General questions
What is FITNESSGRAM 9?
FITNESSGRAM 9, currently in use in Delaware is a web-based version of the Fitnessgram software. The first iteration of the web program is a state model serving as a data collection tool for state departments of education to gather fitness data on children. Fitness data at this level is often used in comparisons of other student variables captured by states, including academic achievement, absenteeism, federal meal programs, etc.
Can I use my login from last school year (2008-2009)?
1. All user ID's and passwords used last year for "Fitnessgram" have expired.
2. Access to the "Fitnessgram" website is now only available through the Single Sign On system. The Single Sign On system will provide you with a more secure and easy-to-use way to enter the "Fitnessgram" website.
How do I obtain a log in for the Fitnessgram 9 web site?
Please follow the steps listed below to either obtain a Single Sign On account and/or add "Fitnessgram" to your existing Single Sign On account.
1. To obtain a Single Sign On account:
a. Go to https://login.doe.k12.de.us/DDOESSO/signonpage.aspx
b. Click on Request an Account
c. Follow the steps in creating your account
d. Once your account is created, sign on and click on REQUEST AN APPLICATION
e. Next, arrow down in the programs listed and click on "Fitnessgram"
f. You will receive an e-mail message when "Fitnessgram" has been added to your account
g. Once added to your account you have full access to "Fitnessgram/Activitygram" programs
2. Currently have a Single Sign On account:
a. Sign in to your Single Sign On account and click REQUEST AN APPLICATION
b. Next, arrow down in the programs listed and click on "Fitnessgram"
c. You will receive an e-mail message when "Fitnessgram" has been added to your account
d. Once added to your account you have full access to "Fitnessgram/Activitygram" programs
The Single Sign On system is easy to use. If you forget your password, one will automatically be sent upon clicking on the "forget password" prompt.
If you experience problems creating an account or requesting "Fitnessgram" for your Single Sign On account, please contact your district technology person.
Remember, at no time should you give anyone, including students, your single sign-on login account.
What are the system requirements for FG 9?
1. Browser: Internet Explorer (IE) 7 and 8; Firefox 2 and 3
2. Connectivity: For Internet use, you need a good, quality provider.
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School use: Most districts have T1 lines or fiber optics. These are ideal.
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Home use: Never use dial-up. DSL might be an issue depending on the provider. Home use should have a fast Internet connection.
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Screen resolution: 1024 x 768
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Adobe Acrobat Reader: FG reports are still generated in PDF format.
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School: Acrobat Reader 7 or above
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Home: Acrobat Reader 7 or above; if you have VISTA Home operating system, then you need Acrobat Reader 9.
Why are we using Fitnessgram 9 in Delaware?
Delaware is one of a few states gathering fitness data on students using the Fitnessgram program. Over the past few years, Human Kinetics has had a good working relationship with the Dept. of Ed. Thus, an invitation was extended to DE to serve as a pilot for the web-based FG 9 state program.
Who will be looking at the data for DE?
John Ray, at the DE Dept of Ed, is the primary state official looking at the fitness data and will make periodic reports to the state legislature. DE's research partners are the University of Delaware and Nemours Health and Prevention Services. These groups will be helping the DE DOE in analyzing the results.
Is this new program web-based?
Yes, Fitnessgram 9, currently in use in DE, is a web-based program.
Can I work at home to enter FG scores?
Yes, DE's program is hosted on the DOE servers and is accessible from any computer meeting the system requirements. Remember that you need a single sign on account as noted earlier in order to log into the program. The user name and password you used last year to access FG 9 has expired and will no longer be available for use.
Are all Delaware schools required to use the Fitnessgram 9 program?
YES! Delaware Department of Education Regulation 503 for Physical Education requires the annual testing and reporting of results for all students in grades 4, 7, 9/or 10.
What are the Delaware Department of Education Regulation 503 Physical Education Requirements?
5.0 Physical Education
5.1 Local school districts and each charter school shall provide instructional programs in physical education for each grade K to 12 with the exception of the James H. Groves High School program.
