Technology in Physical Education and Coaching
Welcome to our Technology in Physical Education and Coaching forum. This is where you will be participating in the class discussions.
I agree that it is very difficult to use video in the classroom. It takes a lot of time and with class sizes, it is almost impossible to take video of each and every kid and then analyze the skill that they are performing. Although I do think that video is beneficial, it would be great to use with smaller classes.
We do the same thing with audio. I think it helps to keep the kids motivated while we are inside.
I have used audio and video in my teaching. I use it often when teaching health to supplement my lesson. However, I have used only audio in teaching physical education. When teaching an inline skating unit I play music for the students to skate along with the beat. I also use music to energize my students during game play. As a culminating activity I have used a relaxation CD to do a visualization relaxation activity after a strenuous workout. This course will hopefully teach me ways to incorporate the use of audio and video into my lessons. I am extremely fortunate to work in a district that supports and encourages the use of technology; therefore, the only obstacle is my reluctance. I feel this course will give me the confidence I need to use technology.
Hi, i wasnt thinking about music when i answered the first question. I would always play music when we would play a mass game with the kids. I taught for 14 years K-5 and by the time the kids were in 5th grade they would be bringing in cd's for class and i would play different music for them. They loved it. One of the observations that i made over the years was that the autistic and emotionally disturbed kids would come in the gym and before i could start talking they would ask where is the music. Those students loved the music during class. After teaching 14 years at the elementary school i transfered to the high school, and just the other day one of my former students came up to me and said " hey Herodes where is the music?" So i quess that i have been using technology for a while. Bobby Herodes
Hey Bob! We usually don't think of music as a technology tool, but it is. I love using music in class. I have not had that experience with autistic students, however, I feel as a whole the "mood" of the class really changes with music, as I see students becoming more motivated. We need to purchase an ipod that we can all share. I think you'll find it as a piece of technology that you will like and is easy to use, since I know you are a little apprehensive about the whole technology thing :).
I have used both audio and video in my physical education classes. For audio, I use a voice amplificcation system daily which makes it much easier to students to hear what I am saying in a large gymnasium. Also, I find that I have far more energy at the end of the day when I don't have to use a "gym" voice.
I also use audio quite a bit in that I play music for the students when we do stations, roller skate, some games, and dance. I notice when I play music for stations and games, the students are more active as they often move their bodies to the beat. I download music to my laptop and then plug it in to my amplified stereo.
For video, I have shown video clips as an intro to a cup stacking unit and jump rope unit. I have also shown down hill skiing clips before talking about the snow skiing field trip. On occasion, when kicked out of the gym and the weather is poor, I have shown sports videos in the classroom.
The only real obstacle in preventing me from using video, is acquiring a tv for play it. I just need to make sure I schedule one in advance so that it is available.
I agree with you -the biggest drawback for video is signing out a TV and then moving it to my gym. Of course,I am expected to return it at the end of the day. I find it is easier to ask the classroom teachers or music teacher to show a short 2 minute clip before th class comes to me for the activity I might be doing.
Anita,
I think your idea of having the classroom teacher show a short 2 minute clip before the class comes to you is a GREAT idea! I was wondering how I could incorporate video into my lessons while only having 20 minutes with each class. Finding a T.V., having the class watch the clip, giving directions and then starting the activity may take too much time. Asking the classroom teacher to prep the class will save me time. Thanks for the idea!
What company supplied your amplification system do you use? The Parents Club looked into buying my gym a system and they thought that a system wouldn't work in my gym.
Have you heard of United Streaming? There are many videos that you could find useful for your class. With using this, you would be able to show the clips through your computer.
Teaching health and physical education has differences and similarities. When is comes to using videos in physical education, I have my reservations about it. The only time I show a video in PE, is in our swim unit and the video is no longer than 5 minutes. We use brief videos in our swim units to demonstrate the mechanics of a stroke. Other than that we really focus on getting our students off their seats and moving. Students sit all day long and it is in our firm belief that our time should be utilized getting kids to enjoy moving.
For coaching tennis we video tape are athletes and show them their mechanical errors in slow motion. Athletes find this to be very beneficial! We see major improvements in our athletes.
