Two Columbia public high schools are offering an online physical education program class. Students from Hickman and Rock Bridge High Schools can take their P.E. course through an interactive program on the internet.
The program was started back in August. Columbia Public Schools bought the program from the Springfield Public Schools for three thousand dollars.
Fifty students can participate in the program on a first-come, first-served basis. The program is called Online PE and includes a Fit Kit that comes with a dumbbell, heart rate monitor, resistance band, stability ball and jump ropes.
In order for students to get credit, they must record themselves doing the exercise routines while wearing the heart rate monitor and upload it online. There is also a writing portion of the program that requires students to answer questions and respond to their peers on a discussion board.
Physical Education and Health Coordinator Christi Hopper says the online program benefits students who cannot fit the P.E. course in their schedule as well as those who have physical limitations.
“We have had students in the past who have had some difficulties at regular P.E. classes because of physical limitations and doing the online P.E., they can do workouts that they can do and be able to finish the class,” said Hopper.
Melanie Karrick is a personal trainer at Key Largo Fitness and Tanning in Columbia. She says that the online exercise program is not ideal for long term health.
“For a long term solution for someone’s fitness I think that I would be skeptical of that but for getting short term goal of getting a credit and getting the individual active for their PE class I think it can be successful,” said Karrick.
Hopper hopes that the program can expand the program to other schools in the area once there is enough funding.
