02/05/2026
Caitlin Schoville, two-time SHAPE Teacher of the Year, explains why visual observation alone can be misleading:
"Visually watching someone participate does not show or tell you their cardiovascular health. For example, a student who is walking a lap on a track may be in the MVPA zone, while another student is running the lap but is barely into their yellow/MVPA zone."
🏃♀️ That's the power of heart rate data in PE!
For 10 years, Pleasant Valley Junior High in Iowa has been using heart rate monitors to help students understand TRUE effort … not just what it looks like from the outside. The results? Increased MVPA time, empowered students, and family nights that change parents' perspectives on modern PE.
Read more about how this junior high built a decade-long culture of accountability and heart-healthy habits: https://ihtusa.com/iht-blog/junior-high-heart-rate-monitors-for-pe-build-student-accountability-heart-healthy-habits/