A recent Sports Illustrated article described how some high school football players are using artificial intelligence to fabricate highlight plays in recruiting videos. Generative tools can now insert touchdowns, tackles, or explosive runs that never actually occurred, creating a misleading picture of an athlete’s performance.

At first glance, the story reads like another example of technology being used to gain an unfair advantage. But in many cases, these videos are not as convincing as students might think.

Experienced recruiters, coaches, and even knowledgeable fans can often tell when something is off. The flow feels wrong. The movement does not match the context of the game. What appears impressive at first glance can quickly raise questions.

The real problem is that students may not realize how easily these videos can be spotted. They may overestimate how convincing these tools are and underestimate how quickly credibility can be lost. When that happens, it is not the technology that carries the consequences, but the student–and their integrity.

The Stigma of Consequences

To be fair, authenticity challenges in sports are not new. Highlight reels have always been curated, with athletes and coaches selecting the best moments, angles, and plays. Recruiting videos have never been neutral.

At the same time, experienced evaluators bring a trained eye to the process. They understand the rhythm of a game, the timing of movement, and the mechanics behind each play.

Manipulated clips raise immediate suspicion as it is not that hard for trained adults, and even knowledgeable fans, to recognize one. And when one is exposed, students are the ones who carry the consequences. The loss of trust, the damage to reputation, and the stigma of being caught can follow them well beyond a single video.

In that sense, integrity and reputation are not secondary concerns, but the foundation of the entire process.

Discouraging Shortcuts

AI did not create this challenge, but it has made it easier to act on poor judgment. What once required significant effort can now be done quickly and with little technical skill. The tools are more accessible, and the temptation is greater.

And that makes the response even more important.

Since I am not a recruiting expert, my suggestions here may be overly simple or not fully informed. Still, it seems reasonable that technology could help protect integrity. For example, recruiting platforms or video services might use AI tools to detect manipulated footage or verify highlights against full game recordings uploaded by schools. If AI can generate fabricated highlights, it can also flag these or confirm authentic ones. Even a basic verification layer could serve as a deterrent. Technology alone, however, is unlikely to solve the issue.

Coaches and athletic programs play a critical role in shaping how athletes understand the purpose of highlight reels. AI can be used to analyze performance, break down game film, and identify areas for growth, which support student development. Fabricating plays does none of that, so helping athletes understand that distinction is part of the work.

The cultural layer also cannot be ignored. Highlight videos now live on social media, where attention can become its own reward system. Likes, shares, and visibility can create pressure to produce more impressive content. When attention becomes the incentive, exaggeration can follow.

Coaches and programs can push against that pressure by reinforcing that highlights are meant to reflect real performance, not manufactured moments. Clear expectations and consistent messaging can discourage shortcuts before any take hold.

Opening Doors

Integrity in high school sports is not enforced by rules alone, but is shaped by culture, expectations, and the adults who guide young athletes. When those signals are clear, athletes are more likely to understand that how they represent their performance matters as much as the performance itself.

AI did not create the integrity challenge in high school sports, but has made the consequences more immediate and visible. The real question going forward now becomes if student athletes will understand how easily manipulation can be detected and what is at stake when it is.

In high school sports, performance may open doors. Integrity and reputation determine whether those doors stay open.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, individual running events are among the lowest risk sports for students to take part in. And as states loosen Covid-19 restrictions and kids get back to the classroom, gym and track, there's a new free digital toolkit to help coaches and teachers track the progress of students’ physical activity. 

Marathon Kids Connect, from the nonprofit Marathon Kids, is a cloud-based Run Club management platform that provides a digital lap-tracking app along with educational resources and reporting capability. PE teachers scan student runners’ ID cards to upload their lap times and track progress through shareable impact reports. Additionally, online training videos and modules offer learning opportunities for students and coaches. 

Kicking off on July 1, Run Club registration is free and not limited to a number of participants. In addition to unlimited Marathon Kids Connect access, each Marathon Kids welcome pack includes group tracking posters, a starter pack of the brand new sticker-based reward system, and online lesson plans for on-campus and at-home learning. 

For more information on Marathon Kids and Marathon Kids Connect, visit marathonkids.org/connect. 

One Massachusetts middle school teacher challenged her students to use their creativity, and some tech, to design the perfect parkour shoe. 

