Technology Integration: Physical Education
Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Curriculum Framework:
Standard 2 = Students will, by repeated practice, acquire and refine a variety of manipulative, locomotor, and non-locomotor movement skills, and will utilize principles of training and conditioning, will learn biomechanics and exercise physiology, and will apply the concept of wellness to their lives.
Standard 2 = Students will, by repeated practice, acquire and refine a variety of manipulative, locomotor, and non-locomotor movement skills, and will utilize principles of training and conditioning, will learn biomechanics and exercise physiology, and will apply the concept of wellness to their lives.
Internet Integration:
_The website PE Central offers loads of resources to teachers, including lessons plans, links, and assessments. Under the "media" tab, teachers can access a treasure trove of audio files, pictures, and videos from SchoolTube.
Here is a sample video entitled "Brain Break 1 (Deskercize)" found on the PE Central site:
Here is a sample video entitled "Brain Break 1 (Deskercize)" found on the PE Central site:
Problem Statement
Students may not have a broad repertoire of physical activities in which they engage.
Students may see gym class as the only place in which physical education takes place.
Teachers may need additional resources/ideas of alternate physical education activities.
Students may see gym class as the only place in which physical education takes place.
Teachers may need additional resources/ideas of alternate physical education activities.
Integration Strategy
PE Central has loads of links and lesson plans, including ideas about how to integrate the content areas into the physical education class and, like the video above, how to incorporate physical activity into the classroom. The teacher can use this site to develop lesson plans suited to the needs of the students. The site's picture files can be used when creating presentations and/or visual cues. The teacher can also use the embedded video files to demonstrate skills and activities to students. The teacher can work with students to create their own video that can then be uploaded to the PE Central site.
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Tool Based Software:
QR codes ("Quick Response codes") can be produced by free web-based tools, such as ZXing, and can be used to encode text-based information/instructions, URLs, and geographic coordinates. They can then be decoded using the camera on mobile devices and apps, such as Scan for Apple devices or QR Droid for Android devices. Webcams on desktops could also be used.
Don't have a camera to decode the QR code? Fear not! Here's the text encoded within the symbol:
Technology can enhance physical education by tracking student progress and by increasing student engagement and motivation. Incorporating technology into PE gives students an opportunity to become more proficient in utilizing a wider variety of 21st century learning tools.
Here's a link to the page which generated the code.
Technology can enhance physical education by tracking student progress and by increasing student engagement and motivation. Incorporating technology into PE gives students an opportunity to become more proficient in utilizing a wider variety of 21st century learning tools.
Here's a link to the page which generated the code.
Problem Statement
Students may not know how to safely use and correctly adjust the equipment in the work-out room.
Integration Strategy
The teacher can use QR codes to provide links to videos depicting how each piece of equipment should be used. These videos might be embedded on the teacher's website or might be accessed through YouTube. The videos could have been created by the teacher, using the equipment in the same fitness room. (The teacher may direct the videos with students demonstrating the correct use of the equipment). The QR codes could be posted directly on the equipment. Students can access the URL using their mobile devices. Additionally, the teacher could post a QR code containing text directing the student to do a certain set/number of exercises using that particular equipment.
Here are links to very clever lesson plans about using QR codes for an orienteering activity and for using geocached QR codes as a means to study for an upcoming exam about PE concepts. This video walks you through the process of using a QR code to connect to a URL for an existing Nautilus machine demo with the QR code then being displayed outside of the locker rooms.
Here are links to very clever lesson plans about using QR codes for an orienteering activity and for using geocached QR codes as a means to study for an upcoming exam about PE concepts. This video walks you through the process of using a QR code to connect to a URL for an existing Nautilus machine demo with the QR code then being displayed outside of the locker rooms.
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Instructional Software:
Kinect titles, such as Kinect Adventures, Kinect Sports, Dance Central 2, and Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, get students moving in a fun and highly engaging format. Most, but not all, games are designed for 2 people to play simultaneously. Some games, such as Kinect Sports, allow for larger groups to play via XBox Live. Used in conjunction with an XBox console, the Kinect motion sensor tracks a person's movements. As the slogan says "you are the controller". Video game style rewards (achievements, ranks) and an exciting interface make the the exercises seem like games. Here is a screencast of the Cardio Workout from the game "Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012". The person shown on the right of the screen is the "real" person, while the person on the left is the virtual instructor. Note how the participant's form is corrected by the instructor during the workout. Information is provided about level of accuracy, duration, and calorie count. Ongoing encouragement is given throughout the workout. Your Shape records session data and allows customized goals to be created.
Problem Statement
Some students may not feel motivated to increase state of physical fitness.
Some students do not actively participate in gym class and may willingly engage in only low levels of physical activity.
An individual student may be at a level of physical conditioning that differs dramatically from that of peers.
Some students do not actively participate in gym class and may willingly engage in only low levels of physical activity.
An individual student may be at a level of physical conditioning that differs dramatically from that of peers.
Integration Strategy
In physical education classes, the Kinect can be used as a training station that students cycle through. They can be working on increasing their coordination, balance, and fitness level. The system could also be available for student use in supervised after-school or before-school settings. Additionally, Kinect could be used in specialized small group settings, such as Physical Therapy sessions, Speech & Language groups, and Special Education classes. In such small group classes, the teacher can use the Kinect system on the Interactive White Board for a more intense virtual world experience. Students can access the Kinect as a reward, as a break, or as an assigned activity.
Here is a video showing how the Kinect system works in a classroom for young children with Autism. Notice the attention that the students maintain during the Kinect activities and how the staff take advantage of the increased motivation to work on communication and social skills:
Here is a video showing how the Kinect system works in a classroom for young children with Autism. Notice the attention that the students maintain during the Kinect activities and how the staff take advantage of the increased motivation to work on communication and social skills:
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Productivity Software
MicroFit's HealthStar Tracker is an app for the iPhone and iPad that allows staff to record data about individual student performance during physical education activities. The information can then be uploaded to HealthStar Manager, a class management system that operates on Windows-based computers.
Problem Statement
Individual student progress may be difficult to track during an active physical education block.
Teachers may have difficulty consistently breaking down activities into targeted component skills during an active physical education block.
Teachers may have difficulty consistently breaking down activities into targeted component skills during an active physical education block.
Integration Strategy
Teachers can use HealthStar Tracker to record data about student performance as it happens. Teachers can use an iPad or iPhone to input the information at the moment they see it. They can later upload the information to their computers with HealthStar Manager. They can use the data to generate reports showing individual student progress and group progress. The data also serves as a record of student activities. The teacher can analyze upcoming lessons/activities and can pinpoint which skills will be targeted. The teacher can share information about student progress with each individual as they work together to devise a fitness plan with individualized objectives based on actual student performance.
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More Resources
Check out these additional resources for further information and more ideas about integrating technology into the content area of Physical Education.
- Teach-nology provides resources and links related to PE lesson plans.
- The CDC offers PECAT, the Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool, as a hard-copy or in .PDF format. They also offer guidelines for physical activity.
- Physical Education Update has articles and lesson plans to add some spark to Physical Education classes. Although some of the site is available for free, most is only viewable with a $25/year subscription.
- Coach Santiago's Blog is from an elementary PhysEd teacher in San Diego. It has loads of pictures that show what is happening in Physical Education at that school. The blog includes some imaginative activities that might heighten student interest.
- The PE Geek's Blog was mentioned above as a resource for more ideas about QR coding activities, but the site has many other creative ways of integrating technology into physical education classes. Well worth checking out!