i Pod Touch Scavenger Hunt!

http://ops.esu8.org/~kevinmorrow/coachmorrow/Podcasting_In_PE/Entries/2011/1/19_Scavenger_Hunt_I_2010.html

Scavenger Hunt Math Fun using the iPod touch

Purpose: Incorporating Technology in PE
There were many skills practiced during this activity including: collaboration, communication, problem solving, math, and geography (knowing North, South, East, West) Students got a great aerobic workout running all over the school grounds trying to be the first team to collect all the hidden letters and unscramble them to spell the right word.
iPod touch, iPod nano, iPhones, or other mobile devices capable of playing digitally reproduced sound that you have recorded.

I created a scavenger hunt for my PE students called Math Fun. I created 7 clues with corresponding "treasure spots" where I left 7 markers each with a letter on them in every spot. Students worked in teams of 2-4 and used iPods to listen to 7 different pre-recorded audio tracks where I described a math problem and directions to where each "treasure" was hidden. (GarageBand was used to record the scavenger hunt clues ahead of time and iTunes was used to sync the scavenger hunt to the iPods.) When teams found all 7 "treasures" their final task was to unscramble the letters into the key word.

There were many skills practiced during this activity including: collaboration, communication, problem solving, math, geography(knowing North, South, East, West) Students got a great aerobic workout running all over the school grounds trying to be the first team to get all 7 letters and unscramble them to spell the right word. All teams were given something for their efforts, winning teams were rewarded with small prizes. Students were engaged and extremely excited about this activity. The use of the iPod touch brought a high level of excitement to our digital native students of today.

Students with disabilities were paired with other students to participate in the activity.

You are only limited to your imagination when it comes to creating clues to best fit your school grounds or surrounding area. Public parks and play grounds would be great places to create activities such as this.

Be sure students are aware of their directions, North, South, East, West. Be sure they are given a crash course in the use of the device you will give them to listen to the clues to the scavenger hunt on. Remind students not to take a clue from a hiding place if they have not solved the clue. They will get mixed up as to which clues they have listened to and which ones they have not. For example if one team sees another team find a clue and they chose to just "pick it up" they will not be sure which clue it was on the description of clues located on the i pod touches.

Best Practice Published On PE Central

Scavenger Hunt: Math Fun Elementary PE Using i Pod Touch!


http://www.pecentral.org/bp/indivBPDisplay.asp?ID=2448&votes=0

Professional Growth November 2010

On November 15, 16, I attended my third NAHPERD conference. My first NAHPERD conference I attended with the hopes of learning something new to bring back to my Elementary Physical Education classes. The second NAHPERD conference I attended I decided I had some things I thought other physical education teachers around the state might be interested in learning about, so I submitted a proposal to present. To my surprise my proposal was accepted and I presented on how I am using technology in my PE classes. I received many positive comments on the material I presented, so I am continuing with my quest to implement and encourage other educators around the world to incorporate technology into their PE curriculum's. I am a huge supporter of using Mac products and would have a tremendously hard time conducting my PE classes without the use of my Mac, which has become attached to my hip. My third NAHPERD conference found me serving on the board of directors in the sports and PE division, as well presenting another session on the uses of technology in Physical Education, specifically the uses of Garage Band and how it can be used easily to make podcasts. I use podcasts in my PE curriculum almost on a weekly basis. The power of podcasting has served as a great organization tool, management tool, and an engagement tool for me as a teacher, as well as to my students who learn and think naturally through technology. I know great things will continue to happen as I continue to learn more and more about different ways to incorporate technology into my curriculum.

5B Healthy Habit Challenge

I recently completed my first round of CBL in one of my Physical education classes. This was the first round of 5 and overall I felt like it was successful. The concept of challenge based learning worked very well with my schedule. I have always felt the need to teach more real world health concepts in my PE classes due to sedentary life styles of children today, and the obesity epidemic our country is facing, but with 30 minute classes and only meeting 2 or 3 days a week it is very difficult. The structure of CBL, with students directing their own learning and me acting as a facilitator allowed students to pick a health or fitness topic of their choice and use the CBL format to guide their learning. Students seemed engaged and excited about the topics they chose to implement for themselves and their families. The challenges I am implementing are schedule to last 4 weeks each and it is my hope that students and their families will continue to implement their changes even after the challenge is over. The utopia of CBL is to bring about real lasting change. See more about this CBL Project at: http://ops.esu8.org/~kevinmorrow/Healthy_Habits_Challenge/Healthy_Habits_Challenge.html

Student Blog Post about 5B Healthy Habit Challenge

Question: Tell me something you have learned the last four weeks about the healthy habit you and your family are trying to change. Write at least 2 0r 3 good sentences!