Who: Diane Hichborn, Middle School Teacher—Math, Science, Humanities 

Where: Sparhawk Middle School— Amesbury, MA 

What: Parkour and the Octoshoe, a Sucker for PBL Enrichment 

One fall recess I observed a few students tumbling on the ground, jumping off of boxes and projecting off walls. When returning to class, they asked if we could have a Parkour Enrichment. Enrichments are six-week-long courses that provide learning experiences outside the regular curriculum. They are derived from traditional academic domains, the art and kinesthetic realms or practical life-skills and tease out an array of interests in our students. I looked into what it takes to build a course for that type of activity. It must have been meant to be! When I opened my email, there was an invitation from TERC—a non-profit group made up of math and science education and research experts— announcing the Data Arcade Sportslab Parkour Shoe Design Challenge. 

The challenge took students through an online environment of the sport; set up with milestones and labs to uncover information needed to create deliverables. During some labs, students tested the coefficient of friction on sneaker outsoles and how the force of jumping affected the design of the midsole. Teams worked together to build models of sneakers that enhanced the shoelace-tying experience. The winning design, Octoshoe, used bio-mimicry to do away with the laces, instead using an octopus-like strap that secured the sneaker with suction cups. Students watched and interviewed real athletes in action. They collaborated in designing the final product. 

Biggest Challenge

The main obstacle I had was the time investment. Fortunately, our current science topic was Forces and Motion, so I was able to incorporate the challenge into our curriculum. The final project was to include a business card including a team logo, a presentation board showing the anatomy of the sneaker’s features, and a sales pitch.Together, the students and I learned how designers illustrated the marketability of their shoes and techniques of preparing computer-aided presentations.

Positive Results

The competition was rewarding in itself. Students enjoyed critiquing other teams’ designs and said that they will never look at a sneaker the same way. They learned that it was not about the competition, but all that they had achieved along the journey. (Sparkhawk teams took two of the top three awards in the Challenge.)

Pro Tips

Patience and the ability to listen to each student’s ideas are key. I like sharing my ideas and knowledge with them so that they can learn and become more confident in their own abilities. I believe it is important to differentiate the curriculum to suit student’s abilities and then watch the range of possible outcomes. In the end, I reflect on the task, not only as a learning experience for the student, but also for myself.

Finding Funding

There was no cost as it was part of a grant that TERC received from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Tech Tools

• Laptops
• Google search
• Spring scales and weights (to test for tread traction, finding the coefficient of friction)
• Recycled/upcycled materials
• 3D Sketch-up Design
• Architectural Tools
• Excel

April is National Poetry Month, but it also brings Earth Day and to celebrate we make sure our students understand the concept of an Eco footprint through the use of Digital Footprint activities.

Do your students know their Digital Footprint?

Earth Day, Monday, April 22, 2019, is the perfect day for students to discover what their footprint shows.  Choose Your Digital Footprint Adventure: Select a scenario, Make choices along the way and then Read how your choices affect your digital footprint and your career.

Digital Baseball Cards

Yep. 2019 is the 150th anniversary of professional baseball and opening day was March 28th.  The earliest it has ever been! Baseball trading cards were first printed in the late 1860s.  Today, there is also a category called non-sports trading cards.  The ReadWriteThink Trading Card interactive tool gives students an alternative way to demonstrate their knowledge and skill when writing about anything.  It even gives a place for sources. Students can create trading cards about Artists, Coders, Scientists, Writers or their favorite Superhero.  

81st International Technology & Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) Annual Conference

While at the conference, we saw some really cool things including some activities from NASA, college robot competitions and a mobile zSpace AR/VR learning experience, which was a bus full of computers using 3D technology to create experiences with everything to demonstrate virtual and augmented reality.  We dissected a brain, did some virtual welding and left with lots of great ideas and advice for creating STEM/STEAM programs. All information about the conference is posted on the ITEEA website. As part of the STEM Showcase we exchanged information with people from all over the United States and the world such as Hangzou, China; Hong Kong, Hong Kong; and Taiwan.

cross posted at collaborationsdigitalandotherwise.weebly.com

Deborah Marshall is the Department Chair of Career & Technical Education and Lisa McKnight Ward is the librarian at Granby High School in Norfolk,   Virginia. Both are Nationally Board Certified, former Teachers of the Year, who have taught multiple subjects including AP and IB courses. They   have over a decade of experience collaborating on technology-based learning. Read more at collaborationsdigitalandotherwise.weebly.com/

In the last post I shared an almost PBL story that I hope you enjoyed. The post also contained 17 links to help bring the engagement and excitement of the NCAA tournament to your classroom.  When basketball can be integrated with content standards and 21st century education, everyone wins. Please take a moment to enjoy these next 17 links. 

What is a Slam Dunk? – The website Wonderapolis provides this interesting question, video, and related ideas. It could just be a slam dunk lesson!

