Physical Education Goes Tech

Mackenzie Harrell, from left, Collin Adams, Jared Dickey and Maddi McKinney, Kirksey Middle School students, check phones for instructions Wednesday after scanning the code at upper right during a technology adventure race. The activity combines physical education with learning academic subjects such as math, science and music.

Mackenzie Harrell, from left, Collin Adams, Jared Dickey and Maddi McKinney, Kirksey Middle School students, check phones for instructions Wednesday after scanning the code at upper right during a technology adventure race. The activity combines physical education with learning academic subjects such as math, science and music.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

— Phones hovering over the code squares posted around the Birch Kirksey Middle School gym, students raced to find answers Wednesday.

History, science and music questions blended with physical pursuit cards. Students scanned their instructions by cellphone or iPads and iTouch devices owned by the school.

At A Glance

Quick Response Codes

Small, square, quick response — or QR — codes are popping up on all kinds of products. The QR codes store information in pixels that can be scanned by a smartphone. Unlike traditional bar codes commonly used in pricing, QR codes typically link to websites containing more product information.

Source: Staff Report

This week students are using quick response, or QR, codes to access their questions. This gives them a chance to learn, use technology and get a little exercise, said Deb Walter, physical education teacher.

“It helps us use what we learn in school,” said Edgar Fraire, an eighth-grader.

Basketball free throws — required by some codes — were hard, but the history questions were easy, said Priscilla Gonzalez, an eighth-grader. Her all-girl team, the Turtles, racked up a score of 57, one point shy of the highest score of the day.

“I think we can learn together better because we have to work together,” Priscilla said.

The mix of thinking exercises and jumping jacks gives students who may not feel athletic an equal playing field with students who love sports, Walter said.

This week’s class is a combination of Walter’s physical education group and Jason Hall’s career orientation students. The students may be learning about QR codes with the race this week, but in the spring the job shadow reports they turn in will be a QR code that links to a video or PowerPoint presentation.

“Technology is where the world is going,” Hall said.

Web Watch

Learn More About QR Codes

qrcode.com/en

Walter asked teachers around the school for questions, and in some cases shot video of teachers explaining a concept, such as a French vocabulary question involving hand movements where students had to translate the answer.

The phone scans reveal the question and, for challenges such as jumping jacks or free throws, students can record an answer. Team scores are recorded on a spreadsheet during the several-week adventure race and at the end of the unit, each member of the winning team gets a gift certificate donated from Cabela’s. Next week the teams will learn about geocaching.