Using Technology in Physical Education Newsletter

Fitness labs are becoming increasingly popular in middle and and high schools across the United States. The specific devices depends on the age-level of the students and the specific outcomes desired by the physical education department.

Some schools select a cardiorespiratory lab consisting of rowing machines, GameBikes, recumbent cycles, ellipticals, and dance pads). Other schools select a combination lab that includes cardiorespiratory devices as well as strength machines and a small computer lab.

Several "traditional" cardiorespiratory devices (treadmills, ellipticals, and climbers) as well a comprehensive set of strength machines are show in the pictures. Click on the name or picture for more information.

Regardless o the lab specifics, physical educators schedule the facility so that all classes can take advantage of it. During their time in the lab, students rotate from the cardiorespiratory circuit where they wear heart monitors, to the strength circuit where they work on muscular strength and endurance. In the computer lab area, students can upload their heart monitor data and update their electronic portfolios.

When purchasing equipment, be sure to select commercial grade and look for durability and safety features. For example, the more gadgets there are on a piece of equipment, the greater the possibility for breakdowns. In addition, all flywheels should be enclosed to prevent harm to fingers or damage from pencils or other foreign objects.

Before selecting any equipment, develop a layout plan for your fitness center (contact sales@pesoftware.com for assistance). Consider good ventilation for the machines, adequate on-off access space, pathways (minimum three feet wide) for rotation from one piece of equipment to another, and safety considerations. It also is a good idea to visit schools where fitness centers already exist. Find out which pieces of equipment and which brands hold up best with daily use by teenagers.

Human-Powered Treadmill

Elliptical Cross Trainer

Aerobic exercise equipment can be used in several ways:
1. Students participate in a circuit of aerobic equipment while maintaining their target heart rate for a period of time.
2. Students select one piece of equipment and exercise exclusively on that apparatus while maintaining their target heart rate.
3. Students participate in a circuit of aerobic, strength, and skill-related equipment while maintaining their target heart rate.
4. Students collect heart rate data while exercising on different pieces of aerobic equipment. Then, for homework, they write an essay comparing the different pieces of aerobic equipment based on the heart rate data they collected.

In addition, placing a monitor in front of some aerobic equipment and showing videos can provide a sense of realism. For example, cross-country ski videos place the user right on the trail, gliding over the snow with the real motion of cross-country skiing. Hiking videos provide added realism for steppers and stair climbing machines. A pleasant ride in the country along with comments on the scenic route provide the stationary bike user with a feeling of being an active participant in a cross-country bicycling tour. Rowing videos put the user in the back with Olympic team members in the front seats.

Next month we will look at and compare virtual reality-based devices for inclusion in your fitness lab.

Sample Lesson

NASPE Standard 4: Achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.

Lesson Objective:
Identify the location, purpose, and related exercises for 14 muscles.

Summary:
Students are involved in a fitness unit. They are learning the FITT (frequency, intensity, time, and type) concepts related to fitness improvement. In this lesson, they are learning the names, location, purpose, and an exercise for 14 major muscles/muscle groups.

Equipment:
Computer (one or more) available for use during physical education.

Instructional Materials:
•Task cards for each station (make your own or available from Bonnie’s Fitware, Inc.).
•Task card for computer station giving step-by-step directions for using software (information available with software).

1. Reviews the FITT concepts (frequency, intensity, time, and type) for cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility, and muscular strength/muscular endurance. •Cardiorespiratory endurance: three-five times per week, for 20 minutes or more in target heart rate range.
•Muscular strength/endurance: three times per week, maximum weight for three sets of 12 reps.
•Flexibility: five-six times per week, stretches held at the point of strain for 30 seconds, repeated three times

2. Introduces names and location of the 14 muscles/muscle groups to be learned in this lesson:
Biceps.
Triceps.
Hamstrings (3).
Quadriceps (4).
Trapezius.
Latissimus Dorsi.
Pectoralis Major.
Deltoids.
Rectus Abdominus.