Who Invented Basketball – You and your students can explore another wonder of the day from Wonderapolis. Students will enjoy the video, accompanying fact, and any activity incorporated with it.

The Harlem Globetrotters and Early Professional Basketball – Perhaps you can design a lesson from this podcast at the Smithsonian History Explorer. Student will discover how this group of amazing basketball players became the world’s most recognizable sports team

Math in Basketball – This is a wonderful learning interactive from PBS Learning Media. Students follow a profile of Elton Brand, an accomplished basketball player who uses math in his work, students are presented with this mathematical basketball challenge. This site does require free registration for educators.

PBS Learning Media – Check Out all of these other basketball resources that are free from PBS Learning Media. Great multimedia and ideas for your project!

Robot Basketball – This lesson comes from Try Engineering.  It demonstrates the difference between precision and accuracy. Students design a device that can shoot a basketball free-throw shot accurately every time.

Engineer Hoopsters – A great article from eGFI that lets students know you can excel in the STEM fields while also playing basketball… and winning. A wonderful article that promotes both sports and academics.

Math Basketball Games – Are you looking for a way to bring a little basketball into your elementary of middle school math class? These games can be used in the classroom in connection with smart boards and Promethean boards.

Penny Basketball – A site that poses a lesson that involves penny basketball. Best of all, students learn how to make sense of the data they collect.

Energy Transfer – This is a great lesson in kinetic energy and energy transfer. It is also a wonderful time to use a basketball to display the laws of physics.

Math In Basketball – This is a fantastic lesson plan from Get the Math.  Using video segments and web interactives, students engage in an exploration of mathematics, specifically reasoning and sense making, to solve real world problems.  Best of all,  students focus on understanding the Big Ideas of Algebra: patterns, relationships, equivalence, and linearity.

Science of Hang Time – Can your students answer the question, “How High Can You Jump?” They can experience this great video for PE, Math or Physics as students learn about the science behind the hang time in basketball. Perhaps you can create an activity around this.

PBL, Physics, Basketball, and Inquiring Minds – Check out this PBL unit with math and basketball.

Where Will it Go? – This is a lesson plan aimed at lower elementary allowing student prediction of where a ball will go when bounced. This is a perfect opportunity to use any ball… or perhaps a basketball?

Sports Science – Look for some great basketball videos from this ESPN archive. It might be the basis for a great STEM lesson during this exciting basketball season.

Discovery Education – Basketball resources that you can use with your students. You will find some great activities.

NBA Virtual Field Trip – Check out this whole site even if you did not visit the live event. There are some amazing resources presented by Discovery and the NBA.

So there are the rest of those NCAA links. Please follow and sign up.  If this has been useful please give a retweet! It means a lot!  

cross-posted at 21centuryedtech.wordpress.com

Michael Gorman oversees one-to-one laptop programs and digital professional development for Southwest Allen County Schools near Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is a consultant for Discovery Education, ISTE, My Big Campus, and November Learning and is on the National Faculty for The Buck Institute for Education. His awards include district Teacher of the Year, Indiana STEM Educator of the Year and Microsoft’s 365 Global Education Hero. Read more at 21centuryedtech.wordpress.com.

A Classroom Lesson Never Taught : Welcome to my PBL Reflection

It was twenty minutes before the first school bell would ring, signifying the beginning of another day of learning. Students were beginning to enter and fill the classroom. There was air of extreme excitement as the teacher looked from nook to corner. It was a typical room filled with students, desks, chairs, and a few computers. This morning seemed to be different from the others. The teacher stood perplexed, in awe of an  amazing event that was beginning to unfold. Students were using computers and  printers to produce what appeared to be a complicated worksheet. Some kids were on the floor while others were seated at tables eagerly filling the paper out! Their eyes were filled with inquiry and enthusiasm as they completed the graphical sheet from top to bottom! It was definitely a worksheet experience like no other the teacher had ever witnessed! Upon closer inspection the teacher realized the students had searched for and found the new NCAA Basketball Brackets.

The teacher watched students engaged in a true spirit of collaboration, as they learned from each other some interesting facts about various college teams. Geography was a main topic, as students discovered using Google Maps, the location of various universities. The teacher could hear students compare and contrast strengths and weakness of the various competitors, while others children used mathematics to perform some comparative scoring.  There was a massive research symposium, as students looked on the internet to find out what the experts of the newly found science of “Bracketology” thought!  Some students sought out other students ready to present their reasoning for their selections and amazingly showcased their persuasion skills. Any observer would have been amazed by the critical thinking, creativity, and reflections that the students were able to share. It appeared that that the students were in control of this very special time before education would begin. They had created their own learning experience before the bell rang. Their was engagement based on their interest in the real world. It was much like watching a game of neighborhood baseball long before the advent of sanctioned  coaches, leagues and teams.

