A C a l i f o r n i a c o m m u n i t y c o l l e g e p ro j e c t
THE PEDAL PROGRAM
Physical Educators for Discipline, Attitude, and Learning
Leading the way for the future advancement of physical education and increased student success
Deborah Jensen, M.S.
Physical Education
Cerritos College
PART I
Who is Dr. John Ratey?
• Author - Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of
Exercise and the Brain, 2008
• Harvard Medical School
• Professor of Psychiatry
• International Speaker
SPARK: The PE Revolution
“Physical activity boosts the
flow of blood to the part of the
brain that is responsible for
memory and learning,
promoting the production of
the new brain cells.”
-John Ratey, M.D.
Newest Findings
• Exercise increases
production of
neurotransmitters that help:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Focus and attention
Motivation
Patience
Mood (more optimistic)
(Ratey, 2008)
Exercise and BDNF
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Exercise produces BDNF
(Miracle Grow for the Brain)
(Ratey, 2008)
BDNF and Synapses
• BNDF gives synapses
the tools they need to:
Take in
Process
Associate
Remember
Put in context
information
Part II
Case Studies in Exercise and the Brain
Naperville H.S. – Naperville, Illinois – PE Program
Zero Period PE
Fitness Based PE
Creates an environment in which the brain is ready,
willing, and able to learn
Naperville H.S. Academic Results
1999 TIMSS Test Rankings
Naperville- 97% 8th Graders
USA – 59,000 students
Math
Naperville #1 world ranking
USA
#19 world ranking
Science
Naperville #6 world ranking
USA
#18 world ranking
(TIMSS = Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. 38 countries. 230,000 students.)
Naperville H.S. ACT Scores
2005 ACT Test Scores
N.H.S. Illinois St.
average average
24.8
20.1
California Department of
Education
• 2001 CDE reports: fit kids scored twice as well on
academic tests as their unfit peers
• CDE 5 year results showed that consistently higher fitness
scores have higher standardizes test scores
Virginia Tech Study
“…Schools cutting gym classes and allocating more time to
math, science, and reading DID NOT improve test scores as
so many administrators assume it will.”
--Spark, Dr. John Ratey
More math classes +
More science classes +
(Ratey, 2008)
No PE = Lower Test Scores
No PE = Lower Test Scores
German Research
2007
People learn vocabulary words 20% faster
following exercise than they did before
exercise
Rate of learning is correlated directly to
levels of BDNF
(Spark, Ratey)
The PEDAL PROGRAM
Cerritos College
Cerritos College
Fitness Based PE
Target Heart Rate workouts
Aerobic workouts
Lesson plans embedded with fitness assessments,
self-evaluations, appropriate goals
Long Lasting Benefits
Target Heart Rate workouts will
cause 6 – 7 hours of improved:





Brain performance
Concentration
Attention
Focus
Learning
Exercise and BDNF
The more intense
and complex the
exercise, the more
BDNF that is made.
PART III
References
Book
Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise
and the Brain
Ratey (2008)
Article
Physically Active Play and Cognition: An Academic matter?
--Sattelmair and Ratey (2009)
References
On-line References
“Brain Research”
John Ratey Power Point 2010
“Brain Breaks”
John Ratey Power Point 2010
Ann Paulls-Neal
Naperville, IL—PE Program Video