FitMet

By John Kruse

Previously, I have written about Google Docs and its use in assessment. Recently, a health teacher and I decided to teach a lesson on Body Mass Index (BMI). Specifically, we were addressing a California health content standard for 7th/8th grade that states that students should be able to “explain how to use a BMI score as a tool for measuring good health.” As part of this lesson, we first wanted students to experience the use of BMI as a measure of good health by having them calculate their own BMI score.

We discussed the issue of privacy and BMI and we were both concerned about possible stigmatization occurring in class.  BMI is a touchy subject and I can only imagine where the adolescent mind will go with a peer’s BMI score.  My colleague recommended that we use Google Docs, specifically a Google Form, so students could turn in their assignment confidentially. This works really well since students are not required to turn in an assignment by handing in a piece of paper in class. Instead, students are directed to the school Web-page to input the assignment online using a Google form that we had embedded into the site.  Their information goes straight into an Google spreadsheet that only myself and my colleague can access. In addition to the Google Form, we also embedded a Google Gadget BMI calculator so students could privately calculate their own BMI at home.

Want to learn more about Google Docs and its use in education? Check out this blog post by EduTechi.com.