As I said earlier, we don't get enough time in our classes therefore we are limited in showing videos because it puts restraints on the amount of time spent being physically active.
What I would like to do is put together a presentation that promotes our physical education program. It would be ideal to have this slideshow played on one of our local channels.
Sandee
Teaching health and physical education has differences and similarities. When is comes to using videos in physical education, I have my reservations about it. The only time I show a video in PE, is in our swim unit and the video is no longer than 5 minutes. We use brief videos in our swim units to demonstrate the mechanics of a stroke. Other than that we really focus on getting our students off their seats and moving. Students sit all day long and it is in our firm belief that our time should be utilized getting kids to enjoy moving.
For coaching tennis we video tape are athletes and show them their mechanical errors in slow motion. Athletes find this to be very beneficial! We see major improvements in our athletes.
As I said earlier, we don't get enough time in our classes therefore we are limited in showing videos because it puts restraints on the amount of time spent being physically active.
What I would like to do is put together a presentation that promotes our physical education program. It would be ideal to have this slideshow played on one of our local channels.
Sandee
I agree it is tough to take the time out of a class to show a video to students when PE, we want our students to be moving around. In coaching it is such a great tool for teaching athletes corrections on skills. I also use the video camera often in my sport.
However I do find using video's in certain types of PE classes are helpful. I know you mentioned swimming. We also use them for proper lifting technique, or aerobic video's.
I totally agree it takes alot of class time to video tape. It could possibly be in a station work, where students film each other at that station. It takes some time to teach the camera work, but once that is accomplished, you can use it for all the sports being taught that year. They could also view it on a rain day, which we get alot in NE Ohio. Also not all students may need to see their form. Show the ones that need some correction and they might understand what you are teaching them.
Be careful not to use the camera for discipline. A shop teacher in our school set it up to film his unruly students and the administration turned it around and said HE could not control his class. It wasn't the students fault!
I have only used a VCR in PE once to show the kids a fitness type exercise program. We do not have internet access in our gym, so it is limited. We have done research in the computer lab about Fitness programs.
IF we had internet access in the gym I would like to record calories burned, and other fitness statistics that could be utilized to chart progress being made throughout the year.
I am trying to get a wireless laptop computer that runs on a router from some other place in the school as we speak. We will see.
We also struggle with technology in the gym. We have a TV that is on wheels, but it is too tiny to show to an entire gym full of PE students. We cannot hear the announcements in the gym either. Since there are so many students in one small space, the school has decided that it would be best to have the teachers read any announcements. This means that everything is delayed!
The internet is only on the teacher's computers in a tiny office, so the students cannot use them for recording fitness information. It would be idea to have a computer lab right next to the gym to help students track their own progress and really take control of their fitness goals and achievements.
Have you had any luck with the wireless laptops?
I use plenty of audio when I teach. We just received a grant and purchased a brand new audio system. It has wireless microphones and speed control on playing cassettes. Its awesome! We use our audio system for fitness, teaching, dancing, school events, and assemblys. Without music you have nothing. We use our video cameras for gymnastics to help children self assess their routines. I also use a digital camera for assessing certain skill taught in class. We always make sure to get parent permission when using any type of recording device. We have not encountered any obstacles but will let you know when it happens.
You have purchased something I have wanted for my junior/senior girls physical education class. They are into aeorbics/step aerobics and it is sometime difficult to hear me over the music. The wireless microphone would be a great addition to my class. Glad to hear that it is awesome!
I like how you are using technology. I was wondering about the grant you received and whether this would be something my school could apply for this year?
As part of our two required Physical Education courses (both of which are semester classes), our students are required to participate in a jogging/walking program. Since our classes use the track/football field area, we use the speaker system available in the pressbox. Music is played for the students (and instructors!)during the class. Our students enjoy the workout much better. Students select the kind of music (within my guidelines) so different types can be heard. Additionally, we also use the intercom system to provide instructions.
Our use of VHS tapes is limited in the classroom as so many other sources of information is available now. However, for our health classes several tapes/stories are still used to make important points as well as stimulate meaningful discussion.
