P.E. Games Home Resources Standards & Competencies Inspiration About the Author
About the Author
Kathy Newman
Teacher of 6, 7, and 8th Grade Physical Education
“Intelligence and skill can only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is healthy and strong.” John F. Kennedy
Physical Education, Health, and Math have been my teaching passions for the past thirty years, a career that has taken me from Illinois, Tanzania, Oregon and finally to California. I love movement and play and the happiness that it brings to children and adults alike. I have also enjoyed the unique perspective of experiencing the Internet evolve from it’s birth to its astounding and relevant status. So much inspiring and rich information can be gained and shared with this medium. My educational adventure has been amazing and possible thanks to my husband, my son, my students, my colleagues and, now, completing a Masters degree in Innovative Teaching and Learning from Touro University. I am inspired to continue studying and providing challenging learning experiences for all of my students.
Teacher of 6, 7, and 8th Grade Physical Education
“Intelligence and skill can only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is healthy and strong.” John F. Kennedy
Physical Education, Health, and Math have been my teaching passions for the past thirty years, a career that has taken me from Illinois, Tanzania, Oregon and finally to California. I love movement and play and the happiness that it brings to children and adults alike. I have also enjoyed the unique perspective of experiencing the Internet evolve from it’s birth to its astounding and relevant status. So much inspiring and rich information can be gained and shared with this medium. My educational adventure has been amazing and possible thanks to my husband, my son, my students, my colleagues and, now, completing a Masters degree in Innovative Teaching and Learning from Touro University. I am inspired to continue studying and providing challenging learning experiences for all of my students.
Reflections on the Project
I feel the ultimate evaluation on any project would be whether or not one would do it again. Adding technology and 21st Century Skills practice to my physical education classes was an absolute success as I found my students excited, motivated, energized, creative, capable and flourishing in groups. Their digital knowledge and final products exceeded my expectations. What one group didn’t know, another group willingly shared.
They loved seeing each others final products and I am excited to show the next years groups what has come before.
Not all facets of physical education lend themselves to technology and 21st Century Skill practice but including these kinds of projects as much as possible throughout the year would certainly contribute to student learning and growth and increase student engagement in physical education.
Next year I would like to add a unit that teaches about some of the available physical fitness apps to track student conditioning progress. These apps are free and available on their phones and can track anything from food values to miles run.
I best get started...I need to keep up with my technologically advanced students!
Lasting Learnings from the Program
"Most people agree, that three things, autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward are the qualities that work has to have if it is to be satisfying." Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell, 2008.
In doing this project, not only did I learn a great deal about technology from many sources, including my students, but I realized that my students thrive on challenging projects, working with their peers, exploring their creativity, teaching and helping each other and producing and sharing their ideas digitally. Projects like these in physical education enable students to practice communicating, collaborating, being creative in a group and cooperating to produce a product digitally. Realizing that they can be a part of the global community by contributing their ideas is a valuable and lasting bonus.
The truth is, both 'Projects' classes exceeded my expectations. After being shown digital examples and given the rubric and graphic organizer, my students took off. I had zero discipline problems even though my students were using cell phones and were at times out of visual range. This was bit scary for me at times as I rarely allow this, but, as the pictures and projects show, I found them excited, thriving and totally capable.
In doing this project, not only did I learn a great deal about technology from many sources, including my students, but I realized that my students thrive on challenging projects, working with their peers, exploring their creativity, teaching and helping each other and producing and sharing their ideas digitally. Projects like these in physical education enable students to practice communicating, collaborating, being creative in a group and cooperating to produce a product digitally. Realizing that they can be a part of the global community by contributing their ideas is a valuable and lasting bonus.
The truth is, both 'Projects' classes exceeded my expectations. After being shown digital examples and given the rubric and graphic organizer, my students took off. I had zero discipline problems even though my students were using cell phones and were at times out of visual range. This was bit scary for me at times as I rarely allow this, but, as the pictures and projects show, I found them excited, thriving and totally capable.