In this edition of the Technology and Physical Education I would like to demonstrate a myriad of techniques and tricks to make the technological experience a valuable asset to the health and physical education curriculum.

Included in this issue will be a working vocabulary to enhance the understanding of each topic. There will be website examples, worksheets, flashcards, software programs, photo albums, documents and hardware inherent to learning how to use technology in the classroom and gymnasium area.

By using multimedia instruction, the instructor can garner the faculties associated with a dynamic lesson through slideshows, flash media and digital and video presentations.

First, there must be a vocabulary to use as background information. This will be followed by a step by step process to engage the instructor to try new material and experiment new ways to correlate the curriculum with the new trends in technology.

 VOCABULARY

animation- simulation of movement by displaying a series of pictures or frames

application- word processing, graphics, spreadsheets data bases and games

peripheral device- a CD Rom drive , printer , scanner, mouse, keyboard, monitor, external zip drive

zip drive- high capacity floppy disk drive

zip file- a popular data compression format that is a self-extracting file

pdf-a file format by Adobe Inc. to capture formatting information from a variety of desktop publishing applications.

Jpeg(jpg) – a compression teachniquefor color images

Gif – a bit mapped graphic file that supports colored and various resolutions

Shockwave- a technology developed by Macromedia that enables web pages to include multi-media objects

Flash- a bandwith friendly and browser using vector-grahpic technology

Vector-graphic- refers to software and hardware that uses geometric formulas to represent images

Bandwith- the amount of data that can be transmitted in affixed amount of time

Multimedia – use of computers to present text, graphics and video animation and sound in an integrated way.

Streaming- a technique for transferring data such that it can be processed as a steady continuous stream

Plugin- a hardware or software module that adds specific features or service to a larger system to enable it to display different types of audio or video messages

Sincerely, 

Gerry Cernicky,
Technology Section Editors

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Just like any process, it is necessary to have a site map in a sequential progression. It is no different in technology and the ways to incorporate it with the health and physical education curriculum.

First ,you must be armed with a working vocabulary to understand the various terminology. Next, try to garner resource information from leading websites and online magazines, experts and exemplary Internet programs. By subscribing to weekly, monthly or daily newsletters, you can keep abreast of all the new trends, tips and tricks. Also, anytime you visit a bookstore, it can be a valuable tool to help understand the nuances of the technology that is being used in a changing world of new products.

The final piece of the puzzle is the integration process from the core subject area and available lessons, worksheets, calendars, flash cards and applications . This will then tie in with animations, digital, audio, video and peripheral devices and HOW TO USE THEM.

In this case, the digital camera and camcorder will be the two devices that will be discussed to make slideshows, power point presentations, animations for homepages, photo albums and fitness calendars to present a polished product to show on parent visitation days, in=services and homework on school websites.

By using the digital camera with either a floppy disk or memory card, the pictures can be posted on a bulletin board to show a skill sequence or it can be transferred to a software program that can make slideshows on a TV or the school computers. Here is the process as follows: (PC)

• Double click on MY COMPUTER and chose the "A" drive .The pictures will appear on the desktop.
• Right click the picture and chose (rename) for easier navigation
• Right click again and send the pictures to MY DOCUMENTS to be saved for future use
• With the memory card, insert the USB cable into the front or back of the computer (marked by a stick figure “guy”). Using the software that came with the camera, the pictures will appear in that program.
• Use an editing program such as WORD, Netscape, Front Page, etc. to place the pictures on the school homepage. From the toolbar, click INSERT to chose the pictures. like this example that was stored in MY DOCUMENTS.
• The pictures may be printed, made into a slideshow, displayed on a bulletin board or be sent by e-mail.
• Basic html can be utilized if an editor is not available. As an example, taking the picture called (dribbling), the following html is represented: this is followed by the URL(") and network provider, that is, "http://www.angelfire.com. The next entry will be the directory where it is stored which is noted by the following example: (journal2/gerryc/st.joseph). Finally, the name of the picture (dribbling) will be followed by the image code (jpg)("). The image would look like this followed by the website as an example.

