Welcome to your number one source for all things tech! Providing high-quality, standards-based instructional materials at affordable prices.
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Upcoming Seminars
Take the time to learn! Sign up now for Using Technology in Physical Education Seminars - click here for one day seminar:
- September 24, 2007 - Nashville, TN
- September 26, 2007 - Charlotte, NC
- September 28, 2007 - Savannah, GA
Click here for a two-day seminar:
- October 23-24, 2007 - Buena Park, CA (new 2-day seminar)
- November 12-13, 2007- Newark, NJ (new 2-day seminar)
- March 17-18, 2008 - Chicago, IL (new 2-day seminar)
- March 20-21, 2008 - Milwaukee, WI (new 2-day seminar)
Sign up now for Teaching Standards-Based Middle School Physical Education - click here:
- December 4, 2007 - Buena Park, CA
- December 6, 2007 - Burbank, CA
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."
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!)
Featured Articles
Tablet Computers 
Microsoft and a number of other hardware manufacturers launched the Table PC in November 2002. The Tablet PC is a fully functional Windows XP portable computer that can be operated with a digital pen. The digital pen can also be used to write on the screen of the computer. Integrated handwriting recognition technology enables users to create handwritten documents. Handwriting can be saved as an image, converted into typed text, and some applications allow the user to save and search digital ink documents. Tablet PCs offer an alternative to pen and paper, with a more natural and intuitive interface than a conventional laptop computer. Tablets can also be easily carried around providing enhanced mobility and ease of use. (Becta 2004, p.1).
There are two type of Tablet PCs: slates - which lack keyboards and convertibles (see picture) which come with an attached keyboard and can be used in either slate or laptop mode.
Top Picks: White Boards
Generally speaking white boards with electromagnetic devices offer the most precision followed by the touch-sensitive surfaces and then the ultrasound and infrared systems. Therefore, the following whiteboards are recommended:
GTCO Calcomp - SchoolBoard Series (1060, 1077, 1071, 1085) - $1595, $1995, $1995, $2135.
Numonics Intelliboard series (I-Board 47, 62, 77) - $1495, $1995, $2195.
Promethean ActivBoard (ActivBoard, ActivBoard +2) - $1795, $3995.
Click on the icon below for more information about Physical Education Planners.
High School Units Plan - Card Stock - While Supply Lasts
High School Tennis Unit
High School Fitness Unit
High School Analysis of Movement Unit
High School Self Defense Unit
High School Gymnastics Unit
High School Golf Unit
Devices Of The Month
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.
College Adoption Time
Using Technology in Physical Education, Fifth Edition
 The number one book for college courses on technology and physical education. Click here for table of contents and more information.
Fall Online Courses and College Credit
Fall 2007 Online Courses
The registration fee for each course is $100. The registration fee covers the online course materials and a letter of completion. Textbooks are required for some courses. Click on each course for additional information. The fall semester will run August 15, 2007 - December 1, 2007. You can sign up anytime between now and October 1, 2007. You may take as many courses as you like.
College credit is available from Emporia State University. These are 700-level courses - one unit each. The additional cost for college credit is $243 for Kansas residence and $315 for out-of-state residence (current prices - but it will go up for the fall - check the next newsletter for the exact amount) for each course.
Office Tips
Excel Tips: Troubleshooting Formulas
The most common problem in Excel is a circular reference. This occurs when you set up a cell to access its own data when performing a calculation. To identify cells with this problem, choose Tools and Customize. Click the box beside Circular Reference and then click Close to reveal the Circular Reference toolbar. Click a cell that seems suspicious; you may spot it because it's returning something like a value of 0, when you know it should produce a number. If it contains a circular reference, the cell's address appears on the toolbar's status bar.
PowerPoint Toolbars
It is time to explore some of the toolbars in PowerPoint. Choose View and Toolbars to find each of the following:
Outlining - this tool bar helps with adjusting the look of your slides and organizing them. You can view the slides in Outline view at any time by clicking the Outline tab on the left side of the screen. Once in this view, the toolbar's buttons let you rapidly expand and collapse the outline so that it is easy to see the presentation's content either in detail or as an overview. The toolbar also has buttons for shifting the position of a text line on a slide. Click Promote to move a subpoint up a level or Demote to do the opposite.
Picture - the photo-editing tools here may not be much use if you are already use a photo editing program. But the Crop and Rotate tools can come in handy.
