Since our recent bond issue and increase in technology at our school I have been able to create an effective learning environment with the use of technology in a aquatics setting. In my aquatics classes, we use everything from digital pace clocks, wireless heart rate monitors, underwater HD video cameras, music (above and underwater speakers), and digital video for teaching/skill demonstration. I also use the video and video recording (DVR) as a feedback tool for stroke analysis and presentation of new stroke/skill education. I have also recently installed a "Smart board" in my aquatic classroom that I have attached to my natatorium. Although use of my "Smart board" has been minimal due to the fact that I have not gone through the extensive training required to use all of the cool features it has to offer, I anticipate taking the courses this summer and implementing these resources for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year.
The use of the above mentioned technologies is effective because I use it in a way to motivate my students with instant data, constructive feedback, and present it in a manner where the students are able to monitor their own progress on a day to day basis. The technology is also an effective use of accountability with the students. I use wireless heart rate monitors so that I can effectively monitor each student(s) daily so that I can provide daily assessment based upon the students heart rate during the class period (90 minutes), energy expenditure, and participation that we require from our students everyday in PE. The beauty of these heart rate monitors is the students can also use them for instant feedback on their current heart rate, energy expenditure (calories), and time duration. The software that we use with these monitors (once downloaded into the server) also provides feedback that the teachers, students, and even parents can view. The viewing of this material or data as we call it allows the student to be held accountable for his or her learning.
Wow Tyler I am truly amazed at the amount of technology you have available. Lack of funds are always a problem in my field of teaching. I have learned to use YouTube within my 30 minute class session. This resource allows me to show my students live examples of certain topics discussed within the music curriculum. I am trying to get my hands on other free technology tools that the students aren't familiar with. You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned "motivate." Motivating and keeping students interest is what I live to do Monday through Friday.
ReplyDeleteAwesome job!
Linnetta
I have to agree with Linnetta. You have an amazing amount of technology available to you! I would love to be in your class. It has to be really fun to teach. It would motivate me to have my heart rate monitored and keep track of my fitness level. I understand about having a smart board and not really using it. I got a smart board this year and have not had enough training to use it effectively. It seems like such a waste to just use it for a screen, but I haven't had the time to really learn how to use it.
ReplyDeleteThat is incredible! Nice job incorporating all the technology to really benefit students.
ReplyDeleteOne suggestion, for future blog posts, would be to add links to allow interested readers to learn more about the topics. For example, I did not know what a "natatorium" was - never really heard that term here in Southern California. A quick google search brought up the wikipedia entry which made your comment make a lot more sense! I think providing that link in your post would allow readers to quickly learn even more about the topic.
That's one of the great benefits of a blog post compared to a traditional paper assignment - you can include links/pictures/multimedia to enhance understanding. Perhaps even a picture of the wireless heart rate monitors would be interesting and help your audience understand your topic.
Nice post! I look forward to hearing more about your use of technology!
That was my first Blog post! Here is a tip... don't hit the back button on your browser, you lose everything you type when making a comment. Grrrr! Our use of technology in phyisical education here at Millard South was brought about by our school switching from the traditional 7-period day to "block" scheduling where students are in class for 92 minutes. Motivating students of varying abilities is difficult, motivating a student for 92 minutes is a constant challenge. The use of a variety of technology resources has allowed us as physical educators and coaches to keep the students active, engaged, and motivated for 92 minutes. The technology that we use in the pool is also expensive! Fundraising is key, begging is common, and sometimes even "sharing" across the district is required. Rumor has it our next "big" purchase in our district is each phyiscal education teacher will begin using the itouch and ipad technologies, looking forward to seeing what this has to offer!
ReplyDeleteTyler - that would be interesting to see how you can integrate itouch/ipad into your classes - feel free to use that for future assignments!
ReplyDeleteWow! Funding is for sure an issue when talking about integrating technology in our classrooms. I can't even imagine what sort of technology your district employs in their math classrooms! I teach daily with a Promethean Board (which is similar to a Smart Board) and feel like I am very lucky. Our students have limited access to laptop carts and when we want to bring them in for the entire class to work it is often a disaster! I love integrating technology in my classroom but have to beware of difficulties!!
ReplyDeleteIn a evaluation review 2 years ago I was told that I needed to work more technology into my teaching. I argued that as a negative comment in my evaluation because I used the technology that I had - an overhead and calculators!
ReplyDeleteSince then things have improved some... In my main classroom I have a mounted lcd projector, the connection jack is in the counter next to a sink which means I have lost a lap station and I need to constant ask students not to use that sink as the ELMO (really a glorified overhead) and laptop are sitting on the counter in order to be connected. The building is not wireless so a laptop has to be plugged in to a jack to be able to access email, attendance, grades ect. The next adventure was getting the projector top "talk" with the VHS and DVD player - oh and don't even ask about my struggles in getting the closed captioning to work. The other classroom has a smartboard... sometimes it is a dumb board especially when the network goes down!
While I can envy what you have at Millard South, I can also recognize we are differnet districts; what drives me nuts is that within the OPS district there are building which way more technology and others like my building are just starting to catch up.
Tyler, as a fellow PE teacher I have to say that I am jealous of the heart rate monitors. Budgets always seem to be the huge restraint when it comes to the PE department. I watched this piece on technology in the classroom and how so many schools are doing this. If you look at all of the equipment there, you would know that it's well over $20,000 worth of things. I would love to use more things like that, but money is always an issue. Thank you for helping our field look a little better by talking about your heart rate monitors. Here is the story I was telling you about.
ReplyDeletehttp://vno7.com/video-news/the-new-pe-class-23538393
Tyler,
ReplyDeleteI would have LOVED that technology as a former high school swimmer. My coach would rig a video camera in an old fish aquarium, attach that to a couple of old kick boards and then hold it down in the water as we swam at an angle in the pool so we could then later review and analyze our stroke.
As well, the heart rate monitor is such an excellent resource for both the teacher and the student. A student, unless very cunning, could not complete an assignment half-heartedly. I love the instant feedback it offers for the student/athlete as well.
Such amazing resources. I feel envy oozing out my fingertips as I type.