Special Notices
If you are attending a Using Technology Seminar in Physical Education in May 2007 and would like to receive one unit of college credit - call 714-278-4470 on or before April 30, 2007. Register for course 19611 - this is a generic course number for all of my technology "live" and online courses. You will not receive college credit unless you do this before May 1, 2007!
If you cannot see the pictures in this email, then go to http://www.pesoftware/technews
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Upcoming Seminars
Take the time to learn! Sign up now -
Using Technology in Physical Education Seminars - you still register for these and walk-ons are permitted. Click on a seminar to get the details:
May 1 - Burbank, CA
May 2 - Buena Park, CA
May 14 - Kauai, HI
Here is what participants are saying about these seminars:
"This course has given us a lot of the tools and resources we need to bring our current class offerings up to a “distinction” level."
"Thank you for your direction and inspiration."
Save the dates for 2007-2008
- September 24, 2007 - Nashville, TN
- September 26, 2007 - Charlotte, NC
- September 28, 2007 - Savannah, GA
- November 12, 2007- Newark, NJ
- November 13, 2007- Cherry Hill, NJ
- March 17-18, 2008 - Chicago, IL (new 2-day seminar)
- March 20, 2008 - Milwaukee, WI
Can't attend - you can still purchase the presentation on CD to watch at your leisure.
You can also visit with Bonnie at the following upcoming conferences and events:
International Symposium on Computer Science in Sport - Alberta, Canada (student discounted registration fees available - check it out!)
Throw away your textbooks and purchase Health Related Fitness Tutorial/Portfolio - everything you need for Fitness Education in one package - with a one time fee!
Featured Articles
Printers
 A printer creates a paper copy of the information you develop on your computer. Printers are typically connected to computers through a USB interface, Ethernet interface, parallel interface, or a serial interface. The interface determines how information is transmitted from the processor to the printer. Be sure to choose a printer with an interface that is compatible with your computer. If the interface is not compatible you can buy a converter, but that will add to your expense. Remember to turn the printer off when you’re not printing, since printers can use up to 1,000 watts of electricity per hour. Today, educators typically choose between ink jet and laser printers.
Ink Jet. An ink jet printer is like a dot matrix printer—it prints characters in the form of tiny dots clustered together. However, a dot matrix prints either nine or 24 dots per character, whereas an ink jet sprays hundreds of dots per inch. An ink cartridge replaces an ink ribbon, and there is virtually no sound because there is no impact of metal against paper. The quality of the printing is not quite laser-crisp, and the printed image can smear if it gets damp. Therefore, special coated paper is recommended, and it is more expensive than the paper used with laser printers.
Because the initial cost is relatively inexpensive, educators typically choose an ink jet printer for their first color printer. Colors are usually better from CMYK models (the color cartridge includes black) than from CMY models that blend cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) inks to make black (K). The CMY models also require cartridge switching from plain text (black ink) to color printing and back. Most of the newer ink jet printers are now utilizing six and even seven or eight inks to create more refined color gradations and reproductions. The resolution for ink jet printing is typically 600 dots per inch (dpi)—higher resolution typically means better image quality, but also look for clean edges and solid areas of black and color to ensure good quality. The droplet size is typically two- to five-picoliter droplets—the smaller the droplet the sharper the image. The primary disadvantage of ink jet printers is their speed (only five to 17 pages per minute).
Laser Printers. Laser printers create photocopy-quality documents. The images are electronically created on a light-sensitive drum, usually with a scanning laser. Powdered toner sticks to areas where light has touched the drum and is then transferred to a sheet of paper that is briefly heated to permanently fuse the toner. Laser printers can print any text, in any style, at any size, and at any angle—and everything looks terrific. Laser printers also can print phenomenal-looking graphics. They’re quick (10 to 50 pages per minute), quiet, hassle-free, and typically networkable; most can print envelopes, mailing labels, and paper up to legal size. The more expensive the laser printer, the better its quality and the larger its memory. The resolution for laser printers is typically between 600 dpi and 1200 dpi. Laser printers are definitely the best choice for fast, cheap, top-quality text, since ultimately the cost per page is cheaper than pages produced by ink jet printers.
Top Picks:
Epson's Stylus Photo R260 - $99.99
Canon's PIXMA iP6700D - $149.99
Xerox's Phaser 3124 - $179
Ricoh's BP20 - $249.99
HP's Color LaserJet 3800 - $799
Review NASPE Position Paper
Click on the link below to access a "draft" copy of the Initial Guidelines for Secondary Online Physical Education. Read through it and provide NASPE with feedback.
