If you are reading this month's section of Technology in Physical Education, then you have an interest in technology. For that reason I'm
going to "bring out" some very good short articles from the archives, but due to space limitations I could only include summaries of the articles listed below . The editors who contributed the articles are listed with each, and to each of these people I say, "thank you for the time and effort you put into your instruction."

Please browse through the "reads" here, as it's excellent information, and you may find some new methods to incorporate technology, or come up with new ideas on ways to use technology in your physical education classes.

Terri Covey pelinks4u webmaster

SCOTT TOMASSETTI, June/July 2006
Scott provides very good explanation on various pieces of technological equipment. This is a page well worth reading through if you haven't done so already. Good information on cameras.

MICHAEL DUMIN, April 2006
Tablet PCs, attached digital camera, wireless microphone/mixer/local microphone, and One Note™ provide a convenient way to capture video and analyze teaching. Find out more in "Using One Note to Analyze Performance," first column.

DEBBY MITCHELL, May 2005
Physical education teachers can include activities in their curriculum to help student develop thinking skills in the cognitive domain. They may reinforce academics in their own physical education class, or work with other teachers to integrate curriculum with a project based unit. Find out more in the third column, section titled "Cognitive Domain."

contributed by GERRY CERNICKY, JANUARY 2002

Effective Teaching Breakthrough - Not only can digital cameras be used to capture a moment in time, they can also be used to display the skills of students. Place pictures on the bulletin board of the skills or rubric for that unit. The pictures will show the students in action, and illustrate the proper technique in real time that all the students can view. These same photos can be used as a slideshow, on a PC at parent conferences, to show what the students do each month or unit. Also, with the necessary cables on a TV (video in and out), the pics are now viewed on a TV screen from the camera.

If the pictures need to be shared in an international project, the students' work can be viewed with an appropriate "eye-ball" camera to permit other schools around the globe a chance to see the students perform and compare techniques and cultures.

Another neat project is called Photo Jam, that can use pictures to create a photo album, music video, and a journal. First, place your pictures in an assigned folder for storage. Follow the on screen instructions by clicking 'create' and/or add music. Go to the site to check out more information about this program. You can download a free trial.

You can also add captions, burn to CD'S and a screensaver. This can highlight your students in a dynamic presentation, and for the family, it can be used as a memoir for years to come in an album that can be played over and over again on your computer.

Plastic Fork Diaries
This site breaks new ground on an old subject: Does what (and how) we eat affect who we are?

Sound: Did You Hear That? (grade 4)
As part of the Grade 4 Physical Science theme on Sound, students learn about the anatomy of the ear and how the human ear is designed to detect vibrations.

Noise Pollution (grade 4) - Very interesting activity, using many methods, to record noise pollution in various environments of students - home, school, and community.

Interactive Body - This is a interactive, learning web site. Check out 'Spot the fake smile.' This site covers the body and the mind.

Cells Alive! Information, with animated images, about cells of the immune system, bacteria and parasites.

Pedometer Partner Fitness Fun from PE Central - Purpose of Activity: To enhance fitness through the use of stations, working with another, and technology (e.g., pedometers).

Check out the health and technology links at BrainPop. You must subscribe to use, but this looks like an excellent learning tool.

contributed by STEPHEN JEFFERIES, APRIL 2002

What the heck is "Backflip" you might ask. Certainly a poor choice of names for what is actually an extremely useful and free computer program.

As I'm sure you know that whether or not you use Internet Explorer (IE) or Netscape as your browser, you can save the location of web sites you regularly visit. Under Netscape these locations are called "Bookmarks" and under IE they are called "Favorites." You can organize these sites into folders, and then easily access them while browsing.

But what happens if you are on the office or school computer, or away from home or school? Typically, we lose quick access to these regularly visited sites. Wouldn't it be nice if we could quickly access our favorite sites from any location? Well, of course you can. And one of the easiest methods is to use a free program called "Backflip."

Backflip is a free utility that can be downloaded from the Backflip web site. Once downloaded you copy a special "Backflip" icon onto the menu bar of your browser. Whenever you want to save a web site you click on this icon and create a link to the site in your Backflip directories.

Now, regardless of location, or computer, or browser, you can log on to Backflip, open your directories, and quickly access all your favorite web sites! Pretty cool. Of course there is more. What I especially like is the ability to surf and save web sites into directories I create for specific projects. And it gets better, because I can also choose to share specific folders with other people.

