Assessment of Physical Activity Levels of 3rd and 4th Grade Children Using Pedometers during Physical Education Class
Smith, J., Nichols, D., Biggerstaff, K., & DiMarco, N. (2004). Assessment of Physical Activity Levels of 3rd and 4th Grade Children Using Pedometers during Physical Education Class. Journal of Research, 4 (1), 73-79.
Summary
The study provides insight into physical activity levels of children. The article discussed how activity levels vary between boys and girls, those that participated in sports outside of school and those that did not, and intensity levels. The authors recommended from their finding that educators sometimes separate boys and girls and give them their own activities. It also emphasized the importance of physical education class in terms of meeting daily recommended amounts of activity. Pedometers given to students during their physical education class was their means of assessing a variety of factors in the study.
Implications for Assessment
The use of pedometers is a great way to assess physical activity in a physical education class. This becomes a more scientific approach to grading participation in class, which is usually done through observation and judgement on the teachers part. If the teacher were to say you must reach a certain amount of steps in class, that would be an objective means of grading participation. The study also gave some useful insight into planning curriculum and lessons around gender, which I feel is important to do a some points through out the semester.
Smith, J., Nichols, D., Biggerstaff, K., & DiMarco, N. (2004). Assessment of Physical Activity Levels of 3rd and 4th Grade Children Using Pedometers during Physical Education Class. Journal of Research, 4 (1), 73-79.
Source: ERIC
http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/EJ903487.pdf
Summary
The study provides insight into physical activity levels of children. The article discussed how activity levels vary between boys and girls, those that participated in sports outside of school and those that did not, and intensity levels. The authors recommended from their finding that educators sometimes separate boys and girls and give them their own activities. It also emphasized the importance of physical education class in terms of meeting daily recommended amounts of activity. Pedometers given to students during their physical education class was their means of assessing a variety of factors in the study.
Implications for Assessment
The use of pedometers is a great way to assess physical activity in a physical education class. This becomes a more scientific approach to grading participation in class, which is usually done through observation and judgement on the teachers part. If the teacher were to say you must reach a certain amount of steps in class, that would be an objective means of grading participation. The study also gave some useful insight into planning curriculum and lessons around gender, which I feel is important to do a some points through out the semester.
Also see Jillian's Post in Discussion Section