•Perform push-ups and identify the muscle(s) being worked.
•Perform leg extensions/flexion or half squats and identify the muscle(s) being worked.
•Go through Middle Muscle Flash for 14 muscles/muscle groups. One student works the keyboard/mouse, one student reads the task card directions, one student reads the screen, and one student assumes a leadership role, gathering consensus on questions and summarizing the group’s responses.
•Perform curl-ups and then identify the muscle(s) being worked.
•Perform pull-ups or modified pull-ups and then identify the muscle(s) being worked used.

1. Asks students to identify the location, purpose, and an exercise for the named muscle.

2. For homework, instructs students to take the computer-based muscle function quiz from the Middle Muscle Flash.

•The computer phase of the lesson is done as a whole class activity, using one computer and a projection system at the beginning of the lesson. Chin-ups replace the computer station as Station 3.
•The computer phase of the lesson is assigned as homework. Chin-ups replace the computer station as Station 3.

Excel 2007: Naming Cell Ranges

In Excel, you can assign names to cells, cell ranges, formulas, constant values, and tables. You can then reference these by the names. To name a range, highlight the cells and type a name in the Name box in the upper-left corner of the window. This provides workbook-wide scope - meaning it is available on every worksheet in the workbook. There are two important things to remember when naming Excel content: don't use spaces and know that Excel is not case sensitive. This means that Excel sees Grade and GRADE as the same name.

Vista/Leopard: What Does it Mean?

When converting to a new major operating system upgrade, you may find that some of your programs will no longer work. Microsoft Vista and Macintosh OS X5 (Leopard) are considered major upgrades. Therefore, before upgrading you should determine which programs that you currently use will need to be upgraded.

In terms of Bonnie's Fitware Inc.'s software, here is a summary based on each program:

Health Related Fitness, Short Jump Rope, Long Jump Rope, Biomechanics Made Easy, Sim Athlete: The instructional program works with Leopard and Vista. The quiz and portfolio should work, but we are updating these to guarantee that they work with Vista and Leopard. The updates will be available in March for a price of $20 per title to cover the costs of burning, shipping, and handling.

Volleyball Complete: We have upgraded this program and it will be available in March - please order the upgrade at that time.

Muscle Flash: The program should work, but we are updating these to guarantee that they work with Vista and Leopard. The updates will be available in March for a price of $20 per title to cover the costs of burning, shipping, and handling.

Physical Education Portfolios (Elementary, Middle School, and High School): The program should work, but we are updating these to guarantee that they work with Vista and Leopard. The updates will be available in March for a price of $20 per title to cover the costs of burning, shipping, and handling.

The future of our handheld programs will be explained in the March issue of Using Technology in Physical Education.

Future is Now

Several months ago we announced the capability of wireless power. At the recent Consumer Electronics Show - we saw it in action. Powercast is a pioneer in variable-range, wireless, contact-free power for small electronic devices. They hold more than 100 wireless-power patents and patent applications.

Remote Power: A Powercaster (TM) transmitter chip, running on conventional current, broadcasts a low-power radio [RF] signal at a specific frequency across several feet of empty space. Powerharvester(TM) receiver chips built into one or more remote devices capture enough energy to continuously recharge batteries, or to power devices directly. When the device and its power source are widely separated, and when low power and trickle-charging are acceptable, remote power may be the best choice.

Contactless Power: Running on conventional current, a Powercaster(TM) element generates a safe energy field designed to be a few millimeters or centimeters deep. A matching Powerharvester(TM) element entering the field captures energy and generates useful current, even if the elements are separated by open space or solid matter. That current can recharge a battery or directly power an electronic device. When the device and its power source are widely separated, and when low power and trickle-charging are acceptable, remote power may be the best choice.

Using Technology in Physical Education Newsletter

February 2008

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Newsletter Specials

Products

Bonnie's Fitware Inc. Catalog

Fitness Labs

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Fitness Labs

Sample Lesson

Excel 2007: Naming Cell Ranges

Vista/Leopard: What Does it Mean?

Future is Now

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