Use of the VHS still can prove helpful especially video taping students/lessons. The biggest problems with this instructional approach are obtaining quality productions and taping expertise. At our school we are looking at the possibility of using our media productions class. Finding qualified students willing to tape classes and teachers is not as difficult as it may seem at first.
I too allow my students to select the music we will listen to that day, I find that when they are included in the decision they are more likely to enjoy the activity and be motivated to learn. Using videos is an excellent way to show students exemplary performances from their peers. I agree that it is not difficult to find a willing video technician. Simply posing the question to the class as to who would like to volunteer to run the camera, elicited more positive responses than I envisioned.
Thanks for the ideas.
I allow my students to choose the music as well. I find that it keeps them motivated and gives them a sense of ownership. I've seen students participate more based on the fact that they like the song.
Although I failed to mention using music in my post, I also let my Senior P.E. classes choose music to play during the lesson, I find it does keep them motivated and serve as a reward/incentive, also.
I never used video in my coaching. I would love to video our games and then review them afterwards for learning purposes for the team. I would also use it to analyze each athletes batting and our pitchers pitching.
Some obstacles I face is getting the equipment, having someone to run the video and we would have tohave a high scaffold to video from.
We could run fund raises for the money, but being a inner city school, money is hard to come by for most parents. Uniforms and equipment eat up mos of the monies for the program.
Karen,
I use video in taping my team every game. Our school pays someone to video all of our games. We will have film sessions with our players. We will usually have this on the day before a game when we are not running them as hard. We also scout the other teams that we are going to play. We will order pizza and we have the players break down the films with us. This gives them a better understanding of our opponent.
I have used audio and video when teaching aerobic classes and it was very useful when teaching self defense and awareness classes. The purpose of the audio and video in aerobics was useful when I was not capable of teaching the pilates and yoga. The self defense tapes we used were very useful when we taught manuveres to get out of holds and to show the classes the various ways to stay safe on the streets
Hi Suzanne:
what curriculum do you use for teachign self defense and at what grade level do you teach it? What videos did you use for teaching the unit? I have been intereeted in doing this as a unit but am limited in knowledge. We have brought in guest speakers to teach a little bit about it, but it is hard to find someone to do it each semester and scheduling it can be difficult.
thanks,Mary
I constantly use audio in my teaching if I am inside during winter or rainy days. Using appropriate music during warmups, game play or glo -time bowling adds great atmosphere to the gym. I would not use it every day -however once or twice a month is perfect.If I teach my dance/jump rope unit ,I always use a varietyof music.
The video I used when started to teach was on a film loop. It worked perfect for a seperate station when teaching asport or gymnastic move. I very rarely ude a video since I do not have a television in my gym (on purpose!)Luckily, I work closelywith my music teacher and she will kindly show a small segment of a dance or geo motion performance for me.
We do use MP3 players, Video as well as still cameras, and a variety of radios and tape players. We video the children in their final stages of both Rhythmic Gymnastics and tumbling. This way we can show them what their routine looked like and how it could be improved. We have the students put their routines to music and this is when each group has the ability to use a tape/cd player. We are lucky that we can ask for these things from our parent teacher orginazation. The funding of this fantastic equipment would be the biggest obstacle. We did think of fundraisers (shoot-a-thon) that we could do in case the funding was not given to us. 
I will use your idea of asking the PTA for funds to purchase a nice video camera and wireless microphone for our department. It seems when we want to use the school purchased one someone else is using it and it has to be reserved way in advance. With weather and assemblies etc. phys. ed. scheduling is sometimes tough. It would be nice to have our own video camera. I would love to use this for dance routines!