Initial Guidelines for Secondary Online Physical Education
Need to Know
Word 2007
Ribbon Tool Bars does enhance productivity once you figure out where its predecessor's various commands have been relocated.
The ribbon's Mailings tab improves on the formerly arcane mail-mere process by walking you through the process of choosing a project, selecting recipients, and writing and inserting mail-merge fields.
Word Themes: set colors, fonts, and effts - employing the suite's live preview feature.
New templates: a multitude of templates are available, but you will need to go online to get most of tem.
Help with writing: if you highlight a word while pressing the <Alt> key, Word will search the Web to find references, definitions, and more.
Device Of The Month
Canon's ZR800 ($279)
The ZR800 is a camcorder that includes a microphone jack and a 35x optical zoom lens. The ZR830 ($299) and ZR850 ($329) forgo the mic jack, but add a Quick Start mode that allows them to start recording from a standby state in less than one second. The ZR850 also adds a built-in video light and upgrades to a 1.07-megapixel CCD. All three include a 2.7" wide screen LCD view screen.
College Adoption Time
College Packages
This package (BF1214) includes:
- Four Handheld Computers (Palm TX or better)
- Four copies of (Fitness Report,Record Book,Heart Monitor/Pedometer, Clipboard)
- Pedometer Package (SW200)
- Heart Monitor Package (Fusion 20)
- Four additional heart monitors (Ultima - downloadable)
- Dance Dance Revolution Package (requires PlayStation 2 and television/monitor)
- GameBike Package (requires PlayStation 2 and television/monitor)
-Site Licenses for:
- Teacher Observation Program (POS)
- College Muscle Flash
- Elementary Physical Education
- Dictionary
- Health Related Fitness
- Electronic Physical Education
- Portfolio
- Volleyball complete
- Sim Athlete
- Biomechanics Made Easy
- 35 pack license for DINE Healthy
Also includes a copy of:
-Using Technology in Physical Education
-Integrating Technology and Pedagogy
Valued at over $18,000 - Available for $11,999 - click here.
Office Tips
Excel Tips: Forgotten Toolbars
Most Excel users have constant access to their Formatting and Standard toolbars, since the most commonly used features are on these toolbars. But there are other toolbars that can also be handy. These toolbars are available from the View menu - Toolbars.
Borders Toolbar: Lets you add borders to a single cell or group of cells. You can also choose the pattern and color of the border lines.
Chart Toolbar: Lets you create bar charts, line charts, pie charts, and doughnut charts. You can also choose from nearly 20 kinds of charts and tweak the colors.
Formula Auditing Toolbar: Highlights which cells send data to other cells, revealing the connections among numbers in complex worksheets.
Picture Toolbar: Lets you edit images that you added to the worksheet.
Protection Toolbar: Lets you protect and lock cells.
Reviewing Toolbar: Lets you share files with others and get comments from them.
Watch Window Toolbar: Lets you watch selected cells and the effects of changes in other cells.
PowerPoint: Animating Pictures
There are several options for manipulating pictures in PowerPoint.
Fade In/Fade Out: Apply a Fade entrance effect at Very Slow speed. Set the next photo to fad in After Previous. Then insert a Fade exit for the previous photo with a With Previous setting.
Ken Burns' Effect: Size your photo to fill the entire slide. Click Add Effect, Emphasis, and Grow/Shrink. choose a speed of Very Slow and under Size, enter a setting such as 150%. Set the animation to start With Previous, and it will seem like you're zooming in on your photo.
Zooms: Set the photo to appear when the slide does. Then add an Emphasis effect of Grow/Shrink at a Very Fast speed to a size such as 200%; set it to start On Click. To highlight part of the photo, add a circle that's set up via an Entrance effect to appear after the zoom occurs.
Instructional Software of the Month
Middle School Package
Includes individual computer licenses (each program may only be used on one computer) for: Health Related Fitness; Biomechanics; SimAthlete; Volleyball; Middle Muscle Flash; Long Jump Rope CD; Short Jump Rope CD; Tinikling CD; and Middle School Physical Education Portfolio.
Click here for more information.
For four times the cost you can purchase site license versions --- and put the software on every computer in your school. In addition, you and your students can put the software on computers at home.
Funding! Funding! Funding!
The NEA Foundation’s Learning & Leadership Grants
These grants provide opportunities for teachers, education support professionals and higher education faculty and staff to engage in high-quality professional development and lead their colleagues in professional growth. Grants of $2,000 will be made for individuals; $5,000 for groups engaged in collegial study. U.S. practicing K–12 public school teachers, education support professionals and higher education faculty and staff at public colleges and universities are eligible. Applications may be submitted any time. Review occurs three times a year: February 1, June 1 and October 15 in 2007.
