Special Notice
Don't miss this unique opportunity to spend a day with Dr. Bonnie Mohnsen learning about how to use technology in physical education. Register now before it fills up:
College credit is available for all the above seminars plus our online courses. Online courses started in February, but you have until April 1 to sign up - see the list of courses in this newsletter.
Featured Articles
Handheld Computers for Teachers and Students
 When selecting a handheld computer, you must first choose between a Palm OS and a Pocket PC (also known as Windows Mobile). Talk your district/school technology personnel to see which is more popular in your situation. If there doesn't seem to be a preference, I would suggest the Palm OS - the battery life is much better on these devices, and there is more software (especially in the area of coaching).
What do teachers do with these devices?
Teachers use handheld computers as electronic record books for taking attendance and recording assessment. Physical education teachers also use handheld computers for fitness testing, locker systems, lesson planning, inventory, budgets, recording heart rate and pedometer results. Most users take advantage of electronic books which can be purchased and then read off the handheld device. Similarly, most users purchase additional memory so that they can use their handheld computer as an MP3 player (similar to an iPod) and/or as a media player. MP3 players allow users to listen to music and media players allow users to watch video. Your handheld can be attached to a sound system so that your entire class can listen to the music. Similarly, with an additional interface, you can connect your handheld to a projection system to show videos or PowerPoint presentations.
What do students do with these devices?
Students use handheld computers for writing assignments, journaling, note-taking, drawing, concept maps, spelling lists, test review, to do lists, and portfolio entries. Students in physical education also can review motor skill performances (see Long Jump CD, Short Jump CD, and Tinikling CD).
For specific lesson plans on using handheld computers with students, see Integrating Technology and Physical Education.
Device Of The Month
VCycling
 VCycling is a virtual reality cycling experience that allows you to simulate the outdoors, shift your gears and steer as though you are there! Experience tours through Italy, France, Belgium, South Africa and other countries. Imagine racing on some of the same courses as Lance Armstrong!
Through the use of modern technology, a bicycle trainer equipped with steering capability, your own road bike and cycling skill, and a life-sized projection screen, you can now compete against other cyclists in the same room or in another fitness center (using the internet).
VCycling is supporting the President’s Challenge with their incentive program called VCycling’s Virtual Challenge. VCycling encourages everyone from school-age children to Senior Citizens to participate in this challenge. For more about VCycling, click here.
California Notice
Fitness Report
If you are using Fitness Report for Palm OS/Pocket PC to compile your student record for the State Department, please contact Bonnie Mohnsen at sales@pesoftware.com for a 2006 update. Pull ups are no longer an option for state testing and the formatting has change slightly. We have a free 2006 update for Fitness Report 7. If you are using an earlier version, there is $40 upgrade fee.
Office Tips
Word
Q: I put a lot of URLs in my Word document. Everytime I try to select or edit the URL, I end up launching the URL. Is there a way to keep the URL from launching?
A: Starting with Word 2003 (Windows) and Word 2004 (Macintosh), you can edit URLs without launching the associated hyperlink. For Word 2003, click Tools and Options and then select the Edit tab. Select the Use CTRL + Click to Follow Hyperlink box and click OK.
What is FileMaker Pro? And, why should I care?
Bonnie's Fitware uses FileMaker Pro as the development tool for its very popular Fitness Report. It is also used for developing the other handheld software programs, such as Record Book, Clipboard, and Heart Monitor/Pedometer Record. It
also is used for all the portfolio pieces for our software, including Elementary Physical Education Portfolio, Middle School Physical Education Portfolio, High School Physical Education Portfolio, Long Jump Rope Portfolio, Short Jump Rope Portfolio, and Tinkling Portfolio.
Once prepared, the user (you) does not need to know anything about FileMaker Pro to run software on Windows or Macintosh. In order to run the software on the handheld, you do need FileMaker Mobile which comes with the first four programs listed above. In addition, there is a Server version. The server version allows 250 simultaneous connections to the file. However, each user must have a copy of FileMaker Pro. The Advanced Server version also allows 100 simultaneous web-based connections to the file.
