Pocket PE 3-5: a digital app to support teacher PE skills and elementary classroom activities

Development, Feasibility, and Acceptability of Aim to Play, a User-Friendly Digital Application for Teacher Skills Training and Physical Education Activities for 3-5 Grade Elementary Students

This project tests whether the Pocket PE 3-5 app helps 3rd–5th grade teachers teach PE more confidently and increases students' activity, enjoyment, and satisfaction in PE classes.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 1872 (estimated)
• Ages: 7 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Saavsus, Inc. (Academic / other)
• Locations: 2 sites (Eugene, Oregon and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT07203313 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Teachers and their classes at 24 elementary schools are randomized so half use the Pocket PE 3-5 app at least once per week for 12 consecutive weeks and half continue usual PE. The app provides short teacher demonstration videos, printable activity cards, music and audio cues, and offline-capable lesson plans tailored by grade, time, setting, skill level, and equipment, plus embedded tracking of PE minutes and standards covered. Teachers complete brief surveys at baseline, 6 weeks, and 13 weeks, with intervention teachers completing a longer post-program survey; student outcomes including moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and enjoyment are measured during the same period. The trial is run by Saavsus, Inc. in collaboration with the Oregon Research Institute in the 2025–26 school year.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal participants are 3rd–5th grade teachers who teach PE at least once weekly and their enrolled 3rd–5th grade students who can read English and provide assent/consent.

Not a fit: Participants unlikely to benefit include students outside grades 3–5, non-English speakers, teachers who do not teach PE regularly, or classrooms already delivering consistently high-quality, standards-based PE without additional supports.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the app could boost teacher confidence and the quality of PE instruction, leading to more student physical activity, greater enjoyment, and higher satisfaction during PE.

How similar studies have performed: Previous school-based teacher-training programs and digital resources have produced modest improvements in teacher PE delivery and student activity, but Pocket PE 3-5 applies those elements in a novel, low-cost app tailored for 3rd–5th grades.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria for teachers:

* A 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade teacher at a participating school responsible for teaching PE at least one time a week;
* Able to read and understand English;
* Willing to use Pocket PE to facilitate their PE class instruction for 12 weeks;
* Be able to understand the study and consent to participate

Inclusion Criteria for students:

* A 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader enrolled in a participating class in a participating school;
* Able to read and understand English;
* Able to understand the study and assent to participation;

Exclusion Criteria:

* None

Where this trial is running

Eugene, Oregon and 1 other locations

• Saavsus, Inc. — Eugene, Oregon, United States (Recruiting)
• Oregon Research Institute — Springfield, Oregon, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Jeanette Ricci, PhD

Conditions Teacher Self-efficacy for Teaching PE; Teacher PE Instruction; Student PE Enjoyment; Student Physical Activity; Student PE Satisfaction; physical activity; physical education; elementary school