Graduate Student Emily Clapham Researches
Exercise and Technology

Ed.D. Physical and Health Education candidate Emily Clapham, who
works at Rhode Island College in the Health and Physical Education
Dept., examined the amount and level of participation in physical activity among 106 urban 4th and 5th graders during physical education class and whether the use of a technological device (pedometers [PED] and heart rate monitors [HRM]) and/or teacher instruction contributed to increased
participation in physical activity. A curriculum pedagogically centered on the use of the technological devices and written specifically for the study was also developed and studied.

There were six participant groups employed for this research under
one experienced physical education teacher:

• The first two groups wore HRMs and PEDs while participating in a
  typical physical education class.
  
• The second two groups wore the technological devices and received
  supportive curricula/instruction with the devices representative of
  the "New" Physical Education.
  
• The last two groups wore pedometers and received the same supportive curricula as the second two groups.

Data collected:

• Number of steps and minutes from the PED groups. Averages of steps/ minutes were calculated and compared.
  
• Steps/minute and heart rate data from the HRM groups. Averages of
  steps/minute and heart rate in beats per minute (bpm) were calculated analyzed for both measurements.

The results point toward a correlation between supportive curricula
for HRMs and PEDs and increased level and amount of physical
activity. Clapham concluded that pedometers and heart rate monitors
combined with supportive curricula and integrated into physical
education classes increased both amount and level of physical activity.

"My advisor Dr. Eileen Sullivan (PE) is one of the reasons I was so
successful at BU. She is an amazing individual. She gave me the
opportunity to be the director of the Tuesday-Thursday Boston
University Physical Education Program. I also had the opportunity to
teach undergraduate physical education courses," said Clapham.

Find out more about the Physical and Health Education programs.