5.2 All public school students in each grade 1 to 8 shall be enrolled in a physical education program.
5.3 All public school students in grades 9 to 12 shall complete the credit in physical education necessary to graduate from high school.
5.3.1 In addition to the one credit required for high school graduation, only one additional elective credit in physical education may be used to fulfill the graduation requirements.
5.4 The physical education requirements may be waived only for students who have an excuse from a qualified physician or objections based on religious beliefs. The local school district or charter school shall have the authority to grant such waivers. The local school district or charter school shall maintain records of the waivers granted and upon request, make them available for review consistent with Federal and state confidentiality laws.
5.5 Local school districts and charter schools shall annually assess the physical fitness of each student in grades 4 and 7, and in grade 9 or 10. Beginning in the 2006-2007 school year and annually thereafter, all students in grade 4 will be assessed. Beginning in the 2007-2008 school year and annually thereafter all students in grade 7 and in grade 9 or 10 will be assessed. The physical fitness assessment tool used by the districts and charter schools shall be one designated by the Delaware Department of Education.
5.5.1 The local school districts and charter schools shall provide the results of the physical fitness assessment to the parent(s) guardian(s) or Relative Caregiver of each student. The districts and charter schools shall also report this information to the Delaware Department of Education in a format determined by the Department.
5.5.1.1 The Delaware Department of Education shall annually report the statewide grade level results of the physical fitness assessment to the public.
10 DE Reg. 985 (12/01/06)
When can Delaware teachers start using the program?
The program is up and running and all DE physical educators should start using the program as soon as fitness testing is completed. All pre- and post test scores should be entered by June 1 of each school year.
Do I have to manually enter all my students again in Fitnessgram 9?
No. The authoritative student database being used is the Dept. of Ed. database. DOE IT staff responsible for updating all student and class information. You will be unable to manually add students to the FG 9 program.
Does my IT staff have to import student information into the FG 9 program?
No. The authoritative student database being used is the Dept of Ed database. DOE IT staff are responsible for updating all student and class information. You will be unable to manually add, edit, delete, or import students into the FG 9 program.
I like to create sample tests and scores. Can I do that with FG 9?
Because Fitnessgram 9 is now a state-wide data collection tool, you should never enter any sample data of any kind into the program. Remember that the data you enter is used not only by you, but administrators at the school, district, and state levels. Plus, DEs research partners are also analyzing the data.
I think the program can be improved. Who do I contact?
Please forward any comments or ideas for improvement to:
Technical Support for FG 9
Who do I contact for technical support?
Knowing when and who to contact for technical support can be problematic for teachers.
1. If you don't have a Single Sign On account, follow the steps outlined earlier in this document.
2. If you already have a Single Sign On account, but need to add FITNESSGRAM to it, follow the steps outlined earlier in this document.
3. If you have trouble with your SSO login, then contact the DE DOE via email:
a. Kim Rodriguez: krodriguez@doe.k12.de.us
b. John Ray: jray@doe.k12.de.us
4. From school or home: You can't access the DOE web site, but you can access another web site (i.e., cnn.com, usatoday.com, etc.). This means you have Internet connection, but the DOE site is unavailable
a. Email DOE.
5. From school or home: You can't access the FG 9 program after your login, but you can access another web site (i.e., cnn.com, usatoday.com, etc.). This means you have Internet connection, but the FG 9 program is unavailable
a. Email DOE.
6. From school: You can't access the DOE site nor any other web site. This means you do not have an Internet connection at your school or the connection is down.
a. Contact your school or district IT staff to report it.
7. From home: You can't access the DOE site nor any web site. This means you do not have an Internet connection.
a. Contact your Internet provider.
What if I think there is a "bug" or error in the program?
If you think you have found an error in the program, please report it to the Human Kinetics Technical Support Team: 1-800-747-4457 option 3, or email: support@hkusa.com
How do I login into the program?
