As an elementary school Physical Education teacher for over eleven years; the need for objective measures to prove the quality of my program has become more important than ever. I have been involved with activity trackers for fifteen years and have used both chest and optical based heart rate monitors with my students. Five years ago I made the switch from a chest based, group heart rate system, to the Heart Tech Plus optical group system. This change was not easy for me as I know the importance of accurate and valid tools for measurement. Once I felt the level of technology was matching chest based accuracy, I was confident that this change would have a huge impact on my class and student learning. The use of the Heart Tech Plus system has been revolutionary with its group system capabilities, its secure and encrypted web-portal for student data reporting, and now the @Home App, which has been developed since the onset of COVID 19. This system allows for an increase of activity time, a decrease in transition time and the flexibility to take the technology home. As an educator I can utilize the web-portal to review my student data from anywhere in the world and build robust reports to show program impact on the students engagement. The importance of physical activity and health enhancing movement has never been greater than now. Students are being forced to sit in front of a screen all day to receive their schooling so the need for research and outcomes based Physical Education is at a premium. SHAPE America shines light on the importance of Moderate to Vigorous physical activity comprising at least fifty percent of your class time with students. In our new remote world achieving this level of movement in an isolated setting takes proper planning and technology integration to ensure students are meeting or exceeding these recommendations. Heart Tech Plus is the only system on the market that is totally versatile for the administrator, educator, and student; who may not know what the near future holds for their educational environment.
Chris Mekelburg Ed. D. 5STARPE LLC
RVC UFSD K-5 & (Adapted) P. E. Adelphi University Adjunct Professor