So, if you would like to put our software on a network or intranet - you can do it. You would need to purchase a site license (and ask for networkable files), and be sure that your district/school has Filemaker Server or Filemaker Server Advance.
March Web Pages for Health Education
Food Labeling Nutrition Video
http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/labelwww.html
Food/Exercise Diary
http://www.nutridiary.com/
Fire Administration for Kids
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/Kids/index.htm
March Web Sites for Physical Education
Mom's Guide to Sport
http://www.momsguide.com/
Winter Olympics Web Sites
http://www.southfieldchristian.org/elem/ olympics/olympics.html
Batting Mechanics
http://www.batspeed.com/mechanics.html
Spring 2006 Online Courses
February 1, 2006 - May 15, 2006
Sign up:
Each course is $100 plus an additional $50 for college credit if needed. Click on each course for more information. You may register through April 1, 2006.
Task Cards: Package of the Month
Middle School Task Cards
 160-200 task cards per grade level aligned with Teaching Middle School Physical Education. Each card includes name and picture (2 versions: line drawing and color image) of a skill along with its critical features or an activity or task. Can be used for station teaching and/or peer feedback.
Cards come on a CD in pdf - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (free from www.adobe.com)
Mention this newsletter and receive the following special:
Purchase 2 grade level sets for $225 for two.
Purchase 3 grade level sets for $325 for three.
Purchase all four grade level sets for $400.
Click here for more information on all four sets of middle school task cards.
Click on image to visit their site:
Funding! Funding! Funding!
The U.S. Department of Education announcement of a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year 2006 under the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) has been published in the Federal Register on March 1, 2006. The deadline for the application period will be April 12. The Department expects to award approximately 58 grants at an average value of $300,000. This grants can be from one to three years in duration.
The competition includes one absolute priority and one competitive preference priority. The absolute priority states that the Department will only consider applications which initiate, expand and improve physical education programs in order to meet state standards for physical education by (1) providing equipment and support to enable
students to participate actively in physical education activities, and (2) providing funds for staff and teacher training and education. The competitive preference priority will be given to those applications from novice applicants. A novice applicant is any applicant who (1) has never received a PEP grant, (2) has never been a member of a group application that received a PEP grant, and (3) has not had an active grant under PEP or its predecessor program, the Physical Education for Progress Program, in the five years prior to the deadline date for this competition.
Applications will be available beginning on March 1 and can be obtained online or from the Education Department Publications Center. To obtain the application online, go to
http://www.ed.gov/programs /whitephysed/index.html. To obtain a copy from the Publications Center, write to them at P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398 or call at 1-877-433-7827. Reference the competition as CDFA Number 84.215F.
The Department is establishing two new performance and efficiency measures for PEP for this competition. The physical activity measure will be (1) the percentage of students served by the grant who engage in 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity (elementary school students); and/or (2) the percentage of students served by the grant who engage in 225 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity (middle and high school students). The efficiency measure will be the cost per student who achieves the level of physical activity to meet the performance measure. These measures will constitute the Department's indicators of success for the PEP program. All applicants for a PEP grant should give careful consideration to these measures in formulating their approach and evaluation of their proposed project. If funded, applicants will be required to collect and report data on their progress toward these measures. More detail on these measures will be available in the application package.
