June, 2004

Volume 6, Number 6

The purpose of this newsletter is to keep physical educators, health educators, and coaches abreast of current trends in using technology in physical education. The newsletter is published monthly by Bonnie's Fitware Inc. Contact Bonnie's Fitware for advertising rates and suggestions for articles. Distribution: 32,000+. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter - please email Bonnie Mohnsen at bmohnsen@pesoftware.com and you will be removed immediately!

Our Full Brochure

Articles in this issue:

Summer Online Courses
Dance Dance Revolution Lesson Plan
Grants
Coaches Corner
Muscle Flash Series
New Health Instructional Software
New Handheld Computers
Software Ideas
Free Software
Tips for Cameras
Featured Health Education Software 

We are NOW your one-stop service for all software, Dance Dance Revolution, heart monitor, task card, unit plans, and pedometer needs related to health and physical education! Providing high-quality, standards-based instructional materials at affordable prices.

 Check out our online store! It has a new look and an easier interface!

Here is a sampling of our new products!

Dance Dance Revolution Now - higher quality pads and lower prices! Best Package Level with Handle Bar: $700.00 This package comes with two pads, three games, and Integrating Technology and Physical Education which contains over 60 lesson plans for using technology, including Dance Dance Revolution, in physical education. Requires a PlayStation 2 and monitor (not included). Other packages available!

Elementary Physical Education Dictionary A to Z dictionary with pronunciation, picture or animation, and description. Also contains quizzes to test student understanding of physical education vocabulary. Grades 2-6.

Using Technology in Physical Education, 4th edition This book is a buy for anyone who is new to the use of technology in physical education... Bonnie has been able to digest this complex area into a systematic wholeness that will leave the reader with a comfortable feeling that now they are back on top of the technological juggernaut. Ken Daley

High School Fitness Unit Plan Make your life easier with predesigned unit plans - aligned to national and state standards! This unit plan contains forty lesson agendas. Each activity in the agendas is aligned to a standard. The unit plan also contains 35 task cards for station work. Each task card card is 8.5" by 11" on card stock quality paper. Sites have permission to reproduce these cards as needed.

 We accept , checks, and school purchase orders.

Grants

2004 Microsoft Office Specialist Academic Competition
Deadline: June 15, 2004

SMARTer Kids Grants for SMART Products
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2004

Cartridges 4 Kids Fundraising Program and Contest
Deadline: None

Starting: June 15, 2004 (you may register through July 15, 2004)

Ending: August 15, 2004

 Registration fee for each course is $100.00

Wisconsin Teachers Note:

This is the response we received from the Wisconsin Department of Education to our question regarding granting credit: If the classes are distance education (all on the Internet) and credit is transcripted on the usual college transcript, then teachers can submit that transcript with their license application for renewal.

Muscle Flash Series

The Muscle Flash Series consists of: College Muscle Flash, Senior Muscle Flash, Middle Muscle Flash, Elementary Muscle Flash, and Primary Muscle Flash.

The college version instructs students on the names, location, origin, insertion, function, and related exercises for over 100 muscles. Includes name, function, and exercise games.

The senior version instructs students on the names, location, origin, insertion, function, and related exercises for over 80 muscles. Includes name, function, and exercise games.

The middle version instructs students on the names, location, origin, insertion, function, and related exercises for over 60 muscles. Uses age-appropriate terms and definitions. Includes name, function, and exercise games.

The elementary version instructs students on the names, location, attachments, function, and related exercises for over 30 muscles. Uses age-appropriate terms and definitions. Includes name, function, and exercise games.

The primary version instructs students on the names, location, attachments, function, and related exercises for over 20 muscles. Uses age-appropriate terms and definitions. Includes name, function, and exercise games.

There is a series of screens for each muscle. Below you will see each of the screens with an explanation:

	When arriving at the first screen, only the muscle is shown so that students can self check themselves regarding the name of the muscle, the function, exercises to work the muscle, and origin and insertion of the muscle.
	By clicking on the picture of the muscle, the name of the muscle appears.
	Clicking on the function button shows the function of the muscle. In this case: hip flexion and hip lateral rotation.
	Clicking on word flexion in the previous screen brings up this screen which provides a definition of flexion along with a visual.
	Clicking on the exercise button brings up a list of exercises that work the muscle. In this case: hanging knee lifts and hip flexion.
	Clicking on the word hip flexion in the previous screen brings up this screen which illustrates hip flexion.
	Clicking on origin shows the origin of the muscle. In this case: iliac fossa and sacrum.
	Clicking on insertion shows the insertion of the muscle. In this case: lesser trochanter of femur.
	Clicking on lesser trochanter of femur on the previous screen brings up this screen which shows the femur bone.         In addition, there are quizzes (name, function, exercise, location) that come with the program.