Shayne said...I have learned that you don't need pop every day.I have also learned that you should eat fruit instead of candy bars. I would like to carry this habit for the rest of this year.

Blair said...I have learned that it is not that hard to eat a healthy meal at home. I dont need to have fast food once or twice a week. Over the last 4 weeks we have only eaten out once or twice. Instead we have eaten healthy food.

Jared said....I have learned that you don't need video games every day. I have also learned that instead of video games you should get active with friends or family. I hope my family and I can keep this up for a long time.

Haley said...Mr.Morrow I haved learned that if you don't eat out a lot you will get skinner because of the grease in the food. I have also learned that if you eat more fruits and vegetables it keeps you healther. When you excrise it helps your muscles. My project is going great I think this is a great project to choose. Can't wait until next P.E day.

Abbie Flower said....I think that this is a good project to work on.I will do this for the rest of the year.

See more about Challenge Based Learning: http://ops.esu8.org/~kevinmorrow/Healthy_Habits_Challenge/Healthy_Habits_Challenge.html

More PE podcasting

http://uaphed.pbworks.com/Podcasts Check out Helena Baert's undergrad pre-service PE teachers from the University of Arkansas as they created podcasts using examples created by me.

Kevin Morrow's Final Reflection GTACO 2009

Contact Information
Kevin Morrow
O'Neill Elementary School
P.O Box 230
O'Neill NE 68763
School Phone: 402-336-1400
Cell: 402-336-2062
email:krmmorrow@gmail.com
kmorrow@esu8.org
i-chat nivek2353@aim.com
Twitter @kmorrow

Summary Professional Development activities

Since GTACO 2009 I have presented at two statewide events with still one more to come this April. I have also led small group informal training sessions for the teachers in my school. During the school year I have promoted Blogger to all of my students and many of them have posted to my blog over the course of the last two years, and even started blogs of their own. Counting students and adults at all of these events I have reached more than 500 people. The 300 plus students have been exposed to and interacted with Google tools repeatedly over the course of the school year.
I think the impact I have had on fellow teachers and professionals at the professional development sessions I have led has been quite high. On scale from one to ten I would give it an 8 for impact to fellow professionals. Many of the teachers I have presented to would be considered beginners in using technology in education so the information I shared reached many people who have never heard the of power of Google Apps. Most importantly, I have been able to spread the power of Google to Physical Education teachers across the state of Nebraska as I am currently serving on the NAHPERD Board.

Challenges along the way

The two biggest challenges I faced in the process included one, the technology level at which my audiences were at. Many were beginner users of technology and web 2.0 technology. The presentations had to be simple and introductory in nature. I think for many of the people I presented to it will take some time for them to roll over into 21st century learning. However, this was where I felt I could connect with my audience and show them that even beginners can use these tools. The second biggest challenge I faced on my journey was finding time to get teachers together to do informal training with Google Apps. There is so much to offer and teachers and myself are so busy with so many things it's hard finding bits of time to teach the new Google tools and the many uses they can have in schools today.

Impact on my own personal growth

The impact these experiences have had on me have been rewarding. Presenting to and teaching fellow teachers has been a goal of mine for the past 2 years. The opportunity that I was given to attend GTACO 2009 has given me a reason to grow as a professional and do things with technology I would have never done without the push that Google gave me. I hope to continue to be able to grow and enhance my skills as a GCT. To me being a Google Certified Teacher means you are an advocate for opportunities available using Google tools. This is a journey for me that must continue in order for me to feel like I am an expert in using Google apps. I will continue to use and learn as much as I can about Google apps and all they have to offer the world of education.

Momentum For The Future

I will definitely continue to use Google tools with students in my physical education classes. I will continue to present as long as there are opportunities for me to do so. I have an upcoming event planned for April 16, 2010 where I plan to continue to spread the news about the power of Google apps to pre-service P.E. teachers across the state of Nebraska. I would also like to continue to hold small trainings at my own school to enhance the skills of the teachers in my building so students can learn with 21st century technology which is the wave of the future for education.

Professional Organizations

NETA Nebraska Educational Technology Association

NAHPERD Nebraska Alliance of Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance

NAHPERD Vice President Elect Sport and PE Division January 2010

NEA Nebraska Education Association

OEA O'Neill Education Association

GCT Google Certified Teacher August 2009 Boulder CO---GTaco