Technology will be a useful asset in multiple ways within physical education. The manner in which technology will be used will influence the experiences of not only the teacher but the students. Technology will help to provide and supplement class learning experiences. Technology within the classroom will be utilized by showing video footage for uses such as demonstrations and examples; it can provide a reference for correctness of a certain skill when viewing it over a TV, camera, or projector. It can increase activity time while decreasing instructional time, allowing kids to improve their skills. It will motivate students to take interest in and participate in activities (heart rate monitors and exergaming). Technology can also give students feedback of how they are doing or progressing and this will most likely increase their learning and achievement. Technology has many practical uses within a physical education classroom.
Technologies that will be used are tablet pc’s for attendance taking to increase activity time, the use of computer/projector to project and show information on a blank wall or screen from a PowerPoint or a website to educate the student. Heart rate monitors and pedometers can be used and will help to show kids how hard they have been working and can determine how much harder they need to work to meet any pre-set physical activity goals. Heart rate monitors and pedometers can also give feedback to the student to allow them to increase the workload to do their body good. I would use a sound system to play music during activities to make it more fun for the students, this technology would also allow for students to hear audio from video that may be used in the classroom. A video recorder can also be used to record and show the students how they are doing and how they can improve. You can use computers to reference the internet in order to enhance the student’s understanding through the use of web quests and research assignments, or the teachers can use computers to create more creative and authentic lessons. All in all, technology via computer will allow for better organization for the teacher’s materials, such as grades, attendance, and lesson plans. I feel that as long as all of this surrounding technology is not overused it will help teachers to create a better learning experience/environment for their students.
Although the costs of some technology may be high, a teacher can use sources such as fundraisers and PE grants to help acquire funds to purchase many of these items. The website, http://www.pesoftware.com/Technews/news.html, gives lots of different information and examples of what and how technology can be employed. The book, Using Technology in Physical Education, by Bonnie Mohnsen can be a great asset to teachers who are looking to use more technology within their class. It not only gives information on what technology to use but how to use it effectively.
I really liked how you said that technology within the classroom can be used as a reference for correctness of a skill. I think using technology as a reference is exactly how technology should be used in physical education. It can help the teacher further explain and show students how to correctly perform an activity. I also liked how you wrote that using some technology will increase activity time. I think that this is the most important aspect of physical education, so anything that increases activity is a good thing and should be used in the program. A lot of your ideas were great, and you gave examples of things I had never thought of before. Even something as simple as playing music over a sound system isn't something that I ever even realized was technology use, but it is a very easy way to use technology in physical education and get students to enjoy class more. Overall, I thought all of your ideas were great.
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