The Shawn Johnson Fitness for Life Act
Issues: Education
Olympic Gold Medal gymnast Shawn Johnson visits
Congressman Bruce Braley at his Washington, DC office
Background
For a number of years, the University of Northern Iowa and the Grundy Center (Iowa) School District partnered together to improve physical education classes by emphasizing the use of technology.
UNI graduate students worked as full time PE instructors in Grundy Center, where they learned to incorporate technology like heart monitors, computerized fitness assessment programs, and pocket PCs into their curriculum. The technology allows instructors to better tailor PE activities to individual students’ ability level and teaches students to track their own progress. UNI researchers also used data from the program to study the effectiveness of PE courses. This was an effective partnership, the kids benefited, and this technology continues to be used in Grundy Center.
The Shawn Johnson Fitness for Life Act
The Shawn Johnson Fitness for Life Act expands the concept behind the successful UNI-Grundy Center partnership to more schools. The bill creates a new grant program to fund the expansion of masters’ degree programs in physical education at 10 colleges and universities. The masters’ programs must emphasize the use of technology in PE teaching and innovative teaching practices.
Colleges and universities that apply must already offer a masters’ degree program in physical education and must pick a local school district to partner with for implementation of the program.
Any college or university that receives grant money would be required to do the following:
• Instruct masters’ degree candidates on the incorporation of technology into PE and new ways to teach physical education.
• Develop curriculum that puts into practice new teaching methods that have been researched.
• Offer programs that extend the program into the community.
• Increase the availability and quality of physical education at the school district.
• Requires that masters’ degree candidates spend the majority of their instruction time at the local school.
• Each masters’ degree student must serve as a full time student teacher at a school served by the school district.
• Actively promote the masters’ degree program in the community
Fitness for Life grant funds may be used for the purchase of equipment and technology to increase or enhance physical activity and fitness levels. This can include, for example, heart rate monitors, fitness assessment systems, or pocket PC’s.
Funding can also be used for stipends for masters’ degree students and for administrative costs for participating colleges and universities.
Shawn Johnson joins Rep. Braley at Ankeny Middle School
Congressman Braley joined gymnast, Olympic champion, and West Des Moines resident Shawn Johnson for a visit to Northview Middle School in Ankeny in January 2012 to highlight the Ankeny Community Schools’ innovative use of technology in physical education classes.
From the press release:
“The Ankeny Schools are at the forefront of incorporating technology into physical education,” Braley said. “Their example shows how technology allows instructors to better tailor instruction to individual students.
Braley continued, “I’m excited to be here today with Shawn Johnson. She has inspired countless young Iowans with her Olympic success, and understands how important it is to make fitness more engaging to young people. I hope our efforts will help raise awareness about this issue and replicate Northview Middle School’s success at more schools across Iowa and the US.
“I’m impressed with what I’ve seen at Northview Middle today,” Shawn Johnson said. “Kids of all ages use technology in their lives every day, from video games to iPods to cellphones. Incorporating technology in PE class is the next step -- an opportunity to make exercise more fun for young people. These PE classes show what’s possible when that idea is put into practice.”
Watch a video from the event (courtesy of Patch.com)
