Steps in U.S. is a telecollaborative project that brings together students across the United States using the internet and other technologies. Students will be in contact discussing ways how they accumulate steps in physical education. The goal of the student is to make contact with their epal, discuss their experiences in physical education class, and post their steps for each of their classes. The goal of the teacher is to create an online connection with a class across the U.S., gather new activities for their curriculum, and post students data in their gymnasium. Steps in U.S. was created, managed, and directed by Casey Geyer. See director information for contact info.
This project is based on epals using email and blogs as its' main online communication. Once the teacher has a willing class to participate with, each student will have an email given by their teacher and thus create a connection with a student from the other class. There will be constant communication throughout the 8 week project sharing their data accumulated throughout each physical education class. Both the physical education teacher and the technology teacher must be working together throughout the project. The data input will be the responsibility of the technology teacher, but the gathering of data will be the responsibility of the physical educator. Teacher supervision is critical to keep the students on task and the material/communication appropriate.
The standards for this project are compiled from multiple curriculums:
The objectives for this project cover all persons involved in the project:
Steps in U.S. is teacher driven through curricular implementation. The teacher should plan their curriculum according to their cooperation with the project. The students will continue to perform in physical education class. At the beginning of the project, the teacher will show how to use the pedometer. The students should be given a pedometer at the beginning of the class and returned at the end of class. The data from the pedometer should be recorded by the student. That data should be taken to the technology class and inputed into excel. Then, communication should be made with the epals to transfer data. Each student should be recording and comparing their epals information.
The project will require you to provide technical pieces:
During the project difficulties may arise between the class and the cooperating class. Every participating class must have constant communication between your class and the cooperating class. If there is a problem, email the director of the project to discuss a solution. Some classes may have difficulty with computer availability. This should not be an issue if the students are using the computer during their technology classes. Another issue that may arise is the lack of pedometers. Check other schools in the district or county to see if they will lend you the necessary pedometers. If you continue to have problems, please advise the director ASAP.
This portion of the project is at the descretion of the teacher. We will be providing a general rubric showing all areas of assessment in each of the curriculums. The rubric will be posted soon.
Steps in U.S. will conclude after 8 weeks. The students should bring together all of the information they have recorded throughout the project. All individuals involved in the project should come away with increased fitness, new and exciting physical education units, and hopefully a friendship with cooperating classes.
The project will be promoted through various sources such as the Journal of Physical Health Education Recreation Dance and Physical Education, NASPE, and Global School Net.
My research has led me to believe there are not many physical education telecollaborative projects. The one I did find "Sport Ð is it fair?" was closed and only provided a quick description. I am very disappointed in the lack of these types of projects because I feel physical education can work very well coordinating with different curriculums in a telecollaborative situation.
Please click on the Registration Form to get started and reserve your spot for this years Steps in U.S. project.
This link is created to show my Plan of Action for Steps in U.S.