Physical Educators Embrace Learning Management Systems for Course Activities

Tomorrow I will be presenting information about learning management systems to the best group of teachers around - physical educators! Session attendees will learn the basics of using a learning management system to

• House courses
• Engage students in social learning
• Weave multimedia into class content
• Assess performance and manage grades
• Share resources

We will be using COURSEsites by Blackboard for training activities. 

The  session will begin with session attendees exploring a demo course that I have created in COURSEsites. Attendees should log into the course at https://www.coursesites.com/s/_LIFE

Session documents

1. What is a learning management system
2. How to use a learning management system

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

James 1:2-4 ESV 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL

Muscle Shoals PE Teachers Get TechEd!

Tomorrow I will be presenting an in-service session to Muscle Shoals PE teachers. The session will focus on using video in the physical education class.

Google Drive Links:

1. Document Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wyZJklYyYjSOkyvr0lk8OhabUEIZf4VmIz7-9uBcHxQ/edit?usp=sharing
2. Presentation Link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-rIcQ8G4gwsj3vi7e_EztiA6WfIaJTMkrVbTw5sN2u0/edit?usp=sharing

Training document: This is the document that provides an overview of everything covered in the session https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By1gt3B2ptCLSWxEZE9tYjlwR2s/edit?usp=sharing

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

James 1:2-4 ESV 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL

Columbiana Preschool Activity Session Playlist

The following songs were used during my presentation this morning. They were all downloaded directly from iTunes:

1. War Eagle (Keyboard Ensemble)
2. You've got a friend in me (duet version) by Randy Newman & Lyle Lovett
3. Lead by Kids Club - Hip Hop Fitness Music for Children
4. The ants go marching (instrumental only) by Singlish
5. Did you ever see a lassie by The Hit Crew Kids
6. Danish Dance of Greeting by Denise Gagne
7. Looby Lou by Children's Party Fun - Peter Samuels

All of these were only .99$

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

James 1:2-4 ESV 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL

Skill Analysis made easy

Got a video camera (your phone probably does)? Got a computer? Then you have the necessary ingredients for preparing videos for analyzing skills. No fancy, high-cost software needed.

1. Video a student performing a skill

2. Upload the video to Windows Live Movie Maker (free product from Windows - download online)

3. Open the movie maker program

4. Import the video

5. Click on "edit"

6. Change speed to .5, .25 or .125 to slow

7. Publish the movie - view and analyze

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

James 1:2-4 ESV 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL

Sport Education - a cultural approach to "loving the game"

Got "Sport Education" in your PE program? If not, you are really missing out!

Sport education is a curriculum model that can be used to increase the "value" of sports, in participants, by allowing them to experience ALL key factors involved in the sport. It provides participants with a very broad and cultural understanding of the sport, in addition to the skills and rules that are taught in traditional PE curriculum models.

Tomorrow I will be delivering a presentation at a PE workshop at AUM - the topic is Sport Education. I have linked to my handout for those who are interested!

For more information about the Sport Education Curriculum Model, I encourage you to invest in this book: Complete Guide to Sport Education by D. Siedentop & P. A. Hastie

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

James 1:2-4 ESV 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL

21st Century Swing

Today, I will be presenting the 21st century swing at the ASAHPERD Conference in Orange Beach, AL. Come by and swing with us!

For the 21st Century Swing you will need:

1. 5-8 simple 8-16 count dance moves (see the ones for today's event below)
2. Device that videos
3. Website to host videos
4. Computers/devices on which students can view dance moves

For today's session here's what I did:

1. I created 5 simple dance moves and videoed myself and Kelly performing the moves and teaching the moves. 
2. I loaded each simple dance move video instruction onto an Apple iBook computer.
3. I created 5 stations, one for each different dance move. At each station, I placed the computer with the video instruction and written dance instructions.
4. The following steps explain using the jigsaw teaching method - each group member is responsible for learning a specific part of the dance. The group members will reconvene and teach their dance moves. All dance moves will be combined into one dance. Each groups dance will be unique because there is no required order for combining the 5 dance moves.
1. Participants will be placed in squads of 5. Each squad member will be assigned a station to which he/she will go and learn the dance move. 
2. Participants go to their assigned station and learn the dance move by viewing and participating in the video dance instruction. 
3. Participants will reconvene with their groups and teach other members the dance move they will learn
4. Groups will combine the 5 dance moves into one dance - each groups final dance will be unique
5. After practicing the complete dance, groups will perform their dance for the entire class.
6. The instructor video tapes the performance of each group
5. Upon completion of videoing the students, the instructor will upload the videos to a website (personal website, youtube, etc.) where the videos can be voted on by friends, family, etc.