With the camcorder, the images are stored on a MINI DV cassette. To transfer those images, you will have to insert the USB cable to draw the pictures into the computer . These pics will be placed in the ensuing software that came with the camera to be edited, deleted or placed into albums.

Some examples of albums are Photo Jam, OFOTO and DIJIVIEW. Even thought these programs are fee based, there are many free downloads from the following :

ZIFF -DAVIS

TECH TV

EXTREME TECH

The camcorder can be utilized to present a show on the school TV ,too.

• Insert one end of the AV cable into the camera, itself, and the other ends(yellow, red, white) into the front or back of the TV that corresponds to the matching colors on the plugs and the TV. The TV will be changed to TV/AUDIO or AUX to make the pictures visible on the screen. If there are only two receptacles on the TV chose (yellow and white). Most camcorders have sound for possible skill progression demonstration. Or just to show the parents what really goes on in health or PE class. This can be a PR tool to sell your program!
• Don't forget to involve the students in the whole process. Make them accountable for ownership. What a great way to share with the parents, school board and the community. This will make everybody realize that we are real teachers with something to offer the students over and above the normal classroom experience.

Here is a an example of a project that may be used:

How To Be A Player

Try this activity with your students .It is a great way to have all of them working together and making them understand how to use resources and find ways to get information in a group effort:

PLAY BALL

• The name of the game?
• How many players are needed to the play the game?
• The rules of the game?
• The time limit on the game ( if there is one)?
• How much space is needed to play the game?
• How the winner is determined?
• How score is kept or taken?

It's getting warm outside and there are more daylight hours to have fun. For the first time you feel like playing with the other children in your new neighborhood. The only problem is all the children are friends and have been for years. Also, they are very athletic and team oriented. Will they ever let you become one of their teammates? Will they allow you to join them for one of their games? You found out that the only way to get in on the team fun is to bring instructions and rules of a game that everyone can play and it must be a team sport.

• PE in KANSAS

Please take a look at the curriculum for the state of Kansas. Included are a curriculum sequence, lesson ideas, teacher resources, news and ideas, and research at all educational levels . The site is easily navigated with a few simple clicks.

HAKA

This site from New Zealand encompasses a true expression of human energ , a reconnecting with nature and performance.

• It increases high heart rate
• High anaerobic activity
• Strong diaphragmatic breathing
• Total body muscular movement
• Focused concentration
• High memory recall

POI BALL

HOW TO USE THE POI BALL

Check out another site from New Zealand that teaches a healthy rope jumping alternative. Included are basic movements, patterns, steps and jump rope for heart integration. The students will learn how to make and swing the poi balls in intricate techniques of skill and agility.

SHOCKWAVE

Students can use the animations to assemble the heart and human body with a few mouse clicks. There are a vast array of health materials to use in virtual reality programs to manipulate the following content:

• Anatomy of the heart
• Skeletal shakedown
• Virtual body
• How the body works
• Circulatory system
• Respiratory system
• Digestive system
• Ear
• Eye

BOSCO

Here is a neat resource called the FAMILY FITNESS FUN PROGRAM word games, exercise sheets to introduce the family to many fun ways to exercise and stay healthy.There is a printable checklist and certificate .

Digital camera – there are many choices to chose from but, for example, the Sony Mavica can be used with a floppy disk for easy retrieval of pictures. Other cameras use a memory stick (with a USB connection) to retrieve the photos .

Video camera – once again there are many choices to use in all kinds of formats with the MINI DV, a popular addition from the CANON Company. The small cassettes can be used to view the students in action with the software included with the camera.

Photo Jam – a software program from the SHOCKWAVE site that uses the pictures in a digital album with text and music.

PDF – a file program from ADOBE that captures information from other applications in the form of diagrams, illustrations, calendars and worksheets.

Microsoft Reader – a free, software program that captures information in e-books for text, bookmarks, notes and a dictionary.

OFOTO-a program that makes albums from your pictures with an editing tool from OFOTO .

FLASH – an animation program from KOOLMOVES that uses a toolbar to capture animations to use with text, shapes, effects, vector graphics and importing pictures. Another program that uses the animation process is from ARTIE for dancing figures and text to be used in webpages and e-mail.