 

Coaches Corner

 

Basketball Statistics

Instant visual shotchart and stat analysis Easy point and touch data entry Generate printed reports On screen team and individual shot charts and stats (both teams) Printed team and individual shot charts and stats (both teams) Cumulative stats on individual players and opponents. Use as a practice tool Runs on all handhelds using the Palm OS PC compatible

 

New Handheld Devices

$150	$300
The Zire 31 handheld from palmOne is the color handheld that fits your budget, and the only one you'll need to keep track of your life on the go. Keep lunch dates, meetings, birthdays, and doctor's appointments at your fingertips. Look up phone numbers and view photos of family and friends on a bright, colorful screen. Store your shopping list with room to spare thanks to 16MB(1) of memory. And, at the end of the day, power down by listening to your favorite MP3s(2). There's even a slot for adding more memory and applications. (Well, when you find time for that.) (1) 14MB actual storage capacity. (2) Expansion card required, stereo headphones optional, both sold separately. Palm OS 5.2.8. 200 MHz ARM-based processor.	With a built-in camera and MP3 software, the Zire 72 is everything you need for work and play. Take photos. Capture video(1). Watch your clips and then e-mail them to a friend. Carry MP3 playlists (1) with you and listen in stereo sound. Of course when it comes to productivity, the Zire 72 handheld is all business. Create and edit Word- and Excel-compatible files. Even share files, and get wireless email and Internet access with built-in Blue tooth (Requires a compatible Blue tooth-enabled mobile phone and an ISP, both sold separately). All on a brilliant, 320x320 color screen that's easy on the eyes. (1) Expansion card required, sold separately. 32 MB of internal storage. Palm OS 5.2.1. 302 MHz ARM-based processor.

Upgrading Software

Bonnie's Fitware will be updating all of its instructional software during 2004, including Health Related Fitness, SimAthlete, Muscle Flash, Biomechanics, Physical Education Portfolio, Volleyball Complete, Bowling Scoring, Softball Defense and Rules Game, and Football Rules Game. It you have any suggestions for improving/updating the software, feel free to email Bonnie Mohnsen at bmohnsen@earthlink.net. Anyone ordering one of these programs prior to the the release of the new version will receive a free upgrade.

Using Software Ideas for Health and Physical Education

You have at least four options for using instructional software. The first three require one computer (although for the third method a few more would be better); the last option requires a computer lab. For Method 1, you connect the computer to a projection system or to several 25-inch monitors. This method is used for class activities, with class members taking turns reading the tutorial part of the software. During the question-and-answer phase of the program, individual students are called on to answer questions, or, better yet, a cooperative learning strategy called numbered heads is used - students work in groups of four and collaborate within their groups to determine the correct answers to randomly asked questions. This is called numbered heads because each student is given a number from one to four, and the teacher calls out a number instead of a student’s name. This technique should be used only when you want to cover a small piece of information with the entire class at the beginning of a lesson. It is not recommended for an entire class period.

Method 2 requires that you set up learning stations, including one computer station. A few management tips for student use of the computer will facilitate the process. Students work in cooperative learning groups of four students each, rotating from one station to the next. Each student should be assigned a role - for example, navigator (controls the movement through the software), encourager (reinforces the contributions of the other individuals in the group), expander (elaborates on answers given by other members), and summarizer (brings closure to group learning). Method 2 is used most commonly in physical education because it allows for a high percentage of time on task and keeps students physically active during most of the lesson. However, the actual amount of time spent with the computer is rather limited, so students should be directed to either follow task cards, respond to a series of questions, or conduct specific research. This method also can be structured to provide additional computer opportunities for those students who have medical excuses.

Method 3 is similar to Method 2, in that it uses one computer station. However, in this method, the groups that are not using the computer are preparing to do so. For example, students prepare their tumbling routines on paper, then use the computer to input their routines and view a visual representation. Students then can evaluate and refine their routines. Another example of this method is for a sport like orienteering in which students learn, in expert groups, various elements needed for orienteering. The computer program simulates an actual experience. Method 3 should be used only when students have time to prepare for what they will be doing on the computer.

In Method 4, each student or pair of students must have access to a computer, and each computer must be supplied with the software, either individually or by a network. There are three situations in which Method 4 is recommended: The first is when the objective for the lesson requires the use of the software for an extended period. The second is when students have computer lab time during the school day, separate from their other classes, and the lab teacher is open to using a variety of software (including physical education software) to teach students computer skills. Finally, the lab setting can be used when students create multimedia projects during out-of-school time or technology class. These projects might be specific to physical education or they might be interdisciplinary in nature. All uses of technology bring your students closer to meeting the technology standards for K-12 students

Dance Dance Revolution Lesson Plan

Topic

Fitness

NETS-S

NETS-S 2: Social, ethical, and human issues.
Performance Indicator 7: Practice responsible use of technology systems and software.