Deadline: Ongoing
Click here for more information
How to Evaluate Instructional Software
Here is a form for use in the selection of instructional software:
- The objectives are clear.
- The content is accurate.
- The program keeps track of how well students are doing.
- The program is easy to use.
- The program offers second chanceswhen users respond incorrectly to questions.
- The program provides motivation.
- The program runs correctly (no bugs).
- Graphics are clear and appropriate.
- Sound is used to enhance program.
- The program makes effective and appropriate use of the computer as an instructional tool.
- The pace of the material can be controlled by the teacher or the student.
- The student can easily access the program’s Help function.
- The student is actively involved with the program.
- The program’s instructional strategies are based on research findings.
- The presentation is free of any objectionable stereotyping.
- Inquiry processes are well integrated into the software package.
- The program’s feedback responses are appropriate, informative, and timely.
- Program documentation is clear and consistent with observed program behavior.
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Welcome to your number one source for all things tech! Providing high-quality, standards-based instructional materials at affordable prices.
We do the research so you don't have to!
Available NOW!
California Block Grants for Arts and Physical Education
The Physical Education and Arts $500 million dollar Block Grant will be distributed directly to public school sites in California based on Average Daily Attendance (ADA) figures. Schools can expect to get an estimate on the amount of money they will receive in December with money to follow in February. This money may be used for Physical Education and Arts supplies, equipment, and professional development. You not need to apply for this money!
Need Help?
We can provide you with 21st century fitness center designs and associated costs - just email us at sales@pesoftware.com and tell us your space size and budget.
New Catalog (in PDF)
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Great Packages
Heart Monitor Package
CardioSport Ultima Package (transfer data to  computer) - Includes 15- heart monitors (with connection to Windows computer for downloading data) , Integrating Technology and Physical Education book on CD, and a CD with over a dozen recording sheets, graphs, and charts. Click here for more information.
CardioSport Fusion 20 Package - Includes 15- heart monitors (with coded transmission), Integrating Technology  and Physical Education book on CD, and a CD with over a dozen recording sheets, graphs, and charts. Click here for more information.
CardioSport Fusion 10 Package - Includes 15- heart monitors (with coded transmission), Integrating Technology and Physical Education book on CD, and a CD with over a dozen recording sheets, graphs, and charts. Click here for more information.
More packages - click here.
Pedometer Package
Includes 16 SW200 pedometers, 16  safety straps, storage box, Integrating Technology and Physical Education book on CD, and a CD with over a dozen recording sheets, graphs, and charts. Click here for more information.
GameBike Packages
A new package for the Game Bikes. It comes two commercial bikes, one game, and the book Integrating Technology in Physical Education. Click here for more information. Three year parts warranty!
GamePad Package
Our most popular Dance Dance Revolution Package gets better with a new game. This DDR pad will last! Click here for more information on the package.
Order poly spots for practice pads - 6 sets for $55.
New Products
DDR Games
Dance Dance Revolution Universe - for xBox
Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova - for PS2
Curriculum Products
The new high school standards-based physical education curriculum. Addresses all National and California standards. Click on the logo below to get more information.
You can also get instructional software for use with the units. Individual and site licenses available.
Here is a sample lesson from the Standards-Based High School Physical Education Curriculum:
Lead the students in a warm-up. 4.1 [2.2]
Review palm heel strike. 1.0 [1.2]
Have students practice palm heel strike. 1.0 [1.2]
Review the stomp. 1.0 [1.2]
Have students practice stomps. 1.0 [1.2]
Review the rear choke release and stomp combination and explain when to use it. 1.0 [1.1/1.2]
Have students practice rear choke release and stomp combinations. 1.0 [1.1/1.2]
Demonstrate knee strike and explain when to use it. 1.0 [1.2]
Have students practice knee strikes using body shields. 1.0 [1.2]
Describe how skill-related fitness components are used when performing the knee strike. 2.5 [1.3]
Describe the biomechanic principles used when performing the knee strike. 2.2 [1.5]
Lead the students in flexibility exercises and a cool-down. 4.1 [2.2]
Review whole/part practice with students. 2.1 [1.7/1.9/3.5]
Most skills should be practiced as a whole in order to maintain the rhythm of the skill.
If a skill is practiced in parts, it should be practiced as a whole as quickly as possible.
Whole practice is used when the skill has highly dependent (integrated) parts, is simple, is not
meaningful in parts, and/or is made up of simultaneously performed parts.
Whole practice is used when the learner is highly skilled, is able to remember long sequences, and has a long attention span.
Part practice is used when the skill has highly independent parts, is made up of individual skills, is very complex, and/or if the limited work on certain parts is necessary.
