Tech EDGE: Mobile Learning in the Classroom Podcasts
This week we chose three podcasts from the Tech Edge Podcasts which consist of over 250 different podcasts. When watching these podcasts we are looking for some apps that are discussed to integrate into our classroom. These podcasts were very beneficial and had many interesting thoughts that they shared. There are so many podcasts to choose from that are listed. I chose what I thought would be best for me to apply to my PE classroom. The podcasts that I watched had wonderful apps to us in my class. These apps are not only great for my classroom, but for their own personal use on a daily basis as well. These podcasts are great for anyone to watch and they obviously have a wide variety to choose from. The content in the podcasts are great and they are knowledgeable of what they talk about. This is a great way to learn about an app that you might never think of.
The first podcast that I watched was about PokemonGo, my first thoughts about this app was how great this would be to use in my PE classroom. After downloading the app and messing around on it, I quickly found out it is more than just a way to get moving. The app is constructed in a manner that is intended to get the players active. You are given what is called eggs to hatch. The eggs vary from 2 km, 5 km, and 10 km. This allows the player to use the metric system. There are also PokeStops and Gyms that are associated with various landmarks of the city you are playing in. This allows the player to explore there own town while having fun. This is a great app that I discovered and could defiantly use in my classroom. I plan to get my students active by hatching eggs in class during the warm up portion. This will allow me to see how active they are in my classroom while also letting them enjoy exercise. The next app that I found was the Google Earth app on the Podcast Virtual Travel. This allows the students to explore places that they have always dreamed of. I downloaded this app and was amazed. Some of the first places that I visited were Lambeau Field, Mt. Rushmore, the Eifel Tower, and Niagra Falls. All of these places are places that I can only dream of going too. Being able to look at these places, makes me feel like I am actually there. The quality of the map that was provided was very realistic. This app will allow students to explore anywhere that they want to go. As far as using this in my classroom, I plan on making an assignment where they plan a trip for a day. This will work a wide variety of skills, in the assignment I will also have them figure out what they can do by walking or biking to certain places. They are exposed to roads on the map and they can figure out a route to take to get to where they want to go. This app is really cool and allows you to travel to places you might not ever be able to travel too. The third app that I chose was the Eat & Move O-Matic app on the Nutrition Apps podcast. I didn't know what to think at first but after downloading this app I saw that it is very beneficial. This app provides you with a list of different foods, and a list of activities that you can do to burn off what you just ate. For example, if you eat 4 oz. of fries, you can horseback ride for 1 hour and 32 minutes to burn off those calories. This app provides you with activities that might be more enjoyable than strictly running or grueling calisthenics. This app can be downloaded by my students and they can see what it takes to burn off what they ate for breakfast or lunch depending on when they had my class. I foresee this app being very useful for my students and my self included. Part of PE is nutrition and this app will provide them with the proper information on exercising off what they eat. |