Monday, September 29, 2008

Improvement


Utilizing technology in Physical Education class is becoming more feasible. Our school is under major construction this year, and we are learning to be extremely flexible with space and time. Even with the strains of construction and inconsistent space each day I am still trying to incorporate some technology into our PE classes this year.

The first part of the technology implementation has all occurred because of a generous gift to the high school PE staff. Last year Judy Earl, a teacher at the Alpine Elementary School, attended the NJAPHERD convention in February. During the convention they raffled off the newest and latest Dance, Dance Revolution (DDR) game and Playstation. Judy won it! She retired at the end of the year, and offered it to the high school PE staff. This DDR set-up is worth over $4000!! We are so fortunate to have received this.

On Friday we ran our first Fitness Dance, Dance Revolution classes, and it was a huge success! The whole class was participating, and was really into the music and dances. There are two stomp pads that are hooked up to the Playstation. Two people hop onto these, the teacher picks the level of difficulty and music, and then hits play. The rest of the class is behind these two following the screen ques and doing the exact same footwork, on practice pads, as the two in the front on the stomp pads. When the song ends two new people step up onto the stomp pads and we set it up again and go. The students did not want the period to end. All the students increased their cardiovascular fitness, balance, rhythm, and had fun doing it.

I look forward to adding more technology into our curriculum. Maybe the Fit Wii soon!!!