5 Simple Dance Moves used for Today's Presentation:

Bend & Snap

1-2 (knees together) Bend, Bend - while snapping R hand up & diagonally on bend

3-4 Repeat to L

5-6 Repeat with both hands performing overhead snap

7-8 Repeat with both hands performing waist down snap

Step & Snap

1 Step forward on R - snapping arm diagonal toward floor

2 Step forward on L - using the same snap

3-4 Repeat 1-2

5-8 Repeat entire sequence above, but stepping backwards

*May choose to begin sequence again, facing a new direction

R & L Hop and Pivot

1 Hop R foot to the R (left stationary) - arms follow feet

2 Hop L to L - R hops back to middle

3 Repeat 1

4 Repeat 2

5-8 Pivot counter clockwise on L 1/2 way around (facing back)

1-4 Repeat 1-4 above, but starting to the L

5-8 Pivot back to the front, L foot stationary

Grapevine Pumps

1-4 Grapevine to R

5-8 Knee bends while pumping R arm to R diagonally upwards

1-4 Grapevine to L

5-8 Repeat 5-8 above

Step & Twist

1 Step R foot to R - with toe pointing out

2 Step L foot to R - twisting so toes are forward

3-4 Repeat 1-2

5-8 Freestyle

1 Repeat step 1 above, but to L

2 Repeat step 2 above, but to L

3-4 Repeat

5-8 Freestyle

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

James 1:2-4 ESV 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL

Come dance with us!

Kelly Sharp and I will be presenting this great dance Friday, 4/20, at the Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance Conference in Orange Beach, AL. Stop in and dance with us!

Moves like Jagger

Ribbon Dance

1,2,3,4 Grapevine Right/2 large Clockwise circles with ribbon

5,6,7,8 Grapevine Left/2 large Counter Clockwise circles with ribbon

Repeat

1,2 Step Front (right, left) Arms/ribbon come front to “Genie Pose”

3,4 Step Back (right, left) Arms/ribbon come down to your sides

Repeat

1&2 Pony step right while making “figure 8” motion with ribbon

3&4 Pony step left while making “figure 8” motion with ribbon

5&6 Pony step right while making “figure 8” motion with ribbon

7&8 Pony step left while making “figure 8” motion with ribbon

1,2,3 Around the world to your toes

4 Hold

5,6,7,8 “Trick Rope” movement with ribbon

Repeat From around the world

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 ½ Jack with ribbon beginning on right side

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Circle ribbon above head while pivoting with right foot ½ turn.

Repeat Entire Dance

If an educational act is to be efficacious, it will be only that one which tends to help toward the complete unfolding of life. To be thus helpful it is necessary rigorously to avoid the arrest of spontaneous movements and the imposition of arbitrary tasks.

                                                                                                                         ~ Maria Montessori

James 1:2-4 ESV 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I humbly thank my wonderful family for their support in all that I do. Robert Robbie Cowan, Robert Drew Andrew Cowan, and Hunter Cowan Hartselle, Decatur, AL

Need help getting "Fueled"?

Check out Nike's newest gadget for helping motivate movement, and get WIRED! Within the next couple of months Nike will be releasing their "high-tech wristband that fuels your workouts". The wristband tracks your daily activities, from walking up the stairs to chasing the dog to emptying the dishwasher, and rewards your effort with "Nike Fuel". The more active you are the more fuel you can earn!

While the price is a little high, approximately $150 in the United States, the potential motivation may be worth it. And, hopefully as the "newness" wears off the wristband will be replicated by other manufacturers... and hopefully result in a lower price, making it affordable for physical education classrooms!

Check it out, and get moving!!!