Technology for Physical Educators, Health Educators, and Coaches

Hello APE podcast listeners/readers! For this episode of the podcast, I interviewed the lead author, Dr. Seth Jenny, of the recently released textbook "Technology for Physical Educators, Health Educators, and Coaches: Enhancing Instruction, Assessment, Management, Professional Development & Advocacy". This textbook is obviously very relevant during the recent COVID pandemic. Indeed, Human Kinetics explains that "This text will help health and physical education teachers and coaches improve their abilities by learning to effectively use technology in the areas of instruction, assessment, management, communication, professional development, and advocacy". Indeed, this textbook offers an array of resources and strategies on how to use a wide range of technologies within a physical education setting, as well as this textbook as a full chapter dedicated to the implementation of assistive technology to meet students with disabilities' needs. 

As mentioned above, this interview was conducted with Dr. Seth Jenny who is the lead author of this textbook. Dr. Jenny is an assistant professor within the Department of Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Jenny has over 20 years of health, physical education, and coaching experience across K-12 and higher education settings, where he has been an early proponent of integrating technology into teaching and coaching. When he’s not teaching or conducting technology-related research, he is a volunteer club coach for elementary cross country and track and field athletes. He also spends his spare time with his family and training for marathons, with a personal best of 2:48:30. 

Within this interview, we discuss the development and use of this textbook. We talk about specific technologies and strategies one can implement within their classes. In addition, we debate whether online physical education can be implemented effectively, and where the field of physical education currently stands on online physical education and how COVID may change those perceptions. You can purchase the hard copy of the book or the e-book here.

What's New In Adapted Physical Education · Technology for Physical Educators, Health Educators, and Coaches

Below are some examples of the content covered within this textbook:

 Virtual Observations- Vodcast: This vodcast describes how to conduct a Virtual Observation, also known as “Remote Supervision”. More detailed information is found in Chapter 8 of the book.

Geocaching inPhysical Education - Vodcast: This vodcast provides an overview of geocaching and its uses for lifetime fitness and within physical education programs. More detailed information is found in Chapter 6 of the book.

Technology Equipment in Physical Education – Video: This video describes various technology equipment utilized by an elementary physical education teacher, including a portable smartboard with laptop safe and wireless speaker, portable projector connected to a suspended iPad all protected by a homemade safety case, and students utilizing a video delay app on an iPad connected to a stand.

 Technology Integrated Lesson in Elementary Physical Education: While the incorporation of this much technology into one lesson is not exactly advisable, Kyle Liebler integrated many different types of technologies into one elementary physical education lesson to demonstrate the wide variety of technologies available.