Task Pane - this toolbar opens a small windows on the side of the screen. The pane is a versatile space with content that changes depending on what you are doing. When you are inserting slides it shows all the available slide layouts. Keep the pane open while you work, and you will probably find some new options as the pane goes through its motions.
Software of the Month
FITT
 FITT Rx (TM) provides a quick reference tool for teacher/ student use in the same way a medical doctor uses a drug prescription pad. Thus, the FITT Rx (TM) software program is designed to be a quick and simple method of providing a quality exercise prescription. It helps make prescription quick by providing the typical data for all of the basic exercise prescription variables: frequency, intensity, time, and type of exercise. This is a great tool for communicating with parents.
The software allows you to purchase the product once and use it forever. It makes a great tool for communicating with parents.
Works on Windows XP, Mac OSX 10.3.9 or greater, Palm OS 4.2 or greater; PocketPC Windows Mobile 2003 (second edition) and 5.0 based. Comes with FileMaker Mobile which facilitates the communication between PC and handheld. For more information - click here.
Blu-ray discs vs HD DVD: What is the difference?
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Blu-ray Disc |
HD DVD |
Disc capacity |
25GB single layer- R/RE/ROM; 50GB dual layer- R/RE/ROM |
15 GB single layer- R/ROM, 30 GB dual layer- R/ROM, 20 GB - RW/RAM |
Data Transfer rate |
54 mbps (up to 48 mbps for audio and video, with up to 40 mbps dedicated to video, 6 mbps is for overhead) |
32.4 mbps (29.4 mbps for audio and video; 3 mbps is for overhead) |
Data Transfer rate (data only) |
1x BD = 36 mbps |
1x HD DVD = 36.55 mbps |
Price of media |
$20 for BD-R; $25 for BD-RE |
Expected summer 2007 |
Maximum resolution |
1920 by 1080 (at 50i, 60i, 24p) |
1920 by 1080 (at 50i, 60i, 24p) |
Video codecs |
MPEG-4 AVC, VC-1, MPEG-2 |
MPEG-4 AVC, VC-1, MPEG-2 |
Audio codecs |
Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True-HD, DTS, DTS-HD Master Audio, Linear PCM |
Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD (core), Linear PCM |
Max. number of audio channels |
7.1 (for Linear PCM, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio) |
7.1 (for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD) |
On-demand picture- in- picture
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Optional (required as of October 2007) |
Mandatory |
Storage |
Optional, minimum of 256 MB required as of October 2007 (1GB for BD Live ethernet connected players) |
Minimum of 128MB required |
Movie studios support |
Buena Vista (Disney), Lionsgate Entertainment, MGM, Paramount, Sony, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros. |
Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company |
Number of movies shipping |
167 |
168 |
Region encoding |
Yes |
No |
Summary |
Blu-ray Disc has the edge with its breadth of studio support, greater variety of hardware, and better specs. But the format's interactive capabilities lag dramatically behind those of HD DVD. |
HD DVD devices deliver on most of their promised interactivity. For now, however, your hardware choices are more limited than with Blu-ray Disc. |
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We do the research so you don't have to!
Standards-Based Middle School Physical Education Curriculum available NOW - click on the logo!
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 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.
CardioSport Fusion 30 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 heart monitor 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.
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.
Below is a sample lesson from the Standards-Based High School Physical Education Curriculum. The numbers refer to the National Standards. The numbers in [] refer to the California Standards.
Day 12
Lead the students in a warm-up. 4.1 [2.2]
Review the iron shot. 1.0 [1.2]
Have students play Field Goal Golf using iron shots. 1.0 [1.2]
This is a target game with the objective of getting the ball over obstacles of different height (rope tied at different heights to goal post standards) and close to the target. Each space has an assigned point value depending on the width of the zone.
Lead the students in flexibility exercises and a cool-down. 4.1 [2.2]
Review Stages of Learning with students. 2.1 [1.7/1.9//3.5]
Stage One Learning:
Consistent practice for both open and closed skills
Feedback on the intent of the skill.
Model demonstration and information related to the skill.
Focus on success.
Stage Two Learning:
Feedback on the refinement of the movement.
Focus on critical cues.
Numerous practice opportunities.
Distributed practice.
Stage Three Learning:
Concentration on use of the skill in performance situations (e.g., offensive/defensive strategies).
Focus on refinement of skills.
Focus on consistency for closed skills and flexibility for open skills.
Use variable practice.