The twenty minutes were soon past as the bell  rang, and announced yet another day of learning. The students obediently put away their Brackets Papers, while the room came to a silent halt. Students left their collaborative groups and sat in their individual seats lined up in precision rows. They pulled out a worksheet, some only half filled out, assigned  from the day before. The teacher initiated a well thought out lecture entitled ” Making Predictions Using Compare and Contrast”.  As he described predictions as they have been made through observing math sequences, the students  appeared to listen as they took notes. After all, this was an important standard to be repeated for a test. What a change the bell had made.  The March of Madness was over.  It was now a time to learn?

NCAA Basketball Links – The First 17

Live Interactive Bracket – Watch the NCAA live interactive bracket for this year’s tournament. Note that this page also contains a printable bracket.

NCAA Big Dance Basics – Take a look and get ideas from the STEM site eGFI. You will get hooked as your read their statement: “ From long-shot “Cinderella” teams to “field goal” averages, “giant killers” and “bracketology,” the NCAA Div. 1 men’s college basketball championship has generated a host of pet terms and traditions since it first tipped off in 1939”. This is a 2013 article …but still filled with great thoughts and ideas.

The Art of the Free Throw – It really is about STEM! Take a look at this eGFI article and video that really goes through the math and science of a free throw.

Basketball Physics – This lesson comes from Science Friday. It contains the Driving Question, “ How does physics affect your game?” John Fontanella, a physicist at the U.S. Naval Academy and author of The Physics of Basketball, explains the role of physics in basketball, from foul shots to side-arm passes. You and your students will find out what forces are acting on the ball, and what players have to do to offset these forces.

Physics of Basketball – A great basketball thinking video  from Dragon Fly TV.

Basketball For Better Verse – This lesson from Education World provide students the opportunity to look at various basketball poems and the publish their own.

The Team at Home – Another lesson from Education World that allows students to locate an NCAA basketball tournament team on a map, research the relationship of the team’s name and mascot to the history and geography of the college. This is a great social studies lesson.

Who’s Number 1? Investigating the Math of Rankings – In this amazing lesson, students explore the use of quantitative ratings by examining how Division I college basketball teams are ranked, and how specific mathematical decisions can and do have significant consequences.

Thinking About The Future… A Poem of Possibilities – This resource from Read Write Think focuses on the poem “Ex-Basketball Player” by John Updike, analyzing the details and the format of the poem. From there students are then introduced to a writing assignment in which they write a poem about themselves in five years.

Mathematicians Agree… Picking NCAA Bracket More Luck Then Science – Do you really want a fascinating reading about the science of the brackets? This is a great read and could be a part of any language arts or math class.

Busting The Brackets – You will enjoy this wonderful lesson from the New York times.

Bracket Lesson Activities – You can use the idea of brackets to help your students discuss and take part in meta-cognitive activities in almost any subject area. Take a look and give it a try.

Smithsonian March Madness – This is a wonderful exhibit from teh Smithsonian. Examine the multitude of March Madness articals.

James Naismith… Inventor of the Game of Basketball – This is another awesome activity from Read Write Think. Students look at the original rules of basketball, allowing a perfect opportunity for students to practice their expository reading and writing skills. Best of all, students end up with some their own innovation as they put together their own hand out to explain a game.

Should LeBron James Mow His Own Lawn? – Discover this lesson that explroes absolute advantage, comparative advantage, specialization and trade with an example using professional basketball player LeBron James.

Using NBA Statistics for Box and Whiskers Plot – You may wish to substitute a student’s favorite NCAA player for the NBA player. This lesson from Illuminations requires students to use information from basketball statistics to make and compare box and whisker plots. The data provided in the lesson come from the NBA, but you could apply the lesson to data from the NCAA men’s or women’s. You may need to join.

So there is my story and links… want the next 17 links? Please follow and sign up. I have them scheduled to be published before the end of this week. If this has been useful, please give a retweet! It means a lot!

cross-posted at 21centuryedtech.wordpress.com

Michael Gorman oversees one-to-one laptop programs and digital professional development for Southwest Allen County Schools near Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is a consultant for Discovery Education, ISTE, My Big Campus, and November Learning and is on the National Faculty for The Buck Institute for Education. His awards include district Teacher of the Year, Indiana STEM Educator of the Year and Microsoft’s 365 Global Education Hero. Read more at 21centuryedtech.wordpress.com.

National Golf Day is 10/4. Learn the science, technology, engineering and math of golf through this collection of short original video clips. The video series features both scientists and pro golfers.

