With the ever-growing use of technology in everyday life, its incorporation into the classroom properly provides major benefits to both the teacher and the students. First and foremost, the introduction to new technology can lead to more fun for the students. Bringing interactive games such as Dance Dance Revolution or Wii Fit into the classroom can add some spice to activities that standard equipment cannot. The high score element of the games will help motivate the students to try harder so they can be the best in the class. If not, they can use the high score as a way to try to beat their previous best.

Another great thing that newer technology is able to do is give students data to give them an understanding to how they are performing so they can have something to aim for in the future. Pedometers and heart rate monitors are fantastic for use as they so the students exactly what is going on and is able to give them something to log so they can look back and see any improvements they’ve made later in the school year. Giving the students daily logs/journals will give them a great way to really get involved with their fitness more so than just performing the activities they are asked to do.

On the flip side of all this, just because new technology becomes available, that doesn’t mean it should be incorporated immediately without the teacher mastering the use of it first. Being in a rush will only cause problems for lessons and will not be of any benefit for the students in the class. Getting a shipment of pedometers and then just having the student’s right down the numbers without knowing what means what isn’t going to get anything accomplished for the improvement of their health. Also, some teachers can misuse the use of videos and just throw in a tape of “Tae Bo” and have the kids follow along while they take the day off of sorts.

In conclusion, in the long run the use of technology in the classroom can only aid the teacher in maximizing the use of class time to help the students start a physically active lifestyle. As long as teachers make the effort, technology should always be brought in and encouraged in the program.