Special Notices
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Upcoming Seminars
Take the time to learn! Sign up now - the seminars fill up quickly - especially in California!
Using Technology in Physical Education Seminars (click on a seminar to get the details):
February 8 - Wichita, KS
February 9 - Little Rock, AR
April 23 - San Jose, CA - Just Added
May 1 - Burbank, CA
May 2 - Buena Park, CA
May 14 - Kauai, HI
Using Technology in Physical Education Two Day Seminar - attend one or both days - click on one of the dates for more information:
April 24, Sacramento, CA - Just Added
April 25 - Sacramento, CA - Just Added
Can't attend - you can still purchase the presentation on CD to watch at your leisure. See Video Instruction in the right hand column of this newsletter.
College credit is available for all the above seminars plus our online courses.
You can also visit with Bonnie at the following upcoming conferences:
December 2, 2006 - CAHPERD Southern District Conference - Cal Poly Pomona - contact Ken Peters at sandkpeter@verizon.net
CAHPERD State Conference - Sacramento, CA
AAHPERD National Convention - Baltimore, MD
International Symposium on Computer Science in Sport - Alberta, Canada
Our online spring courses begin on February 1 and conclude on May 1 (see the descriptions later in the newsletter).
Featured Articles
Automatic Synchronization between Devices
 Last month we discussed synchronizing media items to a device. This month we will provide the steps for automatic and manual synchronization. When you connect your device to your computer for the first time, Windows Media Play starts the Device Setup Wizard, which helps you set up automatic or manual synchronization between the Player and your device. When you connect your device to your computer after automatic synchronization has been established, the Player and the device begin synchronizing the content you selected until all of the items are synchronized. When you connect your device to your computer after manual synchronization has been established, you must select the content and specify the order in which it is synchronized. When synchronization finishes, the message "Synchronization is complete" is displayed above the items along with the number of items that were synchronized successfully and the number of items that were not synchronized due to errors, along with error details.
Setting up auto sync
- Start Windows Media Player and then connect your device to your computer.
- In the Device Setup Wizard, click Automatic.
- Click Customize the playlists that will be synchronized to change the priority order of the categories and playlists to be synchronized. (optional)
- Click Finish
Setting up manual sync
- Start Windows Media Player and then connect your device to your computer
- In the Device Setup Wizard, click Manual
- Click Finish
To sync content manually
- Start Windows Media Player and then connect your device to your computer.
- In the LIbrary feature, in the Playlist pane, click <List Name> List, and then click Sync List.
- Drag items from the Contents or Details panes in your library to the List pane to add them to the list of items to by synchronized.
- In the Items on Device pane, select the portable device, and then do any of the following: (1) To view quality-level settings, click the Display properties and settings button; (2) To create a folder on the device, click the Create folder button; (3) To permanently delete folders and items from the portable device to free storage space on it for your synchronized content, click folders and items displayed in the Items on Device pane, and then click the Delete button. The player cannot delete folders than contain files other than digital media files; (4) To format the device, click the Format storage media button; (5) Click the Start Sync button in the List pane.
All I want for Christmas/Honika/Kwanza is a new CatEye Dance Pad
Cateye Dance Pads is the latest in a long-line of pads for playing Dance Dance Revolution on the PlayStation 2, XBOX, and game Cube. This one differs in that it provides solid construction and comes with a commercial warranty. Click here to learn about packages.
Device Of The Month
Digital Camera or Digital Camcorder: Which is best?
 Today you can purchase either a digital camera or a camcorder. Or, you can purchase a camcorder that takes pictures or a camera that takes video. So , which is best? Today it is best to purchase one of each. Or, if you can't do that, then purchase the camcorder that takes "still photos" that are saved to a memory card. Some futurists are predicting that by 2010, digital cameras will no longer exist since the quality of the still photo from a camcorder will be so good that no one will need a digital camera.