If we can be of assistance - please email Bonnie at bmohnsen@pesoftware.com
"Show Me the Money: Tips & Resources for Successful Grant Writing" Many educators have found that outside funding, in the form of grants, allows them to provide their students with educational experiences and materials their own districts can't afford. Learn how they get those grants -- and how you can get one too. Included: Practical tips to help first-time grant writers get the grants they need. http://www.educationworld.com/
a_curr/profdev/profdev039.shtml
Bonnie's Fitware Inc Grant Program
The next series of grant applications are due:
May 15, 2006 - email app to bmohnsen@pesoftware.com
Software Choices:
- Health Related Fitness
- Volleyball Complete
- Sim Athlete
- Biomechanics Made Easy
- Muscle Flash
- Elementary Physical Ed Dictionary
- Short Jump Rope CD
- Long Jump Rope CD
- Tinikling CD
The application is simple (no more than two pages): Name of person submitting the proposal and email address; Name of school, address, phone number; Name of software (one title per proposal) and platform (Windows or Macintosh); Description of how (specifically) you will use the software; Description of how (specifically) you will determine if the software makes a difference in student learning. Awardees will be expected to write a one page summary describing their use of the software. The write up is due July 30, 2007.
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Providing high-quality, standards-based instructional materials at affordable price. All underlined text takes you to additional information.
New Jersey Educators: We are licensed to sell to schools in your state.
Kentucky Educators: We are on the vendor list for KEDC Board - our bid proposal was accepted! |
New Products
All of the Muscle Flash programs listed below come with two features. The first is the quiz feature, which allows you to select those muscles that you would like included on a quiz. The test question options include name, exercise, function, and others depending on the level. You can print out the quiz including a pictures of the muscles, or the students may take the quiz online. All vocabulary is age appropriate.
The second feature includes a "muscle flash" card section which also may be used as a reference section. Students can mark the screens of muscles that they have already memorized so that they only test themselves on muscles they are having difficulty with. The reference/muscle flash section includes name, location (origin and insertion at the higher levels), exercise, function, and nerve supply (at the college level).
Primary Muscle Flash
 Instructs students on the names, location, attachments, function, and related exercises for 14 muscles. Uses age-appropriate terms and definitions. Includes name, function, and exercise games. For more information, click here.
Elementary Muscle Flash
 Builds on the Primary Muscle Flash program. Instructs students on the names, location, attachments, function, and related exercises for 29 muscles. Uses age-appropriate terms and definitions. Includes name, function, and exercise games. For more information, click here.
Middle School Muscle Flash
 Instructs students on the names, location, origin, insertion, function, and related exercises for 45 muscles. Uses age-appropriate terms and definitions. Includes name, function, and exercise games. For more information, click here.
Senior High School Muscle Flash
 Instructs students on the names, location, origin, insertion, function, and related exercises for 70 muscles. Includes name, function, and exercise games. For more information, click here.
College Muscle Flash
 Instructs students on the names, location, origin, insertion, function, and related exercises for over 125 muscles. Includes name, function, and exercise games. For more information, click here.
Soccer Stats 5
 New with Version 5.0!
- Ability to enter data on handheld, laptop, or desktop computer
- A new, faster data entry design to save you time
- New and enhanced reports (including box score and condensed box score)
- Individual player career reports
- Generate team and player trading cards with season or career statistics
- Enhanced team statistics
- Track up to four user-defined custom statistics
- Track the location of shots on goal
- Track throw ins
- Track successful / unsuccessful corner kicks
- Export data (in HTML format) to upload to a Web site
- Includes powerful League / Tournament Manager
Includes these features:
- Track all standard soccer statistic categories
- Track playing time
- Real-time shot charts and on-screen statistic summaries. Click here for ordering information.
Elementary Physical Education Dictionary: New Edition
 A to Z dictionary with pronunci- ation, picture or animation, and description. Also contains quizzes to test student understanding of physical education vocabulary. The quizzes are now available online or they can be printed out for student use. This software is appropriate for students in grades 2-6. For more information, click here. For a trial version, click here. When you download the file, you need to unzip it. Once unzipped you will see a PDF file, quiz folder, and a movie file. Open and print out the PDF file - read through it to get an understanding of the program. Then, open the quiz folder, and double click on the ElDictDemo - this will open the quiz and allow you the opportunity to try it out. The movie file is a simple recording of someone using the reference section of the software. It illustrates the key components of this section: word, pronunciation, definition, and use in a sentence.
