The world of PE is much changed and enhanced – technology really provides us with great opportunity to explore, deepen thinking and understand how progress can be made. In part 1 I discussed 7 Apps that can make real impact with your students and here in part 2 I have 7 more that I regularly use that I would highly recommend.
- I would again make the point that Apps are incredible value for money – the most expensive apps on this list are just £3.99 (– less than a box of Cadburys Roses or less than one tube of tennis balls!) The value you get from them is huge as can be the impact on your learners!
So here are the 7 Apps for PE Teachers and the impact they have on the learner; Part 2:
COACHES EYE
Factfile
Cost: £3.99
Description; Coaches eye is a video analysis tool; you can watch it frame by frame, add drawings, point things out and even record tutorials for very specific feedback
Made by: Techsmith Corporation
Download here; App Store
How have I used it?
I have found this APP extremely useful in a range of sports and activities but specifically have used it when teaching the Triple Jump and get students to measure the distances between each of the three sections of the jump so they know what to focus on moving forward.
I have also used it for aesthetic purposes in gymnastics – if students are doing mirror or group work the app can be used to look at timing and accurate replication.
Impact on learner:
The ability to be able to see themselves and to be able to focus in on very specific teaching points allow for rapid progress and also allow students to be able to see how actions link together sequentially
TIME MOTION
Factfile
Cost: Free
Description; Time Motion allows you to analyse and work out how much time is spent walking, jogging, running, standing still and sprinting within any particular activity. It can be done live watching a game or activity. Alternatively you upload a video from your camera roll for analysis
Made by:
Download here; App Store
How have I used it?
When I first started using this tool it was actually to reflect on my own teaching and how much physical activity was actually taking place in certain parts of my lesson – the results really surprised me and I have very much changed my teaching since to help get my students on the move! When you analyse the difference in activity between a 5 v 5 game and a 3 v 3 game the evidence is startling.
One of the best ways that it can be used is for GCSE/AL Level students when designing fitness programs for a sport –knowing what actions occur most for a particular position is a great tool.
Recently I have also used it with young leaders. When they have designed an activity for younger students they have recorded the activity levels of selected students to see whether the activity is engaging and physically active.
Impact on learner:
Greater awareness of different movements occurring within a game – particularly from players in specific positions.
With young leaders it often helps them to design activities that enable all students to be working at the same time and focuses on particular aspects of fitness
COMIC LIFE
Factfile
Cost: £3.99
Description; Comic Life is a fantastic tool that lets you create posters/worksheets/certificates/reports all with a wide range of presentation options that are clean, colourful and attract attention.
Made by: Plasq LLC
Download here; App store
How have I used it?
The main use is very simple; to grab attention and draw students into the work we are doing.
To reward students with certificates for their work and contribution
For students to create eye catching match reports
Impact on learner:
The impact will very much depend on how you use it – for me it helps engagement and grabs attention – always a great starting point for any lesson and or activity!
YOGA STUDIO
Factfile
Cost: £2.99
Description; This fantastic app actually somehow makes Yoga seem accessible and simple. Similar in format to ‘Sworkit’ you can select and download pre made routines or go to the long list yourself and create your own.
Made by: Gaiam inc
Download here; App store
How have I used it?
The first time I actually used this was for myself – I had been struggling with recovering from an injury and found that doing just short sessions of Yoga every other day really benefitted my recovery.
With students I have used it as standalone HRF sessions; getting the class into small differentiated groups – they then designed their own routine and performed it – the engagement was amazing to watch and so was the ambition of each of the groups. Differentiating groups by specific sports also threw up great topics of discussion about which exercises would prove most beneficial.
More recently I have begun to use this in the morning with my form group alternating between Sworkit and The Yoga Studio – it is very noticeable how the student’s concentration and focus is much improved after Yoga in lesson 1.
Impact on learner:
The first is engagement – given choice about activities and relating it to their own sports students really get into this.
It also has a calming influence on students whose behaviour and application following the sessions was markedly improved.
It also leads to rapid improvement in flexibility and core strength in students – something that they can see and feel and helping to motivate them.
The last impact really is awareness; students become much more aware of areas of tension and weakness – this will hopefully help reduce injuries as they become older.
PLICKERS
Factfile
Cost: Free (Printing and laminating required for response cards)
Description; Plickers is a mini assessment tool, but one with which you can get responses from everyone easily and quickly within your group. It also then gives you quantitive feedback which you can then use within your teaching
Made by: Plickers inc
Download here; App Store
How have I used it?
I have used this app in two ways; firstly to gaige understanding within my lessons. It is a hugely effective way of checking everyone’s understanding – the power of that is not to be understated.
Normally within a plenary situation or in QandA one person gives an answer and all the students nod along in agreement – well this app allows you to get an answer from everyone – at the same time!
The other way in which I have used it is to take baseline information at the start and end of an intervention. For example a Chnage4life club – you can collect information on attitudes to activity at the start and end of your work – and then you will have quantative data to back up what you have been doing.
Impact on learner:
The main impact is confidence – students cannot see what each person has put for their answer meaning that you get more input from every student and can target any intervention meaning identification of needs.
TAG CLOUD
Factfile
Cost: £0.79
Description; Simple description here – this app allows you to make a word cloud – quickly and easily
Made by: Free range developers
Download here; App Store
How have I used it?
Keywords; students pick out key words from the word cloud and explain using their experiences from the lesson.
Another way in which I have used it is when asking the students to feedback to others (when reviewing performance) – they get given a copy of the word cloud and use it to help ensure that the feedback they give is of high quality
Word cloud tennis; students pick a word; then define it. Their partner then has their go – they keep going until all words have been defined
Use the word cloud to set personal targets for the module of work
Impact on learner:
It gives students a framework of key words; allowing them to use these words within context and gives them the confidence to give better quality feedback to each other.
PADLET
Factfile
Cost: Free
Description; A collaborative space to display work and resources
Made by: Wallwisher inc
Download here; App Store
How have I used it?
I have really enjoyed using this app and one of my favourite uses is within Sport Education. Media managers are given tasks such as taking photos and displaying them on the Padlet board – in a gymnastics session each group had to design a small sequence containing 3 partner balances – the media manager was tasked with displaying each of these balances on the Padlet board which I could then asses and score later.
Another use was to split the group into four and have them research and revise; working on four different aspects – which then came together for everyone to have at the end.
Impact on learner:
I find this app really helps motivate students whilst doing group work – having them display their work or findings helps make sure that they properly contribute to their groups work.
Apps summary Part 2;
All the above apps can really help enhance your lessons; not only engagement but also opportunity to deepen thinking.
It would be great to hear from people about any Apps that they would really recommend and also how they use them and what the impact is. – Please let me know in the comments section below.
Also if you haven’t had the chance to check out the App I made (PESA – Assessment in PE) – the link is below.
By
Kevin Peake
Founder of PESA; The PE and Sports Assessment Tool
The PE and sports assessment BLOG 