Date of Award

6-2017

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Human Performance and Health Education

First Advisor

Dr. Debra S. Berkey

Second Advisor

Dr. Suzan F. Ayers

Third Advisor

Dr. Yuanlong Liu

Keywords

Physical education, physical activity, heart rate, MVPA, elementary

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

Heart rate monitors (HRM) were used with 80 fifth grade students during an eight-day basketball unit in one elementary school located in Otsego County, Michigan to see if the implementation had any effect on increasing the intensity of the participating students. Specifically, the HRM measured the amount of time the students were engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). It was hypothesized that with the use of HRM, students would increase their MVPA and maintain that time in MVPA by the eighth day. The eight days were split into four levels where students were introduced to a new feature of the HRM every level: basic HRM, HRM with lights explained, HRM with projected data and instruction, and HRM projected data maintenance. Results suggest that students show little interest in the technology when introduced to the lights in level two (p>0.05). Results also show a decrease in MVPA with the introduction of the projector on day five. However, after further use of the projector the heart rates of the students increased significantly (p=0.01), suggesting it took some time for these elementary students to gain an understanding of the technology. Once familiar, however, the technology motivated them to greater levels of physical activity. The overall influence of the data suggested a 44% positive linear trend (p=0.002). Therefore, when students are introduced to HRM technology it may increase MVPA, but it can take some time.

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