Backflip has many more features, but my advice is simply to visit the site and give it a try. At first it may seem a bit confusing, but keep in mind the concept is very simple. If you regularly use more than one computer, Backflip is a simple solution to the challenge of saving web sites, and then finding you saved the location on the "other" computer!

contributed by DAWN SAKAGUCHI, DECEMBER 2004

The National Theatre for Children's "The Prince of the Pyramid" is a fun and interactive CD-ROM program that can be used in classrooms to teach students about eating good foods, and the importance of drinking milk and exercising.

The program presents these themes through a play where a pyramid mysteriously appears in the middle of a town, and when the good food starts to disappear an archaeologist is called upon to solve the mystery.

The play requires a lot of audience participation, where students will learn about eating well and staying healthy. The Prince of the Pyramid has been shown in over 500 schools. The program also includes workbooks, classroom posters, playworks on-line, classroom follow-up, and a teacher evaluation summary.

For kids in grades 5-6, Healthy Hearts is an internet based learning module that teaches children about cardiovascular health. The modules are divided into 4 topics and do not require extensive computer experience.

Healthy Hearts also combines content standards of Physical Education, and is simple for teachers to incorporate student assessment. With a computer in almost every household, students will find this way of learning fun and motivating.

Nutrition and Kids Adventures CD-ROM is an interactive program that teaches elementary children about the importance and benefits of eating healthy. The site promotes good eating habits through the exploration of different adventures that the children get to go on.

contributed by GERRY CERNICKY, APRIL 2003

Another method to enhance the use of technology is through a free program from Microsoft, called Movie Maker 2. Below is a step by step process for making a slideshow or video presentation using digital images. The images can be produced with a digital camera or camcorder. With Movie Maker 2, there is an easy-to-use template that guides you through the process. Most of the work will be in a point and click sequence, but there are some key points I'll cover before arriving at the final product.

First, the images must be stored in either My Documents, My Pictures, or any designation where the pictures are easily obtained. Music backgrounds may be stored in My Music folder for future use, too. The Music Maker interface will show a timeline where the pictures will be dragged and dropped, and placed for editing. This can be done by moving the mouse along the timeline and then releasing.

In the left pane will be a command that shows the CAPTURE video. Click import pictures, and all your images will appear on the screen in the work area. Click each picture one at a time, and drag it to the timeline in the sequence you decide.

The next item on the left pane is the EDIT Movie command. In edit mode, there are uploaded video effects and transitions that will be placed in between each picture. This may include fade in and out, or checkerboard, etc. An example is shown to you, and then you just click what you like and it will be inserted automatically. Also, there is a beginning and ending credits command to spice up the program. Click on either one and type in what is desired.

The IMPORT AUDIO for inserting background music is tricky, but once its saved, only a click will place the music on the timeline. Here is an easier way to finish the movie with sound effects. First, there must be a site that can be used to obtain (free ) music and by downloading WINMIX, a file sharing program. In the search command choose any musical selection, that is, movie and TV themes. The program searches all files with that text and it downloads the music to the My Music folder.

In the Movie Maker program, from the left pane, chose IMPORT MUSIC and it will be placed in the box along with your pictures. Drag it to the audio timeline and the music will be stored. A video box will appear on the right that displays your images to watch and replay, as it will be presented for others to view.

The last command on the left pane is FINISHING THE MOVIE. From there you can either save to the computer, CD ( need a CD burner program), e-mail, or to the Web.

Now, for a time that you may want to use a camcorder, a firewire cable must be used to transfer the images. The IMPORT VIDEO command causes the selected movies to be placed on the timeline/storyboard. Movie Maker also has a command called AUTO MOVIE that can make the movie for you. This can be found on the left pane under EDIT MOVIE..

Even though the images from the digital camera are still in nature, you can appear to make the move by choosing the appropriate video transitions.

Here are some examples to use with your classes:

	Slideshow depicting a skill sequence
	Parent - teacher conference to show what is learned in class
	Rules, sportsmanship, acceptable behavior timeline
	School facilities, equipment
	Homepages / presentations

See: Windows Movie Maker Tutorials and Articles.

LESSONS: A lack of physical health is much easier to except in someone else, than a lack of mental health. The reason is a lack of education on this subject. For a small annual fee of 25$ you have access to 616 lesson plans (more on other topics) to teach kids about mental health, and a lack of. See Education Planet.

Should I Drop My Antidepressant? How worried should a pregnant woman be? Read also Mother's Stress May Affect Fetus.