Objectives

1. Participate in an aerobic activity.
2. Demonstrate the proper technique for the back-saver sit-and-reach (flexibility), curl- ups using a cadence, and push-ups using a cadence.

Lesson Summary

Students participate in activities to assess the health-related fitness components. One of the stations incorporates Dance Dance Revolution PlayStation game with the use of heart rate monitors to measure cardiorespiratory effort. After completing the stations, students set fitness goals. This lesson should be repeated several times throughout the year so that students can monitor their progress.

Physical Education Equipment

Mats (two per every 20 students

Technology Requirements

Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) game with two pads (two per every 20 students).
PlayStation gaming devices (two per every 20 students).
Televisions (two per every 20 students).
CD player (three per every 20 students).
Heart rate monitors (four per every 20 students).
Sit-and-reach boxes (one per every 20 students).

Other Materials

Music (one CD per every 20 students).
Curl-up cadence (one CD per every 20 students).
Push-up cadence (one CD per every 20 students).
Pencils (one per student).
Health-related Fitness Record Sheet (one per student) listing curl-ups, push-ups, back- saver sit-and-reach, and DDR scores.

Pre-Instruction Phase

1. Sets up equipment and stations.

2. Assigns students to heterogeneous groups of four.

3. Develops the health-related fitness record sheet.

Instructional Phase

1. Demonstrates and reviews the proper technique for the curl-ups using a cadence (Station 1).

2. Demonstrates and reviews the proper technique for the push-ups using a cadence (Station 2).

3. Demonstrates and reviews the proper technique for the back-saver sit-and-reach (Station 3).

4. Demonstrates the dance moves and how to operate the CD player (Station 4) – nothing to record at this station.

5. Demonstrates how to use the Dance Dance Revolution game (Station 5):

Turn PlayStation on.
Select the appropriate dance and level.
Try to step on the arrows on the mat to match the scrolling arrows on the screen as they reach the top of the screen.
The game calculates the score (hits and misses) of appropriate steps.
At this station, students wear heart rate monitors in order to record heart rates after participating in the selected song.

Application(s)

1. Supervises and provides feedback to students as they rotate through the following stations:

1. Curl-up station (three-second cadence).

2. Push-up station (three-second cadence).

3. Back-saver sit-and-reach station.

4. Dancing station.

5. Dance Dance Revolution station.

*Repeat stations as needed for larger classes.

Lesson Closure

1. Asks students to identify the activities that measure flexibility.
2. Asks students to identify activities that measure muscular strength and endurance.
3. Asks students to identify activities that measure cardiorespiratory endurance.

Lesson Reflection and Extension

1. Virtual reality bicycling or other virtual reality physical activities can replace the Dance Dance Revolution station.

60 more lessons available are available in Integrating Technology and Physical Education

  Bonnie's Fitware Grant Program

Bonnie's Fitware will be awarding site license software for the following programs:

• Health Related Fitness

• Volleyball Complete

• Sim Athlete

• Biomechanics Made Easy

• Muscle Flash

• Elementary Physical Education Dictionary

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.

Email application to bmohnsen@pesoftware.com

BMI Calculator for Palm OS 5

BMI Calculator for Pocket PC

Q: Have you ever seen any softball or basketball stats software for Pocket PC?

A: You can find stat software for the Pocket PC at http://www.pocketgear.com

Q: What is the best pedometer for physical education.

A: For accuracy and durability, I would recommend the DigiWalker 200.

Featured Health Software: Managing Anger

.

SMARTteam (Students Managing Anger and Resolution Together) is a multimedia, computer-based violence-prevention intervention that uses games, simulations, graphics, animations, and interactive interviews to engage young adolescents in learning new skills to manage anger. What's Anger - Learn about what makes you angry-and when. Find out about expressing anger without acting violent and getting into trouble! Triggers and Fuses - Think about situations and locations that are mostly likely to trigger anger and set you off. Do you react without thinking? Anger Busters - You have the power! Get tips and specific strategies to use when you are angry. Play a game to find out general guidelines for confronting an angry person or situation. Channel Surfin' - Act in haste or think through a problem. Select a channel on the simulated TV, play the game, and find out the consequences! Then compare your score to others.

 

 Suggested Web Sites for June

 

Academy Info: Education Subject Directory

http://www.academicinfo.net/index.html

Librarian Index to the Internet

http://lii.org/

Infomine

http://infomine.ucr.edu/

http://vehi.paths2wellness.com/index_vehi.html