The only way you can access the FG 9 program is through your Single Sign On account. If you do not have one or you need to add Fitnessgram to your SSO account, please review the instructions earlier in the document.
My Single Sign On account log in doesn-t work--what do I do?
If you cannot access the FG 9 program through your SSO login, you need to contact DE DOE via email.
Please follow the instructions listed earlier re: when and who to contact for technical support if you cannot access the FG 9 program.
My school IT staff are overworked. What do they have to do to install the program?
The Fitnessgram 9 program is installed on DOE servers. There is nothing to install at the local school or district level. However, you will need a Single Sign On account provided by your district and an Internet connection to access the FG 9 program.
Entering Information into FG 9
How do I enter new students in my school or district?
You don't have this capability with FG 9. The authoritative student database being used is the Dept. of Ed. database. DOE IT staff are responsible for updating all student and class information on a daily basis. The exception may be for elementary teachers only.
I'm an elementary teacher--do I have to create classes in FG 9? How do I do this?
Unlike middle and high school teachers who will have all their classes and students in those classes already in Fitnessgram 9, it may be that your classes have already been created. It all depends on how student and class information is sent to DOE. Some districts may have sent elementary class information to DOE; other districts may not have sent this information.
There are two scenarios to consider for elementary physical education teachers to consider:
1. Your district does send class information along with student information. In this case, students in the school are entered into Fitnessgram 9 along with class information. In this scenario, the elementary PE teacher will only need to create the FG test event and enter scores.
2. Your district does not send class information along with student information. In this case, students in the school are entered into Fitnessgram 9, but not class information. In this scenario, the elementary PE teacher will need to create their classes, then assign students to those classes since the students will already be in the program. You do not create students in Fitnessgram 9.
Note: The authoritative student database being used is the Dept. of Ed. database. Teachers will not be able to manually enter a new student into the program nor move an existing student to a new class or teacher. The DOE will take care of updating the FG 9 program with new students and classes, and moving existing students to new class assignments.
I'm a middle/high school teacher. Do I have to create my classes in FG 9?
For middle and high school teachers, all their classes and students in those classes are already in Fitnessgram 9. Note: The authoritative student database being used is the Dept. of Ed. database. DOE IT staff are responsible for updating all student and class information. You will not be able to manually enter a new student into the program nor move an existing student to a new class or teacher. The DOE will take care of updating the FG 9 program with new students and classes, and moving existing students to new class assignments.
I'm an elementary teacher and I've created my classes. How do I get students into those classes?
Remember, students are already in FG 9 so you do not need to create them. However, once you have created your classes, you will need to assign your students to their PE classes via the My Classes icon. To do so, please check out the accompanying powerpoint for information or the help files within the program.
I'm a middle school teacher--how do I get students into my classes?
Your classes are already created for you and your students are also assigned to those classes. All you need to do is to create your Fitnessgram test event, enter students' test scores, and generate the student and parent FG reports via the Report Wizard.
I'm a high school teacher--how do I get students into my classes?
Your classes are already created for you and your students are also assigned to those classes. All you need to do is to create your Fitnessgram test event, enter students' test scores, and generate the student and parent FG reports via the Report Wizard.
FITNESSGRAM Tests -- Five are mandated for Delaware
What are the five mandated FITNESSGRAM tests for DE?
Delaware has mandated five tests:
1. PACER
2. Curlup
3. Trunk Lift
4. Pushup
5. Back Saver Sit and Reach
Can I do other Fitnessgram tests?
Yes, you can do other Fitnessgram tests in addition to the five mandated tests; however, DOE will only look at the data for those five tests.
Am I required to test for body composition?
No.
I'm ready to enter my students'test scores. How do I do this in FG 9?
All teachers are required to create the Fitnessgram test event and enter student scores. Creating the test event is the same as in the Fitnessgram 8 software program. Create the test event using one of two options:
1. Via the My Classes icon. Select your class, then the Add Fitnessgram link.
2. Via the Fitnessgram icon. Select the class, then the Add button.
What is my deadline for entering FG test scores?
