Information and communication technologies can be used to supplement and research specific areas within the physical education curriculum as children complete units of work.
The internet contains a wealth of knowledge and information on many aspects of sport. Information can be sourced to extend the children’s knowledge and appreciation of activities which they are experiencing in the physical education lesson. The history of sports, pictures of sports personalities or venues and results of sports events are readily available online. Daily newspapers provide further on-line information on current sporting events. The school could develop its own website to convey information about its physical education or extra-curricular activities. E-mail is also a useful medium for gathering information for projects related to physical education. The GAA website for example, providing information on the history of Gaelic games, sports results or club activities could complement a games unit of work which involves the children playing hurling. Any images which the children would access of local, national or international sportspeople could provide them with positive role models.
CD Rom Encyclopaedias on sport are also available and would allow children pursue their interests in physical activities.
The use of databases presents exciting opportunities to record sports day activities, league tables or results of orienteering events. When measuring achievements, children could use blank tables produced by word processor or using a simple publishing program to design simple record cards or charts. Control cards for orienteering customised for the school environment could also be designed.