Courtesy of Knovation

[Free PBS Site Explores Nature Through Games & Real-World Activities]

Welcome to a second post containing 15 more amazing links to use during the NCAA Basket Ball Tournament. First, please take a moment to subscribe to this blog by RSS or email and join me on twitter at mjgormans . You see… we really must learn to put into practice some of the best lessons never taught! Sign up and retweet… the next 15 links will be out soon. Have an exciting tournament and a wonderful week! – Mike Gorman (21centuryedtech)

In the last post I shared an almost PBL story that I hope you enjoyed. The post also contained 15 links to help bring the engagement and excitement of the NCAA tournament to your classroom. Did you miss it? I have the link here. When basketball can be integrated with content standards and 21st century education, everyone wins. Please stake a moment to enjoy these next 15 links.

[NCAA Bracketology: Classroom Lessons Never Taught…. It’s Madness… Plus 30 BB Lesson Links]

What is a Slam Dunk? – The website Wonderapolis provides this interesting question, video, and related ideas. It could just be a slam dunk lesson!

Who Invented Basketball – You and your students can explore another wonder of the day from Wonderapolis. Students will enjoy the video, accompanying fact, and any activity incorporated with it.

The Harlem Globetrotters and Early Professional Basketball – Perhaps you can design a lesson from this podcast at the Smithsonian History Explorer. Student will discover how this group of amazing basketball players became the world’s most recognizable sports team

Math in Basketball – This is a wonderful learning interactive from PBS Learning Media. Students follow a profile of Elton Brand, an accomplished basketball player who uses math in his work, students are presented with this mathematical basketball challenge. This site does require free registration for educators.

PBS Learning Media – Check Out all of these other basketball resources that are free from PBS Learning Media. Great multimedia and ideas for your project!

Robot Basketball – This lesson comes from Try Engineering. It demonstrates the difference between precision and accuracy. Students design a device that can shoot a basketball free-throw shot accurately every time.

Engineer Hoopsters – A great article from eGFI that lets students know you can excel in the STEM fields while also playing basketball… and winning. A wonderful article that promotes both sports and academics.

Math Basketball Games – Are you looking for a way to bring a little basketball into your elementary of middle school math class? These games can be used in the classroom in connection with smart boards and Promethean boards.

Penny Basketball – A site that poses a lesson that involves penny basketball. Best of all, students learn how to make sense of the data they collect.

Energy Transfer – This is a great lesson in kinetic energy and energy transfer. It is also a wonderful time to use a basketball to display the laws of physics.

Math In Basketball – This is a fantastic lesson plan from Get the Math. Using video segments and web interactives, students engage in an exploration of mathematics, specifically reasoning and sense making, to solve real world problems. Best of all, students focus on understanding the Big Ideas of Algebra: patterns, relationships, equivalence, and linearity.

Science of Hang Time – Can your students answer the question, “How High Can You Jump?” They can experience this great video for PE, Math or Physics as students learn about the science behind the hang time in basketball. Perhaps you can create an activity around this.

PBL, Physics, Basketball, and Inquiring Minds – Check out this PBL unit with math and basketball.

Where Will it Go? – This is a lesson plan aimed at lower elementary allowing student prediction of where a ball will go when bounced. This is a perfect opportunity to use any ball… or perhaps a basketball?

Sports Science – Look for some great basketball videos from this ESPN archive. It might be the basis for a great STEM lesson during this exciting basketball season.

So there are the rest of those NCAA links. Please follow and sign up. If this has been useful please give a retweet! It means a lot!

Thanks for joining me in my tribute to education and the need to include student voice, choice and relevance to learning. In the coming weeks you will discover posts devoted to 21st century education including such topics as Flipped Classrooms, Project Based Learning, Assessing 21st century skills, technology integration, web resources, and digital literacy. I enjoy learning from all of you. Also, remember to subscribe to this 21centuryedtech Blog by RSS or email and follow me on twitter at mjgormans. I also appreciate your sharing of this post and any retweets. I hope you enjoy your journey of best lessons never taught. Have a great week! – Mike Gorman (21centuryedtech)

cross-posted at 21centuryedtech.wordpress.com

Michael Gorman oversees one-to-one laptop programs and digital professional development for Southwest Allen County Schools near Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is a consultant for Discovery Education, ISTE, My Big Campus, and November Learning and is on the National Faculty for The Buck Institute for Education. His awards include district Teacher of the Year, Indiana STEM Educator of the Year and Microsoft’s 365 Global Education Hero. Read more at 21centuryedtech.wordpress.com.