PE has many benefits for students besides helping them lead a healthy lifestyle. Studies have shown that regular physical activity has many beneficial academic impacts such as scoring higher on tests compared to inactive students and being more focused during class. However, many students take advantage of PE, as many choose to put in minimal effort and focus. So, in order to ensure that students are performing their best in PE, some PE teachers at Naperville Central require students to use heart rate straps on certain days to measure their level of activity. Due to their multiple benefits, heart rate straps should continue to be used in PE classes.

By setting a goal range for heart rate that is needed to get full points, PE teachers have created a significant incentive for students to be productive during class. It is a measure of participation efforts. When teachers set this type of goal, students put more effort into class, like choosing a more rigorous machine to get heart rate up faster instead of choosing an easier machine.

Teachers just want to ensure that students are reaping the full benefits of PE, and heart rate monitors are helping them do just that. Being able to access individualized heart rate data allows students to create personal fitness goals and know their strengths and weaknesses. On the connected software, students are able to see their heart rate analyzed throughout the whole workout, and from there, students can see where they need to improve and create goals off of that.

Heart rate data over time can help show if students are improving their fitness (a lower starting heart rate usually indicates better fitness). By looking at their classes’ heart rate data and trends, PE teachers can adjust teaching plans to address the fitness of their classes.

Heart rate straps instill the importance of heart rate monitoring at a young age. Monitoring heart rate is a crucial aspect of exercise. Heart rate numbers can help avoid both overtraining and undertraining and maintain a healthy exercise regimen. By using heart rate straps in PE class, it can peak students’ interests in getting their own fitness gadget, like a watch or a wristband (Fitbits and Garmin watches are popular options these days). Students who take initiative in monitoring their health are setting themselves up for a long and healthy life.

Heart rate straps may seem tedious and unnecessary to students, but it is clear that the multitude of benefits outweigh the cons and allows for students to specialize their workouts.