Hi, When i started coaching at Marist i would video our matches to look at after the event. After a few seasons i stopped because it was to time consuming. I was teaching full time and coaching at Marist. I have used the video in the past teaching to put together little snap shots for community night, which is when the parents come in to talk to the staff. I was also teaching solo so it was hard to video and run the class, now we team teach at times and it would be much easier to video parts of the class. Just recently i taped one of my high school classes for the Games Around the World class from Fresno. I would love to use high speed film annalysis. When i was working on my masters thesis at West Chester U. in PA. I did a high speed film analysis while heading a soccer ball at moderate speeds. I was trying to determine the change in head acceleration before during and after impact. It was a lot of fun. Most of the obstacles are facilites and schedualing. We do have a camera in the department. If i were to plan ahead schedual space in the big gym(with bleechers) and work with a co-worker that would be the most effective way to get it done.
I hope this works since I have no clue as to what the instant messenger box(above)is for or the box next to it.
I have used video in coaching basketball. I used it to tape players during practice when they were shooting free-throws. It is often difficult for students to visualize/understand what you are telling them about their technique. It helps if you show them what they are doing and tell them how to correct it. You then can tape them again, and show them how they have attempted to correct the form or not. It was very useful and the girls responded well to it. I recently tried this in a junior physical education class. I wanted to video tape two boys playing pickle ball. They are awesome players and I thought that I could use clips of them performing different skills as demonstrations when teaching pickleball skills to our sophmores. I checked out the video camera from our media department and got to my office and found that it was a video camera from the dark ages and there was no battery. I called the media specialist and asked for a battery pack. Due to budget cuts,there are no more batteries for the cameras, so I had to use the plug in adapter and extension cords. What an inconvenience to have to deal with the cords.
I would like to learn how to use one of the digital video cameras our middle school technology departments has purchased. They are small and would be easier to use than the dinosaur I used. Time is always a factor in learning to use new equipment. I am grateful that our school district has inservice days for professional development, but I wish they would let us choose the areas of professional development. Much of what is done for inservice professional development, like six traits writing, does not apply to the PE environment. It would be nice if our department could focus on things like this that are more relevant to our teaching environment.
I have used video in my PE classes - I use it to tape students in certain activities and our department also uses some exercise tapes when we are confined to our small "multi purpose" room. I like being able to tape the students doing a certain activity and then replay it back - normally I let them watch themselves on the day I give them their grade for the particular activity, but I can how letting them watch themselves before they do their final "routine" could help them. The problem for me is time and equipment. It isn't difficult to tape them - that can be done at anytime, it's finding the time to have the students watch themselves and critique themselves. As for the equipment, I have to reserve it way ahead of time and that makes it difficult. The most recent problem I had was that I taped an activity, but the equipment that I needed to have the students watch it on TV was misplaced, so the only way they could watch themselves was on the little tiny screen on the camera.
I certainly could use it much more - I have a friend who video taped a student using the equipment in the weight room and then up loaded it to his palm - in class when a student needs a quick "how to", he pulls up the video and lets the student watch. I would just need to organize my time a little better to allow the studnets time to watch. I already stated the equipment situation, but I know I could get around that. I could easily use my personal camera - and I could then immediately burn a DVD that the students could actually take and view on their own time. These are things I haven't actually thought about until now and I could start implementing some of these ideas today.
Hi- Yes, I have used audio and video in my teaching. I have used instructional videos to introduce dance routines and moves. In my fitness classes I used video to show exercises on the exercise balls. I have also used video to introduce Tae Bo moves to my students. The biggest obstacle was having a class of 30 watch these videos on a small t.v. screen. Not every student could always see, while trying the move. I would tell them to model the student in front, only sometimes that student did not have the best technique.
To overcome this problem I would try to break the class into smaller groups, offering more than one activity. We as a department requested a large screen projector that could project the video/dvd on the wall for viewing. This past year we recieved this and it made a huge difference in showing video/dvd to the class.
I would love to introduce video clips of student performance in my classes. I would use them as a tool for students to analyze their skills. The obstacle, make sure parent permission is given for students to be video taped. solution, I could type a form letter of permission to be taken home by each student to be signed by a parent at the beginning of the year. I would emphasize its use for instruction.
I have used video technology in my coaching career. The biggest obstacle I see is staying current with the technology, as if we as a coaching staff do not stay up-to-date their will be another school in our conference taht is up-to-date and that may be the difference in the outcome of the game.