The deadline for all physical educators entering Fitnessgram scores into the FG 9 program is June 1.
Reports
How do I generate reports in FG 9?
You will need to use the Report Wizard. This icon is located on the left-hand side of the teacher screen.
1. Make sure you select the right scope or range for your report selection. For example, if you select "Teacher" as the scope for a report, then you will generate a report for ALL classes and ALL students. Using a web-based program means that the time to create the report increases. So, you may want to run reports by classes and not create for all classes at one time.
2. Note: In the Report Wizard are many reports for the Fitnessgram, Activitygram, and the Activity Log modules. A sample of each report is provided so you can see what report content looks like before printing.
I have pre-printed FG student and parent forms. Can I use these for FG 9?
For a limited time, you can use the same pre-printed forms from FG 8 for FG 9. These pre-printed forms will change before the end of the current school year (2009-2010). To print reports using pre-printed forms, you need to go through the Reports Wizard. That icon is located near the bottom on the left-side of the screen. When you select either the student or parent report, you will be asked for the paper source for the report. The default is plain paper so make sure you change it to the pre-printed form option.
I have heard of the parent report, long-term tracking report, and the statistical report. What are these reports and where do I go in the program to print them?
Use the Report Wizard (icon on left-hand side of the teacher screen) to access these reports and others in the Wizard. With each report is a sample so you can see the content of the report before printing.
Do I have to send in my YEAR-END REPORTS TO DOE by the end of the school year?
No! Fitnessgram 9 is a state-wide data collection tool with the data residing in DOE. As a result, DOE has access to the FG data at all times and can generate reports whenever they are needed. Thus, you do not have to send any Fitnessgram information to the DOE at the end of the school year.
ACTIVITYGRAM
What is ACTIVITYGRAM?
Activitygram is a three-day recall by students of their activity behaviors over that time period. The reporting must include at least one school day as well as a non-school day (i.e., a weekend day or holiday). Using half-hour segments, students enter their activities into Activitygram noting the type of activity, the intensity level of the activity, and the duration of the activity.
Why does Delaware want to use Activitygram?
Gathering fitness test results is only one part of the overall solution to deal with the issues of obesity and physical inactivity in children. The Activitygram module in the FG 9 program tracks data about a child's activity behaviors such as how active was that child for that time period, what type of activities did the child engage in, how long did that child watch TV or use the computer, and how much total time in activity did that child spend. The goal, of course, is not to get kids fit, but to get them active and to appreciate the value of being active--now and as adults.
What schools can use Activitygram?
All schools encouraged to use Activitygram.
Will there be training on how to use Activitygram?
Yes. Training docs and webinars will be available in??. March 2010. Look for times and dates from DE DOE.
How do I use AG?
This is a two-part question:
1. Teachers first create the Activitygram assignment, and students enter their activities. To create the assignment in the teacher program, use either the Activitygram icon on the left-hand side of the screen or via the My Classes icon.
a. Enter the name of the AG (i.e., March 2010 Assignment, for example)
b. Select the date for the AG
c. Click OK.
d. Make sure you know how AG works BEFORE having students enter their activity behaviors.
e. It is important to provide the educational component here re: use of AG and what information the student report will provide to students.
2. Students will need to login to FG 9 using this web address:
a. http://Fitnessgram.doe.k12.de.us
3. Students need a user name and password. To find this information:
a. Go to the Report Wizard and generate a Student Information report. This report will display student user names and passwords.
b. Once they login, a menu appears. Have the students click on ActivityGram.
c. The student Activitygram is all menu driven. Make sure you know how Activitygram works for students so you can provide this information to them.
d. Read the help files for step-by-step instructions, and attend the upcoming training sessions.
Note to Teachers: Having students login to FG 9 and enter their activity behaviors using Activitygram so not affect the teacher login nor their Fitnessgram scores. Remember, at no time should you give any students your single sign-on login account.
FG_DEFAQ-2010-v3_2-2-10
2/2/2010; 2/16/2010; 2/18/10