Fitness Report
Here are the step by step directions for exporting to master file:
1) Open master file
2) Click on import
3) Select the file you wish to import
4) Change all import data (black arrow) to "don't" import (0 symbol) by clicking on the top arrow and dragging down
5) Change the following fields back to import data (from 0 symbol to black): First name, initial, last name, id, gender, school, district plus the four test that you gave by grade level (for example, if you are importing first grade scores for curl ups - you match up PostCU with FirstCU).
6) Click on import
* The second time you do this - you will need to select "Update Matching Records" instead of "Add New records" under import action - be sure to select "add remaining students" for new students.
You will also need to select "match" (double arrow line) for id field.
** Set up a separate file for each class
In The News
What is Xavix? What does it have to do with physical education?
 XavixPort promotes itself as a revolutionary way to interact with your television. Whether it is using the Xavix Port, a PlayStation, Xbox, GameCube, or your own PC, video gaming is becoming physical. XavixPort provides a wireless connection to numerous interfaces so that the user can participate in a variety of activities in a quasi-virtual reality setting.
Titles to date include:
- Xavix baseball
- Xavix Health and Fitness Manager
- Xavix Bowling
- Xavix Golf
- Xavix bassfishing
- Jackie Chan Powerboxing
- Jackie Chan J Mat (cardio fitness)
- Xavix Tennis
Although not all of the equipment is entirely realistic, the interface does provide for an aerobic workout. For more information, visit Xavix.
The New Dine Healthy 5
DINE Healthy 5 is a compre- hensive dietary and exercise analysis software program designed to help you plan your diet and improve your nutrition. The software was designed to be intuitively simple to use, with advanced features for health professionals. It works with Microsoft Windows 98 and newer. For more information, go to: http://shop.pesoftware.com/ ViewProduct.asp? misc=5&prod=104
SportBrain is Back!
Sportbrain is a pedometer that lets you upload the data to a computer via the included USB 1.1 cable. This allows you to chart progress. The Sportbrain is compatible with Windows 98 and newer. You also need Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or new. For more information go to: http://www.sportbrain.com.
Golf Launchpad: Are you ready?
Golf Launchpad is a series of world-class golf simulators. Simply plug Golf Launchpad into your PC, Mac, or PlayStation 2 and play Pebble Beach, St Andrews and the other premiere courses in EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003-2006 with your own clubs. Use all of your clubs and play the full game from driving to putting, even compete online. Optical sensors under the turf process your club's velocity, angle and path thousands of times each second to accurately render your shot on the screen. For more information go to http://www.electricspin.com.
The Future
Gigabyte Hard Drives
Samsung's first large (16 Gigabyte) flash hard drives roll out this year for military and industrial markets. Expect lower cost commercial units by next year, and 100GB flash drives in 2007.
Molecular Computers
A molecular computer that uses enzymes to perform calculations has been built by researchers in Israel.
Itamar Willner, who constructed the molecular calculator with colleagues at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, believes enzyme-powered computers could eventually be implanted into the human body and used to, for example, tailor the release of drugs to a specific person's metabolism.
More Funding!
Target Stores Grants. Eligibility: K-12 public and private schools. Grant Type: Grant to Educators. Regional Restrictions: Locations in the United States where there is a Target store located. Application Deadline: 31-May-06.Description: Grants focus on programs in the arts, reading, and prevention of family violence. Apply at your local Target Store between March 1 and May 31. Application information available at the store. Award: Most grants range from $1000 to $3000.
ING - gives Unsung Heroes awards to K-12 educators pioneering in new methods and techniques that improve student learning. Educators submit applications describing projects they have initiated or would lie to create. Applications are judged on their innovative teaching methods, creativity, and ability to make a positive influence on the lives of children. Awards range from 2000 - 25,000. Deadline: May 1, 2006.
Nickelodeon's "Let's Just Play" Giveaway Program - one million from September 2005 to June 2006.
NIKE Bowerman Track Renovation Program.
Deadline: ongoing through May 31, 2009
Hasbro Programs for Children Grants. Deadline: ongoing.
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