Another big obstacle is financial. With a limited budget, it is impossible to stay completly current. We try to fundraise to cover costs, but their are many other essential costs that also need to come out of the budget.
Unfortuately, cost is a big obstacle, in any venue including technology in it. Especially since in a few years it is considered old. It can be very frustrating.
I use both audio and video in my class.
I use audio during our dance unit with songs that give directions (ex. the cha cha slide) to observe listening ability, songs with different beats for rhythmical enchancement, as well as general music for circuit training.
When I am teaching a new skill or starting a new unit, I download videos off the local PBS website to show what the skill 'should' look like and breaks down the movements. I use the lcd projector to show the films, segments, powerpoints on a large screen.
Obstacles I found are that there are NOT enough educational videos about PE related topics for download for free. Our school has a subscription for the PBS site and that is free, but the selection for PE topics is very limited. I try to find other segments or video clips off the internet that are not copywrited and use them briefly in the class.
It sounds to me like you do a nice job incorporating audio and video into your lessons. I especially like the idea of downloading the video and showing it to the class. I haven't been able to do anything like that at my school, but would like to start.
I've run into the same problem as far as trying to find videos on the Internet that are free (or inexpensive, for that matter). I wish there were more. Maybe that's how we can tie in the use of audio and video into our classes...create free videos for the Internet.
Keep up the good work!
I've used audio and video in my coaching, but in a different fashion than what's typical, I'm sure. At the end of the season for the last five seasons, I've created a video for the girls on my swim team of the last trip of the year (our state meet). This video includes a highlights video (set to music), pictures, and even a bloopers video. I make a copy for each of the girls who was on the last trip and they have a nice souvenier to watch over and over again. They've become quite popular.
If there were no obstacles for me to do this during my class, I would use the audio and video to show techniques for various activities. I've often thought of creating a movie for the weight room and proper lifting techniques. This video could be shown to students who missed the original talk. I would also like to do one in Spanish because we have so many Spanish-speaking kids at our school.
The programs that I've done all of this on is iMovie and iDVD on my Apple computer at home. I would love to have an Apple computer at work, but my school only buys Dell computers. That's a huge obstacle that I don't see changing any time soon.
The best hope that I have for overcoming this obstacle is work out with the tech people at school for me to be able to bring in my own laptop to use. If I could do that, I could make the movies right at school on my laptop. I can see this working out.
Hi James! I love your idea of making a movie of the seasons' highlights. I have only done PowerPoint, still pictures for my teams at the end of the season. I am definitely going to look into making movies for my teams in the future. Thanks for the idea. - Lisa
James,
I agree with you that Macs and their iPhoto and iMovie programs are great. I love the fact that you can just drag and drop items anywhere. I am still learning, but so far I am impressed. I think making video for students that are new or have missed class for awhile is a great idea. I have heard of schools making a welcome CD for new students, that come in the middle of the year. What about making videos on your Mac and burning it onto a DVD for students play on the dells at your school?
Great idea and I hope your school get some Macs.
Eric
The obstacle for me (and I am sure, others) is money!Every year our budget gets smaller and smaller while our student population stays the same. For me, I write a grant each year. This past year I received a grant from a local educational foundation for the purchase of 5 Playstation2 and the Dance Dance Revolution DVD's for my morning fitness club that I run 3 days a week. The kids absolutely love it. I have a digital camara and a video camara (both received from grant money) that I use to take pictures and movies of the kids. It is a middle school and most of the kids love to have their pictures taken. I will have a trifold set up at the educational foundation celebration in the fall displaying how I spent the money on the DDR with all the pictures I have taken.
You have great ideas for your classroom. Some ways we have raised money is by having a 3 on 3 basketball tournamnet, an all school dance, plant sale, family pictures (hired professional to take pictures). All of these are great money makers with a little effort. If you ask people you would be amazed what you can recieve for free. Good Luck.
I have used audio as well as video in my teaching assignment. In Theory of Safe Driving, I use video to show quick clips on teens and drinking and driving. I have used music as a motivator during warm up runs and find that the students pick up the pace with the music. I have also used video to evaluate my softball players batting mechanics. The girls started to understand the things that I have been talking about regarding their contact point with the softball.