Have students identify their stage of learning for golfing. 2.1[1.7/1.9/3.5]
Click here for more information on these lessons. Click here for more information on all the high school units.
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
Excel 2007
The new version of Excel has extended to 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns. It also offers lengthier text values in cells, allows formulas with more layers, and can divide calculations among cores in a multicore CPU - thus increasing the speed of the calculations. Chart formatting also has improved. Preset styles are available with numerous color combinations and effects such as shadows, beveled edges, and three-dimensional shapes. The best new feature is conditional formatting, which lets you add formatting to values that meet certain criteria. Also the feature has been in previous versions - it is now much easier to use.
Quick Tips
Preparing Files for Office 2007
Even if you aren't upgrading to Office 2007, you will still need to know how to convert you files when working with others who are using Office 2007. Go to http://update.microsoft.com and download and install the Office compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats.
Mobile OS 6
Microsoft has unveiled its new mobile operating system bringing the mobile computer and personal computer closer together. The new Windows Mobile 6 lets users view, navigate, and edit word documents and Excel spreadsheets in their original formatting without affecting any tables, images, or text. Furthermore, the new OS also lets users view PowerPoint demonstrations on their mobile devices, and on the Outlook side, users can view email messages exactly the way they were sent, complete with the original pictures, links, and formatting. The new OS also increases the power of Outlook Calendar with the new Calendar bar, which provides quick glances at the following day or week and helps users quickly identify open schedule times.
Future Tech that is Here Now!
New Credit Cards: Pros and Cons
The new credit cards use RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification, technology. RFID allows scanners to use radio signals at varying distances to read information stored on a computer chip. According to a study by researchers at the University of Massachusetts and at security company RSA, many of these cards will transmit your name, the credit card's number, and its expiration date (but not the three-digit security code) unencrypted to anyone nearby with an RFID scanner. Not all is bleak - the second generation cards do not transmit your name. And, the test was done with altered equipment using "technical skills" not commonly available. Finally, the reader must be close to an RFID chip - about six inches.
Video Phone Calls
SightSpeed, a video-calling app, is available in a free edition. It requires a Webcam plus devices for audio input (microphone) and output (speakers or a headset). Downloading and installing the software is easy, since it automatically locates your audio and video source, and helps you adjust their settings for peak performance. To add a contact, you simply enter an e-mail address on the Contacts tab; if the person is already a SightSpeed user, you'll see their name appear on your list. If the person isn't a user, SightSpeed will issue an e-mail invitation to download the software. To connect simply click on the person's name. The program provides a good-quality videoconferencing and calling. You can get the software from: http://www.sightspeed.com
Camcorder Records HD Movies to SDHC Cards
The Panasonic HDC-SD1 captures (and stores) video of exceptional quality. However, be aware that the compression format leaves you unable to edit your video. At its best quality setting, the $1500 HDC-SD1 records 40 minutes of 1080i video to an included 4 GB SDHC Card (the HDC-DX1, a similar model, records to miniDVD and costs $100 less).
Web Sites
June Web Pages for Health Education
Health Information
http://www.health.harvard.edu/
Addition Web Quest
http://technoteacher.com/WebQuests/
ADDICTION/index.htm
AIDS Web Quest
http://haworth.org/wqaids.html
June Web Sites for Grants
Federal Grant Programs
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/
technology/edgrants.html
How to Write a Grant
http://www.seirtec.org/proposaltips/
slideshow/index.html
June Web Sites for Physical Education
Striking Lessons
http://www.littletennis.com/index.cfm/
MenuItemID/194.htm
Pickleball
http://www.pickleball.com/
Volleyball Drills
http://www.emporia.edu/vball/drills/index.html
Task Cards: Package of the Month
Swimming Task Cards
Twelve task cards on swimming skills (breast stroke, crawl stroke, prone float). Each card includes name and picture of the skill along with its critical features. Can be used for station teaching and/or peer feedback. Comes on PDF in both line drawings and color. Click here for more information.
Picks of the Month - from Smart Computing
Pocket PC - iPAQ hx 2495 Pocket PC
LCDs > 19 - Asus MW221u
Printer <$150 - Epson Stylus Photo R260
Digital Camcorder <$500 - Canon ZR800
PowerPoint Downloads
You can quickly and inexpensively add to your collections of templates and clip art for PowerPoint.
Go to http://office.microsoft.com.
Click on Template, then click on presentations, and click on a category.
Go to http://office.microsoft.com
Click on Clip Art, then click on category.
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