The Nike+ in Education

The wave of success brought about by the Nike+ fitness system has brought about significant changes in the manner sports enthusiasts take ownership in how they see and track their own growth. May it that they are seeking to increase their workout frequency, or that they are trying to improve their personal best in their next 10K race, it had been widely acknowledged that such ways of monitoring personal measurements have been instrumental in boosting individual performance and motivation.

Distances covered, heart rates, pace, timing and calories spent etc are all part of the pool of information wearers of Nike+ have easy reference to. Feedback information as detailed as these which used to be the privileged access of elite Olympic-class athletes, is now in the hands of the common man. How empowering technology is when it is widespread.

So what happens when the concept of Nike+ is adapted in schools? A series of measurements meant for it's people (both pupils and staff) to make meaning of so as to proper growth. What these measurements should be require deep discussion and thought. The roles and functions of a school is far more complex than the demands on any sporting activity. We are basically building a habitat. People are central to the 'prosperity' of our business.

Though a parallel comparison is unrealistic, there are many things which we can learn from the Nike+ success. The manner in which goals (few but highly focused) are so clearly decided, the ease in which information can be so easily made sense of, and the near invisibility of the system (almost no work is needed by the participants to make use of the data) at play. It is a good example of the mindfulness applied in the art and science of measurement.

When properly applied, collective information can be used as a credible reference behind a desire to succeed.


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