We have used both the radio to encourage the students, as well as videos to demonstrate live gameplay in certain sports, but our newest technology is DDR. The biggest obstacle with this is that there are only two participants at a time on the actual pads which makes it boring for others, as they just dance on the ground on markers/polyspots. I feel that there is only one way to overcome this as to get more pads, or, utilize this as a stations rather than as a whole unit.
Holly,
We are in a similar situation at my school. We were granted funding to purchase a DDR system also. We have one system already that is borrowed from two of the other teachers. So we will have a total of 4 pads plus practice ones. We plan to use them in our fitness center as extra stations. We have 30-35 students at a time in there and needed more stations. We are hoping this will cut down on the standing around waiting.
Yes, I have used video and audio in my lessons. I find audio is a great motivational tool to help get students moving. I use it also as a way to stop the class to give instruction or demonstration. I have also used video to demonstrate a certain game that is new to the students.
The main obstacles I have found have been getting the equipment set up in a safe spot and making sure that it doesn't take up too much time. I want to make sure I am getting the student moving as quickly as possible. So I double check that the video is at the right spot and completely ready to go when needed.
I use audio everyday with each class. I have my student’s jog for about 3minutes to music. I also use audio during station work so the student’s know when to stop their station and get ready to move to the next station. I would love to use a microphone on a regular basis but I work in an old building and do not have the proper wiring to make that possible. As far as video goes, I have used it a little to help my student’s understand how a game is to be played. I would use video more but getting a television down to the gym can be hard and they are usually checked out to classroom teachers. I could try and put the videos onto a DVD and play them through my computer with a projector hooked up to it so the screen is big.
I try to use audio on days that we have our fitness days. Our fitness days are based around either a cardiovascular workout, muscular strength/endurance or a combination of the three. The use of music is a great tool to get and keep the students moving. I play upbeat music for the activities. My students also know that when the music stops, they stop and either listen for instructions or move to the next activity. Since we are in a fairly new school, 4 years old, our sound system is great. With the ability of the remote, it makes using audio much easier than at the old school.
With video, I have in the last couple of years, used more during our dance units. I would tape several groups doing their dance routines, then take the tape home and assess their performance. The last two years, I have been doing sport specific skills test to video. In tumbling unit, I have a tape were I recorded several adavanced students doing the stunts. This allows them to see how they are done.
What I would like to do, is have the students self evaluate themselves more that what they are currently doing. I am hoping to get ideas about doing this from this class.
I used audio and video during my student teaching semesters to evaluate the types of feedback I was giving as well as classroom management.
If there were not any obstacles, I would love to use video in my class to create projects. I would use video for the purpose of the students completing self-assessments when learning sport skills. I would like to use video for the students to create fitness commercials. Also, I think video could be used during PTSA and parent conferences so the community could see what students are gaining from the physical education experience.
The biggest obstacle is money and I am trying to find some creative and healhty fundraisers to overcome that obstacle.
Lee Ann,
I like your ideas for student projects. Fitness commercials are a great idea! So many of my students seem to be in poor health. They don't eat right, exercise enough, or get enough rest. A fitness commercial by students might motivate them to become more health conscious. I also think showing these commercials during PTA meetings or at parent/teacher conferences is a great way to inform the community of what "good" is going on in P.E.
I have limited experience using audio technology in class. The two ways I have used it is when we give the fitnessgram test and we use a cd to give instuctions to the students. I have used music in my class to help motivate and also give instuctions, such as, everytime a song ends, the students should rotate stations. I have used video to show my students how a certain technique should be done and to instruct certain activities, (taboe, yoga, pilates). I have video of my basketball athletes that we go over for most games. I show them good things they did and some things that we could of done differently. It does help a lot.
One obstacle is money, which is always a problem. I have asked the technology department to use thier camcorders many times and it has worked out great. We have grants to write for a music system and video cameras for the PE Department. How I have went around this is by buying my own video camera and using it for school purposes. One other thing to think about when putting students on tape is to make sure you have approval from adminstration and parents.
