment to shift away from team sports and toward a personal fitness focus at all grade levels, said Ann Smith, the district’s curriculum director. Read More

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U-46 adopts new high school P.E. curriculum emphasizing active lifestyle

Originally published Nov. 20, 2018 in the Daily Herald.

By Madhu Krishnamurthy

Starting next school year, students at Elgin Area School District U-46’s six high schools will be able to take a variety of physical education courses promoting a physically active lifestyle and moving the district away from the emphasis on team sports.

The U-46 school board Monday night approved new high school physical education curriculum, resources, equipment and teacher training for a total cost of $191,502. Technological resources — heart rate monitors and iPads — make up $156,305 of that expense. The same technology already is being used at the district’s middle schools for physical education classes. Read More

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PE Administrators Focus on ESSA Title IV Part A for Key Funding

With Additional $700 Million Available, Schools Feel Empowered to Add New Technology

With a significant budget increase to Title IV Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act for the 2018-19 school year, educators will have more opportunities to fund the purchase of tools that will personalize PE for students.

Identified as the Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants program of ESSA, Title IV Part A provides funding for new programs that: Read More

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Students Learn Heart Rate Training Management with PE Technology

Teachers Use Fitness Data From Heart Rate Monitors To Educate Students on Management of All Fitness Levels

Physical education teachers use heart rate technology to show students how hard they need to exercise in class to positively impact their fitness levels.

A 24-year teaching veteran, Rock River (Wisc.) Intermediate School PE teacher Jackie Clark has always made it a priority to include the latest technology in her classes. She started with pedometers 15 years ago but knew they couldn’t give her – and especially her students – a full picture of how effective a workout was. While her students grasped the importance of activity, Clark wanted to give them a greater understanding of moving at an elevated heart rate. Read More

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CHALK TALK: Physical education 2.0

Originally posted April 19, 2017 by Frontiersman.com.

By NANCY BLAKE For the Frontiersman

technology
From Frontiersman.com

When you reflect on your experiences in physical education class, you might remember kickball, jump rope, basketball, and a variety of other games and activities. You might recall the annual fitness tests, where you were challenged to swiftly run a mile alongside your peers, perform as many sit-ups as possible in 60-seconds, and lift your chin over the pull-up bar until your arms felt like spaghetti. Sport skills and health-related fitness components are still the backbone of a quality physical education curriculum, but you may be surprised to learn how these skills and concepts are being taught in today’s P.E.

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