Geocaching is a great fitness activity!

This week in my graduate class we've been exploring the use of geotagging. To do that we had to take photos of plant life in the area where we lived, download it to Flickr and 'geotag' the photo. When we added the 'geotag' - by overlaying the photo on google maps - anyone viewing your plant photos could see exactly where the plant was located. I found that very cool that you could allow others any where on earth a peak at what life looked like around you. As I explored a little further on the google map, I found others right here around my neighborhood had also geotagged their pictures they had on Flickr and I could get their personal view of life around my same hood!

As I explored geotagging for educational uses I immediately linked it the Geocaching unit that I've seen taught in physical education classes. Geocaching is a great fitness activity because it makes walking exciting. Geocaching combines satellite navigation, orienteering, computer skills, treasure hunting and walking into a fun activity for students. It can easily be incorporated into the Physical Education curriculum...of course a little monetary help will be needed as GPS units can cost anywhere from $100 and up.

Learn more to get started:

Geocaching - The Offical Global GPS Cache Hunt Site
A Beginner's Guide and Tutorial to Geocaching
Geocaching with Kids (from Eduscapes.com)

If you're really into geocaching check this website out:

Groundspeak - The Language of Location

If you teach body systems / anatomy....

have I got the website for you!!

Anatomy Arcade has memory games and other activities for kids dealing with body systems - seven to be exact. Each body system has a wide variety of activities that can be used to review or learn content knowledge about each of the systems. The activities include word searches, crossword puzzles, matching games and jiigsaw puzzles for each of the body systems.

In my freshmen physical education course we cover the basic muscle and bones and what a great way for the students to review and memorize these body systems. I refer to them all the time in class during activities. But, being able to use these games and activities with the students in and out of school will be useful for them to learn and study this material.

http://www.anatomyarcade.com/

Disclaimer: The site is free but the biggest drawback is that it has a lot of ads. The ads help pay for the site so you will see video ads before starting the games. You will also see ads selling specific items all around the web site. I found a few ads that may not be suitable for all students so please check out the website first before using or posting it for student use. You can purchase a site license for the games and this will allow you to download the games without any ads.

Tom Barrett's intersting ways to use various technology in the classroom!

I found this list of links to technology ideas to be used in the classroom setting very helpful for me! Our curriculum is devoted to being active and so it is very hard for me to develop lessons that are not activity-based in nature. However, I found various ideas using many of the technologies listed which made me feel comfortable in infusing technology with my teaching instruction and the students get the most from the lesson, even if they aren't active that day. But, the best technology would be for my students to access subject matter outside of my classroom and then be ready to discuss and incorporate the information along with being active...that's my goal!

http://blogs.learnnc.org/instructify/2010/11/05/technology-integration-tom-barrett/

All you ever wanted to know about BLOOD!

I found a wonderful teaching resource called "Red Gold: The Epic Story of Blood" published by PBS. The site is strong in content and interest level delving into blood related topics such as blood composition, circulation, blood typing, donations and more. Students can take a multimedia journey that follows a pint of blood through the transfusion process, learn the basics about blood, as well as trace the history of blood through an interactive timeline. Additionally, there are biographies of the people who have made contributions to the study and use of blood, a glossary, a list of other resources, and a section of informative questions and answers from the experts.

Grade level: 6 - 12. Lesson plans are provided for both midde school and high school levels as well as a 12-page discussion guide

Macromedia Flash Player and RealPlayer are needed to view the animations and video.

Very Cool...check it out!

Web 2.0 Education

I'm back at blogging, this time it is for my Web 2.0 Education class. I am learning so much in so little time right now it's all spinning in my head. I am looking forward to trying all of the social networking connections (NING, blogging, twitter, RSS). However, I just need to get them all organized and I think I will feel much better about all of them and making them a part of my life (PLN).

It will be interesting to keep and organize all of these mediums as I connect and follow others as well as make the time to let everyone know what I am doing as well. It seems that some of my classmates have a better handle on things than I do right now and hopefully I can use there experiences and expertise to get myself up and running....and running smoothly!!