|
 ECONOMIC
UPHEAVAL: THE PERFECT STORM 
By: Gerry
Cernicky
Even though there isn’t a perfect
time for a storm, it lends itself to
find a way to encourage a lifetime of
health and fitness. Now is a great time
to garner some interest that includes
the family, and any type of equipment
around the house to maintain a high
level of movement. This means use any
form of locomotion and just MOVE. This
will beat the gas shortage problem by
finding other things to do. Find resources
close to home and take a walk in the
park, find a bike trail or walking path.
You don't have to go great distances
to find something to do; it can be in
your own backyard or neighborhood. Work
in the garden, wash and wax the car,
clean out the garage, or do all those
things that get the family moving together.
Make an obstacle course, display a fitness
calendar for all to follow each day,
or just move during TV ads to fight
the tendency to be couch potatoes. During
each television commercial do something
that is both easy and healthy. Walk
up and down the steps, or do a step
test in your living room. Use a pedometer
and chart the walk to certain places
in the city, and bring along anybody
- friend or relative.
Technology bits and bytes: With each
passing year we are introduced to new
games and gimmicks that keep us abreast
of new technological trends. A wide
variety of videos can be accessed on
YouTube,
and chat groups /instant messaging can
be shared on Yahoo,Windows
Live Messenger, and SKYPE,
which allow sharing of text, audio,
or video presentations. In a previous
Technology article, I introduced these
techniques in a section called Celebrating
P.E.
To make this technology transition
move into the 21st century, Health and
Physical Educators can improve their
performance with podcasts, which are
a series of audio or video digital-media
files which are distributed over the
Internet by syndicated download through
web feeds, to portable media players,
and personal computers. There is information
about podcasting from a technology article
from March,
2007 that will explain how to get
started. This can prove to be a valuable
resource for ways to present information
to the students on MP3 players, such
as Ipods
and Zen
players. This can come in the form
of homework, research or lessons.
There has to be a starting point, and
one of the easiest platforms is Talkshoe.
Here you will find information to publicize
your content. All you need is either
a cell phone or microphone, and your
message(s) can be downloaded, listened
to, and shared with the whole world.
Of course, there are other venues like
Podcast
Alley and Podcast
to help explain the process.
There is one very important detail
to finalize the podcast, and that is
a method to express creativity, which
can be achieved by using programs such
as Audacity
and WildVoice
- innovative, easy-to-use, graphical
audio editors. Edit sounds, mix tracks,
or apply effects to your recordings.
Also, the recording can be used with
SKYPE as mentioned in the bits and bytes
topic in this article. An example of
the The
Perfect Storm is a podcast that
was made with the Talkshoe client and
Audacity as the editing platform. Here
is a brief tutorial to make the process
easier to understand:
• Download the software ( an
.exe program from the Audacity web page
)
• Look for the lame_enc plug-in
link and save to the desktop
• Press record in the Audacity
program( with a microphone)
• Click File, and then export
to an .mp3 file
• The file will be saved in the
Documents or Music folder
• Include as an attachment and
rename the file such as, The Perfect
Storm, etc.
This is an exciting tool that is great
P.R. for your school district. Clicking
on the podcast icon in Itunes will permit
you to place the edited or original
podcast on that web site for all to
listen and/or download to an MP3 player.
By placing all the podcasts on ITunes
the students can access lessons or homework
while they are in study hall, at the
bus stop, or in a car or bus. So, the
next time they have on their ear buds,
it will be more than listening to music.
Imperfect Hurricane.
With every storm comes the fear of an
impending forecast that there is another
lurking in the future. This inclusion
was an addition to the Perfect Storm
in podcast form. Much has changed from
that time, and due to the economic upheaval
has resulted in many decisions about
the money crunch. It will be faced by
many school districts. There are cuts
nationwide in all areas of business
and jobs, and this topic will be discussed
by many school boards in the new school
year. This information can be found
on the Podcast web page. Click on play
and the ensuing player interface will
be shown, which can be utilized by clicking
on the arrow icon on the player, or
the smaller one at the bottom left of
the player. The Imperfect
Huricane is the second podcast installment
for this article.
In many parts of the country, especially
in the Northeast, Midwest and Far West,
the climatic changes of fall to winter
will provide preparations for the seasonal
change. Taking preventative action is
the best defense against having to deal
with theses conditions. Here are some
insights:
- Eat healthy. Consume a sufficient
amount of fruit and vegetables while
staying with energy needs.
- Engage in regular physical activity,
and reduce sedentary activity, to
promote health and a healthy body
weight.
- Establish a walking club to develop
an exercise journey with a winter
theme (Organize a Family planned and
measured walking route, plan activities
in shopping malls, and involve local
community recreation departments).
- Work with classroom teachers to
develop a fitness walking trail at
recess or in the school halls. This
will include after school hours for
senior citizens and teachers.
- Make family chores a winter activity
by shoveling the driveway, sweeping
the steps, and volunteering to remove
snow for neighbors or the elderly.
Prepare the learning area. Preparing
properly for cold weather can reduce
accidents:
- Be aware of risks; Wear proper
clothing, warm up before exercising,
check out all safety concerns (ice,
snow, and any objects that protrude
in the activity area)
- Obtain supplies and equipment that
are appropriate for each grade level
- Notify friends/family of your activity
route - avoid perspiring and being
overtired, don’t leave areas
of skin exposed, avoid walking on
ice or getting wet, pack dry clothing
and always bring along a radio/cell
phone and carefully watch for signs
of cold weather problems.
- Enhance awareness, change behavior
and create environments that support
good health practices.
- Physical activity can make the
connection- establish a Wellness Fair
to raise awareness, demonstrate resources,
and inform the students about choices.
Physical activity and exercise are
more important during winter yet less
frequently undertaken. Generally, people
take in extra calories during winter,
stay indoors and don’t follow
a healthy exercise routine, thereby
gaining weight. Undertaking regular
exercises not only burns calories, but
also releases endorphins, a mood enhancing
hormone. Of course, not all students
will be wearing winter clothes, and
the sun and sand of Southern climates
can still manufacture activities aligned
with the winter season. For example:
• Use cardboard slats as skis
/ x-country skiing
• Cardboard box to be used like
a toboggan
• Shoe boxes as skates
• Plungers as ski poles( sit on
a scooter / propel through a slalom
• Maintenance footwear(plastic
for sliding on floor )
• Styrofoam balls as snowballs
• Grocery bags as snowshoes
In conclusion, a storm may take many
forms, but it’s the way it is
perceived that will make the difference.
It isn’t always a detrimental
effect, but it can be a positive to
make the students and family aware to
prepare for any type of condition and
make a plan and take action. For teachers,
the economic upheaval will leave many
unanswered solutions. But, by being
developmentally appropriate, instituting
brain based activities, integrating,
and adhering to the standards of the
“new P.E.,” these will make
an easier transition in both good times
and bad.
Gerry
Cernicky
http://igreen.tripod.com/gerpe
gcernicky@comcast.net
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