Using Pedometers in Elementary Physical Education

Year 2010, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 1 - 7, 03.01.2010

Bülent Ağbuğa

Abstract

Identifying children’s physical activity level can provide valuable information to change their lifestyles positively. Such inquiry may encourage people to be more physically active although physical activity is not only one factor to deal with health-related problems such as obesity. Such inquiry may also provide important implications for teachers who want to design physical activity programs where students’ physical activity maximized. The purposes of this article are (1) to give a very brief information about physical activity/inactivity and pedometers, (2) to explain the importance of using pedometers in physical education classes, and, (3) to indicate important contributions of pedometer-based physical education.

Keywords

Pedometer, physical education, physical activity, elementary school

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Youth risk behavior surveillanceUnited States, 2003. Retrieved August 26, 2006, from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/ ss/ss 5302.pdf, 2004.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Overweight and obesity. Retrieved March 10, 2006, from http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/ obesity, 2006.
• Corbin CB, Pangrazi RP. Physical activity for children:A statement of guidelines.Reston, VA: National Associationfor Sport and Physical Education, 1998.
• Ferguson KJ, Yesalis CE, Pomrehn PR, Kirkpatrick MB. Attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs as predictors of exercise intent and behavior in schoolchildren. Journal of School Health, 59: 112-115, 1989.
• Luepker RV, Perry CL, McKinlay SM, Nader PR, Parcel GS, Stone EJ, et al. Outcomes of a field trial to improve children’s dietary patterns and physical activity: The child and adolescent trial for cardiovascular health. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 275: 768– 76, 1996.
• Morgan CF, Pangrazi RP, Beighle A. Using pedometers to promote physical activity in physical education. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 74: 33-38, 2003.
• Tudor-Locke C, Williams JE, Reis JP, Pluto D. Utility of pedometer for assessing physical activity: convergent validity. Sports Medicine, 32: 795–808, 2002.