Thursday, December 2, 2010

Overview of test instructions

  • The test is very easy to follow. The audio tape will begin with a 5 second count down to get you ready to start running.
  • When the audio tape says begin, run across the 20 meter distance and touch the line with your foot by the time the beep sounds.
  • At the sound of the beep, you are to turn around and run back to the other end.
  • If you get to the line before the beep you must wait for the beep before running the other direction.
  • Continue doing this process until you fail to reach the line. One miss is allowed, just turn around where you are when the beep sounds to try and catch up. If you miss a second time then your test is over.
  • A single beep will sound at the end of the time for each lap.
  • A triple beep will sound at the end of each minute. The triple beep serves the same function as the single beep and also tells you that the pace will be getting faster. Treat the triple beep as a single one, Do not stop running, just continue the test by turning and running toward the other end of the area.

Evaluation Criteria

The Pacer Test is meant to help students learn to pace themseves effectively.

Each Student will be assessed individually based on the Healthy fitness zone. For boys ages 17+ the healthy fitness zone is between 80 and 105 laps. For girls ages 17+, the Healthy fitness zone is between about 50 and 70 laps.

Preparation for Assessment

To prepare for this test we will be doing a number of Aerobic
activities in class to build up our cardiovascular endurance.
Some of these activities will include, but not limited to:
 jumping rope, jumping jacks, Aerobic dance, and walking.

We will also do some stretching before each class to gain
flexibility in our legs to help with running.

How to improve your scores in and out of class

To help improve your scores on the Pacer, it is important to engage
in moderate to intense physical activity. This means any activity that
raises your heart rate between 65-85% of your target heart rate.
Find things you may like to do such as jogging, dancing, kick boxing,
swimming, etc. Try and increase the distance or the amount of time
you do these activities every week to improve your cardiovascular
fitness.
 

Date of next Assessment

Your second Pacer Assessment will be held on November 29th during Hoops for heart in D' Angola gymnasium. Improve your score and raise money all at the same time!

Instructions Video

Test Validity


To set a valid criterion-referenced standard, the fitness gram scoring has both scientific knowledge and measurement expertise. They set standards based on expert judgment, knowledge of the score distribution of the field test and the criterion test within the population, and the relationship between the field test and the criterion measure. The standard represents the level of risk for the health outcome related to the fitness
component being tested.  Fitnessgram uses a range of scores called the Healthy Fitness Zone for their tests.

Control for Reliability

Reliability was controlled in this test by keeping score of the number of laps each student ran and comparing it to meeting or not meeting the healthy level (determined by the fitnessgram). If the test is given a number of times, the students should be classified as either meeting or failing to meet the standard each time. If the tests are spread out through out the school year, the students should have an improvement on the number of laps completed each time they take it.

How did the class perform?

Males:
Healthy - 2 students
Needs improvement - 5 students
Unable to test - 5 students

Females:
Healthy - 6 students
Needs improvement - 8 students

Average ( # of laps completed ):
Females - 33.85
Males - 51.85

Standard Deviation ( # of laps completed) :
Females - 14.2
Males - 18.36

The reason there is a great number of students who need improvement on the
Pacer is due to the fact that it is still early in the school year and have been
unable to do many activities to help prepare for the test yet.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Ms. Toto's Pacer Test

Welcome to my Class!!
Dr. Albert Einstein Academy
On October 25th you will be taking your first assessment on:
The Pacer

The Pacer stands for The Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run, and is an Aerobic Capacity Test which will help you learn the skill of pacing. The test is set up so that you will progressively increase the speed of your running with the help and guidance of an Audio guide. It is easy at the beginning and gets harder at the end.

It is important to work on Aerobic Capacity and Pacing yourself while running so that you can gradually increase your levels, which will help reduce the risk of high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes, some forms of cancer, and other health problems in adults.