SportaPolis

Column - "The New P.E. & Sports Dimension" - # 4 October 2001

The column that opens your day by opening your mind

ICT in Practice for Physical Education & Sports

Guy Van Damme, co-ordinator SportaPolis

To start with the discussion and how to: click here

The first question people ask is how to combine ICT and physical education?
The first term is related to technology and the second one is related to "learn through movement".
It is important to know the definition of ICT and the use it has for physical education if we are to provide a well founded answer.

Both have the common goal of developing physically educated persons for today and tomorrow.

Information Communication Technology (ICT) is the combination of computer, video and telecommunications technologies, as seen in the use of multimedia computers and the networks and services based upon them.

Information and communication technology has a role in the learning and teaching process as a teaching tool.
The use of ICT by learners offers enormous potential to enhance learning in all subjects, as well as for physical education & sports.
Developing an ICT culture is an important part of the process of integrating ICT into a school's learning and teaching programs. ICT involves both teachers and students in the learning and facilitation process.

1. Teachers: ICT is an aid in the teaching process: evaluation, administrative help, source, special education.
2. Students: to acquire information in an independent manner, communication & interaction between: students - students and students - outside world. Self-Directed learning, develops students' IT and ICT abilities and it motivates students for greater learning and promotes independent thought.

The use of technology in the learning process of physical education may not be a goal of it's own, but it is a tool with which to reach objectives.

A) Ways in which ICT can be integrated into learning and teaching:

1. administration: to produce documents/ lesson plans, to convert scores (Excel, Word, etc...).
2. management: this involves everything from discipline to class organization and time management
3. feedback: video, P.C., heart rate monitor.
4. remedy: heart rate monitor, educational software.
5. evaluation: video, use the digital camcorder to analyze students in action.
6. professional development: lifelong learning/ continuing education , sharing experiences.
7. public relations: communication via internet with the outside world.

Internet is a computer mediated communication (CMC).

For the purposes of this article, I'll define CMC as the process of interactivity through the direct use of computers and communication networks. It is a 'two-way communication' and critical conversation' in the active learning process.

B) How can ICT maximize the effectiveness and efficiency in the learning process of physical education?

1. e-mail:

a) educational applications for students:

- students have the possibility to email their questions or comments concerning: health, nutrition, fitness, physical education program, courses etc... to the p.e. teacher/ academic staff.
Some examples :
http://www.fm.cnyric.org/mott_road/octhink01.htm
http://members.ratedg.com/herkie/kidsfav.html
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/teu/teuphysicaleducation.htm

- to communicate with the outside world: find international penpals for pupils to email about sport & physical education.
Some examples:
http://www.sports-media.org/penpal.htm
http://www.education.wisc.edu/kinesiology/facility/ctlab.htm (see: E-mail "Keypal" Project in the alternative physical education program )

b) applications for p.e. teachers/ faculty members:

- Curriculum Development in Physical Education.
- to take contact with experts/ organisations
- to involve parents and students by p.e. school activities
- to co-operate with colleagues world-wide
- to assist students in their learning process
Some examples:
http://www.wvu.edu/~physed/ss316_01.htm
http://www.beach.k12.ny.us/PhysEd.html (see item: What Parents Can Do To Help )
http://www.physed.eku.edu/FERGUSON/cues/
http://members.aol.com/acesday/aces.html (project Aces: The World's Largest Exercise Class)

2. mailing lists:

A mailing list is an electronic discussion forum that anyone can "subscribe" to. When someone sends an email message to the mailing list, a copy of that message is broadcast to everyone who has subscribed to that mailing list. Mailing lists provide a simple and effective communication mechanism. A mailing list is a list of e-mail addresses of people interested in the same subject. Mailing lists are often used to provide subscribers with current information.
Some examples:
http://www.sportime.com/pe-talk/
http://www.topica.com/lists/naspe
http://www.sports-media.org/mailing.htm
http://www.pecentral.org/newsletter.html

3. mailing list archives

Mailing list archives are interactive searchable databases. Older articles can be found in the mailing list archive.

4. newsgroups

Newsgroups are public discussions that anyone with newsreader software can subscribe to and participate in. You read what other members have written and can post a reply if you choose.

Today, newsgroups resemble virtual coffee houses, where people get together to discuss subjects of mutual interest. There are literally thousands of newsgroups covering every topic imaginable.

How can you find newsgroups related to physical education & sport?
An efficient way to search for newsgroups is by using some of the same search tools you use to search for websites, such as Yahoo! and Lycos.
Another service I recommend is Deja.com, which lets you quickly search archives of newsgroup postings.
Some physical education newsgroups:
Health and physical education curricula for grades K-12: k12.ed.health-pe
Several newsgroups: http://sportsci.org/links/maillists.html

5. Chat

Interactive chat improve communication with customers and community members.
Chat allows groups of people to simultaneously communicate publicly or privately on your Web site, intranet, and extranet. Team members from different locations can easily conduct online meetings with managers, suppliers, and buyers. Customers can gather in intimate groups to discuss issues related to your business or gather together in large Online Events to interact with experts and celebrities. Instructors, teachers, students can access chat groups on an academic subject.
Some examples:
http://www.sports-media.org
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~cjhay/pdhpe/chat.htm

6. Videoconferencing

Videoconferencing technology allows two or more people at different locations to see and hear each other at the same time. This rich communications technology offers new possibilities for schools, colleges, and libraries including formal instruction (courses, lessons, and tutoring), connection with guest speakers and experts, multi-school project collaboration, professional activities such as meetings and interviews, and community events.
Some examples:
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/VirtualSchool/peunit.htm
http://pt3.educ.kent.edu/projects/triads.htm ( look at: Spring 2000: Health and Physical Education Triad )

7. Web based applications

Web Based Tutorials, Web Based Activities, Web Based Projects, Unit & Lesson Plans, forums.
Some examples:
http://schools.eastnet.ecu.edu/pitt/ayden/physed8.htm
http://www.pelinks4u.org/units.htm
http://www.sports-media.org/
http://www.pecentral.org/
http://www.mysportsguru.com/CDA/Home/1,1748,,00.asp
http://ednet.edc.gov.ab.ca/physicaleducationonline/

Interaction remains the key to successful online learning.

What is interaction?
Instructional interactivity may be defined as active communication in a conversational learning community between instructor(s), learners, course materials, and links to remote experts and resources. It is: 'active learning', 'two-way communication', 'critical conversation', and 'transactional distance learning'.

What capabilities of ICT environment will promote interaction?

1. Seamless navigation
2. Interfaces that are intuitive, easy to use, and functional.

Interaction involves the viewer in a website, keeps them in a website longer and encourages them to return more often. Interaction is not something new to the Internet and can be found on many websites. Examples include a guestbook register, sign up for email, search functions, chat, counter, etc...

ICT applications can improve the learning process in physical education. The students and the educators can both benefit. It is an integral part of education.

1. Do you use ICT in the daily practice of physical education? What, how and when? Does it improve the learning process? Why?

2. Could ICT motivate students in a better participation of physical education activities? which application(s) of ICT - according to your experience(s) - has/have the most impact in the learning process in physical education? Explain yourself.

3. Do you have the infrastructure that articulates ICT services?

4. Which strategies do you use to create an ICT environment ?

- just drop your thoughts to Guy Van Damme: guy.vandamme@skynet.be

- he collects your replies.

- The author reads your ideas/reactions and if needed will add his feedback.

- This all - your reactions and feedback - will be posted again onto the list.

November - Dr. Shelia Jackson will start with a new article.

Have a good discussion,

co-ordinator

Guy Van Damme