iPads and Swimming?!?

As a technology director, I am in the habit of strongly discouraging the use of technology equipment anywhere near water. So when Deb Bossingham, the Aquatics Director at the Oregon Swimming Pool, told me that they were using iPads during swimming classes, I was a bit nervous. I was also intrigued, so I decided to see this odd case of digital learning in action.

Deb explained to me that when swimming teachers tell students that they need to improve a certain technique, the students often respond with "But I am doing that!" There is a disconnect between what children think they are doing, and what their bodies are actually doing. No amount of verbal instruction seems to convince them otherwise.


That's where the iPads come in. Many other sports use video to record the actions of an athlete so they can be analyzed later. However, a traditional video camera has some limitations in the pool setting. Bossingham and her instructors use the iPad to take a movie of the children as they are swimming. She walks along the deck of the pool to get a sideways shot of the student's stroke. When the student gets to the end of the lane, the instructor plays the video back for them to show them precisely what their bodies are actually doing. The large screen size of the iPad makes it easier for the student to watch the video while keeping the iPad a safe distance from the water (which relieves me immensely).


Once students see the video of their own swimming, they realize that what they think they are doing is not what they are actually doing, and they can adjust their technique accordingly. The instant feedback means they can make improvements on the very next lap.

"The results have been phenomenal!" says Bossingham of the video-feedback process. "You can tell the kids they aren't lifting their arm enough a thousand times, but when they actually see themselves doing it, then they can make an improvement."


Bossingham has found another benefit to the digital video technique as well. She emails a student's video to his or her parents with a note explaining what they worked on. This allows parents to stay informed about their child's progress, and lets them see improvement over time. An unexpected bonus is that parents forward the videos to grandparents, who enjoy seeing their grandchildren in action.


Hats off to Deb Bossingham and her instructors for an effective, creative way to combine swimming and digital learning!

[Cross-posted at the Wisconsin Digital Learning blog]