This month's Technology Section of pelinks4u will focus on fall projects, and podcasting.

Michael Dumin
Technology Section Editor

As the new year starts, what are the technologies that we should be using, use better, or update. Many teachers, schools, and/or departments have Web pages to keep parents and students informed. Now is a good time to check to see whether information is current. If there have been changes in the program offerings or activities, this might be a good time to update the material on your Web page. If you have not started a calendar you may want to use one of the model templates, or check out what others have done and select the parts that would work best for you.

Have you updated you subscription list for Physical Education news lists such as: NASPE Talk, Adapt Talk, NCPAD, pelinks4u, Using Technology, PE Central, NASPE teachers toolbox; health related news lists such as Dr. Weil, Real Age, Dr. Mirkin; and general education sites like Kathie Nunley's Educator’s Newsletter or the layered curriculum site?

Have you updated your Computer, laptop, digital camera, pocket PC, software, virus and spam protection, home internet connection or other technology that you use regularly? If not, check out what is available to improve your productivity. Your school may have funds for pedometers, heart rate monitors, DDR, computer exercise equipment, fitness assessment equipment, or grading software.

How can we provide information to our students, parents, and others interested in an active lifestyle? We can have students develop podcasts for classes to show understanding, or help other students learn. Podcasts are a way to share audio files that can be listened to using an MP3 player, live, or save it to your computer for later listening. Podcasts are generally produced by people with a specific interest. Some material is professionally produced; other material is produced by people at home with an interest, but not a part of a professional program.

There are many resources available for developing podcasts with links to teacher developed materials. There is information for how teachers are using podcasts, with examples. Podcasts in the area of sports and physical education seem to be limited at this time, but it is a rapidly changing area.

There are a variety of sources available to help you get started; one for creating podcasts is available at WindowsDevCenter.com - a step by step guide to get you started. There are also a variety of books available on podcasting. You will need a microphone with headphones that can be used with a computer. These are readily available at most stores that sell computer for $10 and up. You will also need recording and editing software. Audacity is an open source application you can download, or Microsoft makes Plus! SuperPack for Windows that has a nice editor. You will need software to download your pod cast. Lame MP3 encoder is available with directions.

With these, you are now ready to start developing your podcast. There are some good guidelines for developing materials. They will cover preproduction, recording, postproduction, and publishing. This resource describes how students can create and use podcasts for education, but the process is applicable to teachers. Preproduction includes basics such as identifying the audience, planning length of the broadcast, and how to get groups to practice and select material. Recording includes microphone, software, and process recommendations. Postproduction gives editing tips and recommendations. Publishing give a quick look at the technical process of getting the material on the web.

Podcast.net is a listing with links to podcasts on a variety of topics. Education has its own section. Information and discussion regarding podcasting as an educational tool in today's classroom can be found at yahoo.

Apple.com - From course content and supplemental materials for students to professional development offerings for educators, educational institutions are automatically adding content to iPods. Using podcasts to produce and distribute this content means students, parents and educators can experience learning everywhere. Find out how...

(added by webmaster)   Podfitness.com - Your Music. Your Workout. Your Way. Put a personal trainer right on your iPod, mixed with your own music. Check out the demo, and the FAQs on how this works. See also "Health: Virtually Fit and Toned" & MARINA's Walking & Aerobic Workouts.

I have placed an example of a spreadsheet that I use to predict VO2 on my home page. It is based on subjects age and their heart rates during the last 4 stages of a sub maximal treadmill test. Knowing the speed, grade, and heart rate, it is possible to predict the VO2 at the subjects estimated maximal heart rate.

Forecast calculates or predicts a future value along a linear trend line. There can be many things that we would want to know in regard to how students might expect to continue progressing. Forecast is available from the AutoSum drop down menu.

Google Scholar will give you studies that may include lesson plans. These are helpful in knowing how effective the lessons were. This goes beyond having just a lesson. If you need to document the effectiveness of what you want to do in the schools, or are preparing for a grant, this is a great research tool.

In most cases you can find links to the full text article, as well as materials used in the article. This article looks at how podcasting could be used with distance education to improve instruction. Physical education and outdoor education are specifically discussed.

A physical education teacher, Angela Carmon, discusses some issues in dealing with technology at Tech Take.

Fitmate Pro

Fitmate® is a desktop metabolic system. You can perform fitness assessment and functional evaluation on students, faculty, or community members. Test results provide comprehensive feedback concerning wellness and physical fitness level.

Fitmate Pro also delivers individual diet counseling and Exercise prescription based VO2 max or sub max direct measures, Resting metabolism measures, and anthropometric and skinfold measures that can be input to the equipment. These measures will then be uses to provide recommendations.

A complete set up is available for around $9,000. If your program is using a fitness center model this would be a great addition, and if you have a community outreach this would be a wonderful addition to help everyone understand the scientific basis of Fitness. Find out more...

Product Features: GeoFitness

Imagine kids moving to "Dalmation Disco" or "Leap Frog." GeoMotion is the hottest new fitness activity because it is easy, fun, and safe! It is as easy as stepping to the number. While moving on a low-impact GeoMat to "cool" music, children don't realize they are getting a workout because they are having so much fun.

Youth need fitness activities that are fun and exciting. The GeoMat is a fitness activity that is fun, but also develops psychomotor, and cognitive skills such as problem solving, creativity, and higher order thinking skills.

GeoMotion is a hot and new activity that is exploding across our nation. We currently have the GeoMats in all 50 states in elementary, middle, and high schools; not to mention YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, and other after school programs! - source: GeoFitness

Waterproof MP3 Player/Pedometers, Heart Rate Monitor with FM Radio, Heart Rate Monitor Watch, and more.

Expresso Fitness - Interactive, virtual reality stationary bikes equipped with the latest software technology that provides consumers with a platform for realistic road touring, competitions, contests and Internet-based training that allows them to monitor their fitness progress.

The Fun & Fitness Center - Trampoline: The DoubleBed™ design with integrated AirShock™ System provides a softer, safer, yet more responsive bounce. It absorbs & recycles energy like the high performance suspension in a sports car. Check out the features, and look over the rest of this site.

Makoto - Makoto is a unique game which combines exercise with the proven science of Sensory Integration therapy to improve neurological and physical performance. Every time you play, your performance is measured. A good workout takes just 15 minutes.

Rowbike - A Total Body Fitness Machine that's exciting. Rowbike is an exercise machine that provides total body conditioning with the speed & excitement of being on a bicycle, inline skates, downhill skiing. You're 'rowing' your bicycle!

Sportwall - Sportwall Intl. Inc. provides interactive turnkey individual and group fitness and athletic training systems packaged with programs and curriculum for cardiovascular, neurological efficiency, core strength, speed/agility, and motor skills training for four markets. Interactive training makes fitness fun for everyone. Find out more.

StairCycle - StairCycle can be used indoors or outdoors. Ridden like a bicycle for fun and transportation, the addition of the 'trainer' allows it to be used indoors. The company believes that this feature is important because it allows an exercise regimen to be continued even in inclement weather. The indoor trainer is available for both the child's and adult size StairCycles.

Air Kicks Anti-gravity Boots - Like a walk on the moon, our KICKAROOS™ seem to defy gravity with every fun-filled step. Kids simply strap them on right OVER their athletic shoes! Then they start bouncing in place, or bounding across the yard like a herd of bolting gazelles. Find out more...