For now, here are several features to take into consideration when purchasing a digital camera and/or camcorder:
Megapixels: A 3 megapixel photo has 3 million dots, a 5 megapixel has 5 million dots. The more dots you have, the more detailed the picture will be. Today, the entry level camera for many manufacturers contains no less than 6 megapixels. So, how many do you need? Megapixels really come into play when you want to increase the picture size. For instance, if you wanted to create an 8" x 10" print, a 4 megapixels camera would be adequate. But, if you want a 11" x 14" prints, you will want a 5 megapixels camera. The average physical educators should be more than satisfied with 6 megapixels.
LCD Size: LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display and refers to the camera screen. Sizes range from 1.5" to 3". Three inch LCDs are best, but they will cost significantly more and will draw more battery power compared to smaller screens. Two inch LCDs seem to provide a nice compromise.
Memory: Memory cards that come with the camera are very small. Be sure to purchase at least one additional memory storage card when buying a new camera.
Zoom range: Check only the optical zoom rating - the greater it is the better. You can ignore the digital zoom number.
ISO Rating: Look for a camera with an adjustable ISO setting that ranges up to 800 or more. Increasing the camera's light sensitivity will enable you to shoot in dark situations.
Connections: Make sure the camcorder you purchase has a microphone jack so that you can add an external mike for better sound.
CCD: A three-CCD camcorder uses three separate charge-coupled devices, or CCDs, to capture the red, green, and blue colors of an image, which provides better quality images than that of a single-CCD camcorder.
Quick Tips for Better Photos/Videos
- Use a tripod
- Know your camera and all its features
- Zoom and pan slowly
- Skip the special effects
- Avoid backlighting
- Use an external microphone for better sound
- Silence the wind with wind sock for the mic
Purchasing Tips
Best low-cost camera: Casio EXS600
Best higher-end camera: Powershot S2IS
Best camcorder: Panasonic PV-GS300
Software Of The Month
Elementary Physical Education Dictionary
Description of how software was used:
The Elementary Physical Ed. Dictionary software was used in my 2nd-5th grade Physical Education classes. The software was used each week to introduce new vocabulary that is part of Kentucky Core Content for Assessment. The school’s media coordinator approved the use of one of the WebTV’s to bring the software to life for the PE classes. Students used their reading skills, as well as, their physical skills to perform the various terminologies. The students were very excited about having the technology and how “cool” it was. The students were very eager to use it each week.
Description of how it will be determined if it made a difference:
Students used the quizzes and were very successful in their assessment.
George F. Johnson Elementary School
Virgie, Kentucky
Download a trial copy by clicking here.
Learn more about this product by clicking here.
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Grant packages (cost, training, student benefits) - click here.
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New Products
Do you want standards-based (National and California) physical education curriculum and instructional materials? Click on the icon:
ATV4 Offroad Racing
New PS2 software works with GameBike and Kilowatt. The latest version of the popular game.
Panasonic DVD Player/Recorder
Toshiba DVD Recorder
Tournament Scheduler ($100 for Windows 2000 or XP) - a complete tournament management software program.
Book of the Month - New
Cognitive Mapping for Physical Education on CD
 Discover the potential of concept mapping with ideas for each national physical education standard at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. Includes a description, teaching ideas, sample maps (completed and blank), and cross-referencing with standards and content areas. Comes on CD for easy access and printing of maps.
Price Comparisons - compare and save :
Heart Monitors
Our Cardiosport Ultima Package (2 packs for comparison)- $3449*2 = $6898
- 30 Ultima heart monitors
- 30 interfaces
- 2 Instructional support CDs
- 2 Integrating Technology and Physical Education books
- 30 transmitters (with replaceable batteries)
- 60 Straps (various sizes)
Polar E600 Tech Pack Package - $8,100
- 32 E600
- 3 interfaces
- 40 straps
- 3 heart monitor holders
- 2 books
- 2 banners
In The News
Projector Resolutions
Notebook computers today are shifting from the 4:3 aspect ratio to 16:9 and from XGA to WXGA resolution. Unfortunately, projects have failed to keep up. There are only a few WXGA projectors sold today. If your notebook's resolution and your projector's native resolution differ, your image will be interpolated, a process that can introduce unsightly artifacts and distortion, especially in text documents. If your wide-screen laptop lacks a way to toggle among resolutions via a single button, at least make sure that you can adjust the notebook's resolution downward in software to match the native resolution of the projector you're using.
