Going digital: Here’s how technology is changing physical education

Technology has permeated many aspects of education, but one area where technology has been slow to creep into is physical education (PE). However, schools that have tapped into the power of technology believe it can be transformative for students.  Last year, The Hechinger Report wrote about how Jon Szychlinksi, a teacher at Berwyn North School District 98 in the US uses technology in his PE classes. Szychlinksi gets his middle schoolers to study game tapes to identify their weaknesses, not unlike professional athletes. Students also use their downtime to record video self-reflections and upload them into an online classroom management platform. They also receive instructions based on federal, state and local physical education standards, enabling them to place their physical fitness on a continuum and chart a course for improvement.