This article talks about how there are many apps available to help with a variety of subjects; in this article it specifically discusses apps to help health and PE teachers. I thought it was interesting that the author, Ken Felker, had the idea to use iPads for health and PE class. My initial thought was, "doesn't that defeat the purpose?" Felker made a great point that these apps are available to help aide teachers when they have to teach in many different environments. For example, he uses the WebMD app to help teach students about the bad side effects and consequences of drug use. I thought this was a great idea for a health class because most students have difficulties believing what they see on a PowerPoint made by a teacher, but if we show them a source that is reliable they may be more inclined to believe it. Another app was the Fast Food Calorie Counter app. I also thought this could be a great lesson to show kids what exactly is in all the fast food they are eating. In elementary school, I know teachers are required to teach some nutrition during PE, this would be a great app to help aide the teachers in teaching about proper nutrition. These apps are also great because they are easy for the children to explore themselves; give them an iPad and they can explore the app on their own. It's a great hands-on way to get kids excited about PE, and they are also learning standards at the same time.
This article demonstrates standard 3 of the ISTE Standards for Students. Specifically standard 3b, which requires students to locate and organize information for research from a variety of sources. I believe it fits with this standard because children must be able to find information using the apps on the iPad. Especially for a lesson involving fast food and calories, a fun project might be to research and organize an alternate healthy meal one can purchase at a fast food place. Therefore children must use their knowledge about what constitutes healthy and select different choices to answer the question. This type of assignment could be done in many different ways and using a wide variety of apps. This is why this article follows standard 3, which looks at research techniques using technology.
Felker, K. (2011). PE; Bring your sneakers, rackets, and iPad? Learning and Leading with Technology, (38)7, 32-33.
Like you, I would think that using an iPad for PE would be counter productive, but it does make sense if it is used as more of an educator's tool than a student's. I always liked PE, but I know that many kids have a hard time recognizing the benefits of it. By using the WebMD app, I think many of today's kids will be more interested in learning about health in general. I also think you are correct in identifying standard 3 as being applicable to this article.
ReplyDeleteI really like this article because it allows the students to use technology outside of the classroom norm. How many times did we hear from our elementary teacher that we need to be "Healthy"? Many times but we never really explored what healthy looks like or the opposite of healthy. These apps will help students develop a better understanding of the classwork. I agree with you that the standard 3b fits perfectly with this article. Great job in writing this.
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