Motion-Sensitive Controls
Both the Sony PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii use motion-sensitive controls. The technology has been around for many years, but recent improvements have brought down the price and the size. These new game controllers are the first gadgets of their kind to reach the hands of millions of people. The Sony controllers have an accelerometer. The six axis the name refers to are the three dimensions of space, plus three axis of spin. The Nintendo Wii Remote goes one step farther by including an infrared camera. It picks up signals from a sensor bar the owner attaches to the television set. This enables the remote to know where it is in relation to the screen, so the player can use the controller to point to things.
Funding! Funding! Funding!
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!
Earn Sports Gear and Field Trip Transportation for Schools.
Go Play! is a new reward program from Nestle Pure Life that helps accredited schools in the U.S. with any grades from K-8 earn points that can be redeemed toward fitness and sports gear or transportation cost assistance toward hands-on educational field trips just for collecting labels from bottles of Nestle(R) Pure Life(R) bottled water products. Schools must register by December 31, 2006. For more details and to register your school, please visit www.goplaylabels.com
Nickelodeon Let's Just Play Give-away
Nickelodeon is accepting applications for its Let's Just Play Giveaway program. The purpose of this program is to support school or after-school community-based organizations that promote play and physical activity. Programs must be nominated by youth ages 6 to 15 years old.
http://www.healthinschools.org
Online Courses
Spring 2007 Online Courses
February 1, 2007 - May 1, 2007
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 March 15, 2007.
Web Sites
December Web Pages for Health Education
Yale Health Information Library
http://www.ynhh.com/online/health_lib
_frset.html
Human Health
http://www.epa.gov/students/health.htm
Eurekascence
http://www.eurekascience.com
December Web Sites for Physical Education
Soccer
http://www.soccerhelp.com
Research on technology
http://www.highbeam.com
http://caret.iste.org/
Physical Activity Web Quest
http://www.rfsd.k12.wi.us/rocky/staff%20
pages/phyed/pages/WebQuest.html
Task Cards: Package of the Month
Muscle Task Cards
 Contains twenty muscle cards with the name of the muscle on one side and a picture on the other. One use of these cards is for a match game with the Fitness Task Cards.
Office Tips
Excel Tips: Count Function
The COUNT function returns the number of cells with a value in the range. Remember, all functions start with the "=" sign and are followed by the starting and ending (). Inside the parentheses are references to the cells that you wish to apply the COUNT function.
For example, =count(b1:b5) count the number of cells between b1 and b5 that contain something. So, if b1 has 2, b2 has 5, b3 has 10, b4 has 8, and b5 has nothing. Then, =count (b1:b5) returns 4. So, what usefulness does this serve, well you could use the count for counting the number of days that a student was absent.
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| In The Next Issue |
- Questions and answers
- Comprehensive Standards-based Middle School Physical Education Curriculum with Daily Lesson Plans aligned to National and California Standards
- Comprehensive Standards-based High School Physical Education Curriculum with Daily Lesson Plans aligned to National and California Standards
- Best technology
- Spreadsheets - IF function
- Changing labels on your handheld computer
- PlayStation 3
- Dangerous Exercises - Task Cards
- Wii
- and much much more . . .
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You have questions - send them to Bonnie Mohnsen at: bmohnsen@pesoftware.com - you may see your question show up in our Q and A section next month! |
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Questions and Answers
Q: My computer's clock keeps losing time - what can I do?
A: Your CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) battery needs to be replaced. The CMOS battery is a small battery that's attached to your system's motherboard. This battery provides enough power for your computer to maintain data, such as the date, time, and system settings, even when your computer is turned off or unplugged. The procedures for replacing the CMOS battery vary from one motherboard to the next, so you will need to check your user's manual for specific directions. But, generally speaking, you shut down your computer, unplug it, open the case, and touch something metal or wear an antistatic wristband, remove the old battery, attach the new battery, close the case, reconnect data and/or power cables, and turn on the computer.
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