The goal of this education blog is to share my love of being physically active with my students while giving ideas and suggestions to increase their activity levels outside of school. By showing students that physical activity is not only about doing push-ups and sit-ups, they are exposed to alternate ways to take total control of their health and wellness. Using this medium, I am giving the students the ability to interact and dive deeper into this topic which will ultimately enrich their learning. An additional benefit of the students using the blog is so that they become more active individuals outside of the classroom while they practice skills learned in their classrooms. This interdisciplinary activity, as Richardson (2010) mentions, will strengthen their understanding of the skills while supporting differentiated learning. A blog that is designed for my population of students will allow them to connect their in school learning with their physical activity outside of school.
Currently, I teach Physical Education in a Title I Elementary School in Connecticut. I have taught in this school district for 18 school years, and my goal has always been to increase my student’s awareness of skills and games so they may live a more active lifestyle. By using a blog as an interactive resource, I am able to increase their exposure to a variety of activities that they may enjoy playing with their family and friends. Students are not only given the opportunity to choose from a various activities, but they have a model or visuals to refer to so they are able to follow along and be confident in doing so. No one participates in a physical, mental, emotional, or social activity in which they do not find any enjoyment. In an article by Hopple (2018), he mentions that each person has their own rationale for why they feel physical activity is fun. Having a choice and guidance from the blog supports a fun physical fitness experience. Being physically active allows people to deeply connect to themselves or others, whether it is through the competition, the comradery, or the relaxing nature of the exercise.
The creation of this blog is going to help me and my students meet the International Society for Technology Education standards. Using the technology-enriched environment and sharing the most current information regarding the importance of health and wellness, I will be creating an online learning environment that allows my students to “pursue their individual curiosities” (ISTE, 2008) all while sharing “relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers” (ISTE, 2008). The internet will allow my students the chance to make connections with other students around the globe. By participating in the blog, they will have the opportunity to learn about different games and activities from around the world. This will ultimately help them learn about different cultures through play. The population of students with whom I work are very diverse as well. Incorporating their interests and cultural experiences will help them to connect to learning and to each other. This creation of personal networks and collaboration will “broaden mutual understanding and learning” (ISTE, 2016), forming necessary skills my students will be able to use for the rest of their lives.
