Rubrics, Clicker Assessments, Inspiration/Kidspiration

Technology based rubrics, unless I'm using the sites wrong, are basically rubrics that others made up and posted on a website.  It would appear that one of the websites is full, and is no longer accepting new rubrics.  If a teacher gets help on their lesson plan from websites like discovery kids, or united streaming, most of the lesson plans that are given on those websites along with the videos have rubrics that come along with them.  I wasn't sure I liked any of the website's posted rubrics on physical education, though it did give qualatative and quantatative rubrics for assignments or skill sets.  Maybe, these could be useful in determining on which set of skills the student/students need to most help on.  I'm not sure I really like it for grading in physical education as I personally see effort as a bigger part of grading than actual ability.  Some kids are more physically gifted than others, but improvement and effort, I think, would be a bigger portion for my classes.

The clicker assessment tools are absolutely amazing.  I definitely see the benefit in this for a classroom.  It's like a "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" right there in your classroom.  The benefit of this is everyone enjoys playing games, and if you can make a game out of this, then students are more engaged.  The more engaged your students are, the more they are learning.  I don't think i can use this in physical education however, unless really prodded to come up with a great idea.  However, off the top of my head I can think of nothing.

The inspiration/kidspiration software looks completely amazing as well.  This could be a great tool in just about every academic subject out there.  It's basically a brainstorming tool, which is extremely helpful for people like me who have trouble staying organized.  Keeping all of the thoughts that run through my head in an organized fashion is a very daunting task for anyone.  With the software it looks like brainstorming made easy.  However, once again, i don't see spending the money on this software for a physical education class.  If the school decided to purchase the software and mandated that it be used by every subject, once again, I'm sure I could come up with something, but I would only use it for maybe one week out of an entire year.  I just would see it as a misappropriation of funds. 

http://www.rubrician.com/physical.htm

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/assess.html

http://www.qwizdom.com/?gclid=CNLygeH3mpcCFQZqswodWV6D-g

http://www.inspiration.com/

Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling is telling a story using the technology available at this current juncture in time.  It allows students to create a movie, starting out with a storyboard, and then moving on into the movie making process using a desktop computer and movie making software, and finally finishing up with a final edited product.  Students can work in various roles, such as editor, actor, director, key grip, etc... I think it could make a very interesting how to video or some such to use in a physical education classroom.  I think it would be possible to utilize everyone in the classroom to make a workout video, or some other fun type of movie incorporating sports and physical activity. 

Mathematics is one of the more abstract subject-matter domains, visualizing the concepts is useful in helping students make math real.  Images that break down the equations in order to help students understand the why when it comes to math is key.  Graphic calculators can be useful when plotting out equations, it furthers the understanding of the relationship of the x and y axis, and shows the plot of each equation entered into the calculator. However, I would think there are websites to help further understand the use in real life application.  Being the questioner that I am, I have trouble with someone just telling me "that's the way it is."  or "because I said so" I want to know why and if I the reasons make sense to me.  Why is it important to know how to plot an equation on a graph. 

Technology is rapidly improving and there are many things you can learn how to do simply by looking it up on youtube.  However, I think it is impossible to learn to do something from tv alone.  Whether or not you are learning how to tie a tie, or cook a meal, it is impossible to watch something on tv and then be able to perform the feat impeccably.  Just like anything it takes a lot of trial and error.  Learning from your mistakes and getting better.  Learning from your mistakes means not learning from tv alone.  Plus, you can't ask the tv show host a question if you get stumped.  Then what do you do?  I do believe that it is beneficial in learning and the access of information is very simplistic.  Recently I purchased a game called GO, and the directions were incredibly difficult to figure out, so I hopped on youtube and followed along with the instruction manual and finally figured out how to play... I think I got it figured out. 

Jonassen, D. (2008). Meaningful learning with technology (pp. 192). Upper Saddle, New Jersey: Pearson.