So as promised, let's talk about the benefits of how fitness and health relate to students’ academic performance and student persistence. We've captured data through wearable technologies!
Here's how:
Here's how:
- Research supports a direct correlation with fitness and improved grades (see results from Purdue University: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijWW8kgXDD0). Therefore, we hypothesized that if students could monitor their health with wearable technologies, they might just improve their health and increase student persistence in the classroom also.
- We began by having interested teachers explore various wearable technologies. The winner was the Flex Fitbit due to cost and functionality.
- We secured grant funding adding: "Innovative technology to support physical activity to promote increased retention and completion" to the budget.
- Teachers experimented with their usage and were immediately excited about the possibilities.
- We introduced the concept to students during their regular orientation. Those who were interested and applied became part of our pilot group of students.
- An orientation and weekly checkpoints discussing the tips of the trade and the science involved in fitness kept the buzz going. Students impressively shared unexpected results of how they were drinking more water and monitoring their rest along with walking and exercising more to achieve their health and wellness goals.
- Specific results reported students having to say this about their experience:
- "It helped me realize how inactive I was and that I need to do more exercise."
- "I learned that science is improving our daily lives,and that we as a society will live longer and healthier if we maintain common sense also run,walk, sleep, and eat healthy."
- But, the learning didn't stop when they left the classroom. In fact, they shared it with their families, friends, and classmates.
- Nine out of the original 11 (91%) completed until the end of term. To date, seven of the current students completed the survey attesting to the following. One graduated and is working on enrolling into college level courses. Two passed some parts of the GED® exam with a few others scheduled to take the exam now.
- Want to see more? Take a look. Make certain to scroll to the bottom to see our shining stars! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1uDnSNEixfH7lHFjHBGGDwn2KeKKd5MsWtIPKbtfPUuo/present#slide=id.p4