Part 1B

Where is the web-site from? Where in the world? Which country? What city and state/province is the story from?
The web-site is from the Canadian Broadcasting Company. It is from Canada and in the province of Saskatoon.

What do you think about this news piece....interesting...why or why not?

Yes this news piece was interesting to me. It was interesting because it showed the students that are having a hard time and that then improved. They improved but then again went down hill and went back to their old ways. I think that it would be obvious that if you put students on a treadmill before class that they would be more calm during class after running on the treadmill. The video gave information about how exercise affects the brain and the way it affects the student’s behavior. At the end when you realize that the students just go back to their old ways it kind of shows you that the students were just acting a certain way during the documentary.

Why don’t we hear anything about the PE teacher being involved with City Park Collegiate experiment? How will ensure that your PE program will be a benefit to the students and faculty of your school?

Physical education teachers aren’t involved in the City Park Collegiate experiment because they talk about how in “gym” class students don’t participate. The PE teachers don’t make them participate in the activities which mean the students aren’t getting the necessary amount of exercise they need to get to get their heart rate up. I will ensure that my PE program will be beneficial to the students of my school because I will make sure that all students are participating and that students get the recommended amount of exercise. Students won’t be sitting on the side not participating, I want to make sure my activities are enjoyable so that makes the students want to participate rather than feel like they have to. For the faculty at my school, I will make sure to get the students heart rates up so that they will get their energy out in my PE class rather than have them spend their energy in my fellow faculty member’s class.

What are were the main outcomes/benefits of the program? Were you surprised from their findings? Are these outcomes similar to our New York State PE Standards? Explain your answer by giving details and examples, while comparing and contrasting.

The main outcomes of the program were that the students were moving into a positive direction with their reading, writing, math skills, and other improvements. Benefits of the program were the increase in confidence in the students after they improved in an aspect of one of the areas of their education. Students were moving away from drugs and things that were bringing them down the wrong path and started moving in the right path. The treadmill and workout program that was offered during class had positive outcomes. This allowed the students to finally sit down in class without being hyper. Students wanted to learn and they were calm enough to actually get through a whole class period. I wasn’t surprised from their findings because it makes sense that if you tire a student out enough then they will pay more attention. Yes these outcomes are similar to our New York State PE Standards. They are similar because in standard one that focuses on personal health and fitness the students are doing a complete workout and increasing their heart rate. Standard 1a and 1b are being met by the students doing the workout program because they are performing basic motor skills and they are in a designed fitness program. Standard two is also being met because the students are in the school which is a safe and healthy environment. Usually the students are acting out in class but when they started this program their behavioral problems decreased which allowed them to demonstrate the responsible behavior that standard 2a calls for. Standard three isn’t met or it at least isn’t showed for in the news piece. It does not showed where the students can find exercise accessible outside of the classroom. There are not any areas discussed in their community where they can go to get the physical workout that they receive in their school.

What is BDNF and what does it have to do with PE and learning? How do you get BDNF or other associated goodies? What are the names of two of the “key” books and their authors that currently outline the benefits of exercise and learning/academics? At least one is mentioned in the news piece.

BDNF is Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor. It is related to PE and learning because it is known as the “Miracle-Gro for your brain.” BDNF is increases your memory and develops your nerves when you get older. If you are put under a lot of stress it can decrease the levels of the BDNF. To increase your levels of BDNF you should restrict your caloric intake, increase exercise, and many other things can help. The key to the formation of memories is BDNF. The two books mentioned are “Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain” by John J. Ratey and “Nature's Ritalin for the Marathon Mind” by Stephen C. Putnam.