Part practice is used when the learner has a limited memory span, is unable to concentrate for a long period of time, is having difficulty with a particular part, and/or cannot succeed with the whole method.
Have students brainstorm the type of practice that is best for improving combative skills. 2.1 [1.7/1.9/3.5]
Click here for more information on these lessons.
The new middle school standards-based physical education curriculum. Addresses all National and California standards. Click on the logo below to get more information.
You can also get instructional software for use with the units. Individual or site licenses.
Upgrades
DINE Healthy
DINE Healthy 6 is a comprehensive 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. Help is available through a searchable index and context-sensitive help is available throughout the program. This is the most flexible, feature-packed, comprehensive package available. Compatible with Windows Vista. Click here for more information.
Quick Tips
High Speed Memory Card
When a camera first takes video or pictures, it stores it to onboard memory. It is then written to the memory card. A faster card will clear the memory quickly and this allows more pictures to be taken. High speed cards write at 40X or faster and are marked high-speed. The fastest SD speed is 150X. A 40X card can write 6 megabytes per second and a 150X card will write 22.5 MB per second. To benefit your camera must have a relatively fast card writer.
Tokyo's Vending Machines
Want to buy a soda in Tokyo? Take out your phone! In 2001, Coca-Cola, Itochu Corporation, and NTT DoCoMo, the giant Japanese wireless operator, launched several "Cmode" information terminal vending machines in Japan that allow customers to purchase a Coke using only their handset. The machines also allow customers to accumulate user points that can be exchanged for soft drinks or ring tone downloads and are equipped with a speaker that would allow them to disseminate information, such as disaster updates from local government agencies.
Newton Running Shoes
Danny Abshire designs high-performance running shoes. His Newton kicks do away with shock-absorbing foam in favor of hammock-like webs of stretchy material that suspend your feet over empty chambers above the soles. The result is supportive, cushioned, and super-light weight shoes.
Future Tech that is Here Now!
What will replace DVDs?
A new type of disc that can hold up to 300 times as much data as today's DVDs is poised to hit the market, and a similar, rival disc whose data is recorded and read differently is to be released within a few years. The new discs use a holographic technique to store data in three dimensions. At first they will be used by businesses and governments to back up their vast archives, but in a few years they could hit the consumer market, with one disc able to store multiple high-definition movies. Because two different ways of recoding to and reading the discs are emerging, the new standard could result in a second DVD war, like the one now taking place between high-definition formats HD DVD and Blu-ray.
Voice-In/Voice-Out
Voice-in/voice-out technology may signal the end of reading and writing in our culture. By the year 2050, voice-in/voice-out (VIVO) talking computers incorporating multisensory, multimodal technology may make written language obsolete. All writing and reading may be replaced by speech and multisensory content. This replacement will be similar to the change from hand-written books to mass produced books and from horses to cars. Given the millions of functionally nonliterate people around the world - this can be a very positive change. So, what will school look like in 2050?
Web Sites
May Web Pages for Health Education
Dr Koop's Encyclopedia
http://www.drkoop.com/ency/93/
diseidxa.html
Drug Free School
http://www.drugfree.org/
Eat Right
http://eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/
hs.xsl/index.html
May Web Sites for Grants
A Proposal Writing Short Course
http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/
tutorials/shortcourse/index.html
May Web Sites for Physical Education
Physics of Bowling
http://www.topendsports.com/sport
/tenpin/physics.htm
Medieval Times Interdisciplinary Unit
http://members.tripod.com/~ehlavaty/
medieval.html
Sport Science: Q and A
http://www.exploratorium.edu/
sports/faq10.html
Task Cards: Package of the Month
Middle School Task Cards
Everything you need in one package. Comes with over 800 black/white task cards and over 800 full color task cards covering 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and fitness activities (you can also purchase subsets). Click here for more information. The task cards are completely aligned with the Standards-Based Middle School Physical Education Curriculum. Click here to add the lessons plans/ posters/ assessment.
Putting Video on Your Handheld Computer
Do you have video clips that you would like to play on your handheld computer? Well you can! The PocketPC plays wmv files - the same ones that play on your desktop/notebook computer. Use Movie Maker (comes with XP service pack II for free) to reduce the height and weight of the video image to match the size of the pocket pc screen and you are in business.
Palm users can also play video on their handheld devices. If you are using Palm OS 3 or 4 you need to pdb files and if you are using Palm OS 5 you need mpeg4 files. Kinoma Producer, available for less than thirty dollars, converts mov files (quickTime) into either pdb or mpeg4 files so that you can view your video clips on your palm computer.
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