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Message |
Leann J. Hastings (Ljh5429)
Junior Member
Username: Ljh5429
Post Number: 5
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 04, 2005 - 12:14 pm: |       |
Virtual reality is expected to have a huge impact on Physical Education. I was wondering if any physical educators out there have had the opportunity to use virtual reality in their instruction. If so, what was it and do you feel that your students will benefit from using this type of technology? |
Rick Schupbach
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 2:51 pm: | |
One of the tremendous new virtual reality opportunities is VCycling (Virtual Cycling). Our students at the Grundy Center PE4life Academy love it, as do our adults as our PE fitness room doubles as a community fitness room. VCyling allows a person to monitor intensity through heart rate while capturing the imagination and interest of students through interactive video, eliminating boredom and increasing interest and motivation. Options include many different course rides and the ability to race against yourself from saved previous rides and other student rides. A projection screen allows for it all to be seen in movie picture fashion.
I know how VCycling is helping me stay in riding shape over the long, cold fall and winter months in Iowa. I personally have never looked forward to exercising as much as I am now. I know I speak for many students as well in saying what a tremendously innovative, exciting and futuristic training and exercise opportunity we have in Grundy Center due to Virtual Reality Cycling. I would encouage all to check out the vcycling.com web site. It is cutting edge technology integration for PE at its best! |
Michelle Maiwurm (Mickswurm)
New member
Username: Mickswurm
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 7:25 am: | |
That sounds like so much fun. As a future physical educator I am always looking for new ideas that get kids motivated to be active. Do you know of any other virtual reality activities out there that are used in PE settings? |
Jeannette L. Brelsford (Jbrelsford)
Junior Member
Username: Jbrelsford
Post Number: 3
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 3:11 pm: | |
This is Jeannette Brelsford/Mike Cillo from Montoursville Area High School. In 2005 we were the recipients of the Carol White PEP Grant. We decided to go with VCycling and it was the BEST decision we could have made.
There is no better system that we could have brought in that services or has the advantage to service every child like virtual cycling! Any child can use our new virtual cycling theatre, hence "no child is left behind"!
It was the best choice that we could have possibly made...our vision was right on the money! VCycling with Buzz Gardner and staff made the transition into the technology world of virtual cycling such a pleasure.
Even the novice technology based physical educator can learn at a pace to make learning fun and exciting for their junior and senior high school students.
We would be happy to assist anyone interested in knowing more about what we have done here at Montoursville High School or if you are interested in coming for a visit. Please contact us at jbrelsford@chilitech.net. |
Tim Thomas (Tatpefb)
Junior Member
Username: Tatpefb
Post Number: 2
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 9:50 am: | |
Just this past weekend Christmas shopping, I came across the new Wii Software demonstrations. Then I thought about DDR and the new ESPN football game where kids can move their feet. I don't know much at this point about these programs, but they look like they might be a good thing in terms of getting kids moving and up off the couch. Does anyone know any more about Wii's new games and others???? |
Kymm Ballard (Ncpe4kids)
Junior Member
Username: Ncpe4kids
Post Number: 5
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2009 - 8:51 pm: | |
I found this interesting to read.
'Virtual' gym class appeals to many, OK with state
By Daveen Rae Kurutz
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Gym class has always been a yawn for George Hunt III. A star athlete, he is not.
But after one semester of an online gym class, Hunt has found a new passion -- Frisbee throwing.
"It was the same stuff over and over again each year," said Hunt, 19, of North Union. "I learned more in one semester than I would have in four years of high school."
Teaching physical education over the Internet may sound counter intuative, but hundreds of teens in the region are enrolled in cyber gym classes, either through e-Cademy, a program offered by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, or through cyber charter schools.
Students study sports and fitness, but are expected to put what they learn into practice. Physical activity is completed on an honor system, said Rich Campsie, who teaches physical education at e-Cademy and at Pennsylvania Learners Online, also called PALO, a cyber charter school operated by the intermediate unit.
This year, about 600 students are enrolled at PALO, where online gym is a requirement, and 12 others are enrolled at e-Cademy to make up a failed credit.
Some critics say there is no replacement for the activity of gym class.
"In certain situations (online physical education) can be beneficial, but nothing can replace the face-to-face interaction with a role model," said Mark Gartner, a middle school health and physical education teacher in the Hampton Township School District. "It's important for phys ed teachers to be that role model and practice what they are asking the kids to do."
The state Department of Education requires high school students complete a physical education program and accepts an online physical education credit to fulfill that mandate.
The online course focuses on promoting fitness and leisure activities rather than competitive sports.
"Obviously from a cyber school viewpoint, we can't play dodgeball, we can't play team sports," said Campsie, 41, of Franklin Park. "We talk about how they felt about the assignment and why they chose particular activities."
Students work one-on-one with Campsie through an online interface to learn about concepts ranging from life-long physical activities and exercise to team mascots and game strategies. They report back to Campsie via worksheets and written reports. He admits there is no way to know for sure if a student really is completing the physical requirements of the course.
"If a teen is giving me nothing but one-word answers, chances are they aren't doing what they claim they are," Campsie said. "No, I don't know how physically active they are. Students who do that are not hurting me as much as they are hurting themselves."
Keeping students active and away from a computer is a challenge for many gym teachers, Gartner said. His gym classes have begun to focus more on lifestyle and leisure rather than team sports as a way to ingrain fitness into young minds.
That change is taking place in the classroom as well, said Donald Teti, assistant superintendent for high schools with the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. Teti, a former principal at West Mifflin Area High School, said schools are looking at different ways to offer physical education.
"Gym classes for years have been trying to get away from the old concept of rolling a ball and playing dodgeball," Teti said. "Physical fitness has gone into the area of yoga and dance and away from the idea of dodgeball and competitive sports."
Students take physical education online for a variety of reasons, including a desire to free up time in their course schedule or replacing the credit after failing gym, said Patty Kardambikis, program director of e-Cademy. For some students, changing in a locker room or having to meet certain requirements in a room filled with classmates makes traditional gym class impossible.
"That half-a-credit is holding them up from graduating," Kardambikis said. "It goes back to body images, not wanting to compete or dress in front of others."
After Hunt was required to complete an activity involving a Frisbee for his online class this spring, he has taken to tossing the disc in his spare time with a younger niece. His father said the activity has helped Hunt lose weight and get in better shape, something that never happened in his "brick and mortar" gym classes.
"I never got into it growing up, but it's different when you have a teacher just working with you instead of a gym teacher telling a whole class to do something and half of them not listening," Hunt said. "It's something different than your normal gym class."
Daveen Rae Kurutz can be reached at dkurutz@tribweb.com or 412-380-5627.
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Amanda Dedo (B705690)
Junior Member
Username: B705690
Post Number: 4
Registered: 11-2008
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2009 - 2:07 pm: | |
It is interesting to hear about this topic of Virtual reality. I have never heard of it use in PE classes, but absolutely love the sound of it. The district where I teach is loaded with bike trails throughout the city, and getting the students interested in biking at an early age would give them a better chance at using the trails later on in life. Looking into this is a great idea... |
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