According to the ISTE it is important for effective teachers to model and apply the NETS for Students as they design, implement, and assess learning experiences to engage students and improve learning. One of the performance indicators that ISTE requires is that teachers design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments. This indicator allows the instructor to engage students in technology that is aligned with the curriculum of the course. It allows for differentiated assessment, and evaluation to occur as well as provide a new avenue for instructors to convey information. Inside this performance indicator is a target point to develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress. The use of heart rate monitors in my aquatics classes does just that.
We use heart rate monitors in class as a means for instruction, data collection, and daily assessment. This data allows the instructor to evaluate students based upon more than just “participation”, it allows the instructor to differentiate instruction to challenge each student individually based upon his her weight, gender and age. Daily physical education in my class requires the student to be in the “healthy fitness zone” this is somewhere between 130 and 170
beats per minute. The daily grade that I give is based upon the amount of time that was spent in the “zone”. The use of this technology has allowed the student to be in charge of his/her own activity level which is an excellent use of increasing one’s intrinsic motivation as well as a great use of a technology that is available and widely used today.
Once again Tyler I am amazed at what you do in your classroom. That you actually track if your students are in the "zone" and give them a grade based on that is amazing and such a real world application of the technology. So, they swim with heart monitors on in the water? How expensive are these monitors? I would be interested if I ever even get close to the zone when I swim.
ReplyDeleteVery Cool Linnetta, your blogging skills are growing! The conference looks like an awesome professional development opportunity, more importantly it looks like its just fun to attend and experience what’s on the horizon for technology in education! I often think that we are on the wrong side of the teaching business, just think about the amount of money that is generated from technology in education, every year districts try to outdo each other with new technology. And then the following year they go out and do it all over again! I need to invent something!!!!
ReplyDeleteI like the integration of graphics and the chart at the end - very helpful.
ReplyDeletePS: I believe your comment got attached to the wrong post Tyler.
Tyler,
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading about how you are incorporating technology in Physical Education! When my Sports Nutrition class held their debate for/against P.E. requirements in schools one of the points brought up was how much they would like to see technology incorporated in these classes. I think your ideas and examples show that it should and can be done. The types of technology you talk about really personalizes the class for students as well, I'm sure that this increases participation... it certainly makes me wish that my P.E. classes had been as interesting!
I find it a little frustrating actually all the 'extra' standards that teachers are expected to work into their teaching. While teachers do need to use technology and there are effective ways to incorporate technololgy into classrooms. These technology standards are just more requirements placed on teachers who already have very full lesson plans to achieve their required contents!
ReplyDeleteI am working again with the Science curriculum writing team this summer for OPS and today we were working on incorporating the Literacy (reading and writing) Standards for science. One of the team members wanted to know when English courses are going to be implementing thier science standards. I am not saying that technology and literacy are not important, but the other content areas are as well!