MEDIA
REVIEW
The test kit, sold by itself (no software), includes the
following items:
- Fitnessgram/Activitygram Test Administration Manual, Updated
Fourth Edition, which includes the PACER CD and a DVD showing
test protocols
- the Healthy Fitness Zone® clipboard
- the Healthy Fitness Zone wall charts for Boys and Girls
- Fitnessgram Station Cards – package of 8
- skinfold caliper
- 3-1/2 inch rubber curl-up strip and 4-1/2 inch rubber
curl-up strip
- samples of the FITNESSGRAM and ACTIVITYGRAM reports
This reviewer, and Human Kinetics, assumes that you already
have the FitnessGram software on the network that is attached
to your school district’s server. If not, then you have
some ground to cover, and I'm not even sure I can point you
in the right direction. Call or email someone from the Cooper
Institute, or Human
Kinetics, or Google.
This software has been around for awhile. The edition I reviewed
was the 5th upgrade, and it is much easier to use and navigate
through than previous editions, which often brought me both
to tears and fits of what felt like pure, undiluted rage.
Three Decembers ago I'm pretty sure I was on my knees, praying,
my head prostrate and in the land of dust-bunnies beneath
my desk. All I wanted was to figure out how to get to the
place where I could fill in (out?) my students' fitness scores.
Someone from our tech support/IT department finally called
me, and I got through. Filling out the data should be one
of the relatively easy parts of the process, as it now is.
I must admit I had my doubts about kids doing a 15 or 20m
shuttle, back and forth, forth and back, starting out at a
comfortable, even slow, pace. The old standard was the 1 mile
run. In Army Basic Training, we had the 2-mile run, and this
is after we performed the push-up test (I got 82 push-ups
in 2 minutes, or the max of that time, 1986) and sit-up test
(78, also the max) and then we ran the 2-mile run. 8 laps
in Missouri humidity so thick it made saunas jealous. That
was the Everest of endurance, at least for me, and I crossed
the finish line at 12:00. Ah, youth.
Shuttle-Runs? Consecutive shuttle-runs? As a measure of cardio-whatever
efficiency? I thought, no way. You're measuring running speed
and agility here, over and over. But I was wrong. I've taken
portions of the test – at the first five minutes, from
10-15 minutes, and from 20-25 minutes, and I've been administrating
the test for 4 years now. I've seen students who appear to
be fit completely psych themselves out and fold after 15,
and students who look like they would have difficulty getting
out of a wading pool get psyched-up and perform admirably
well.
Your kids will start off slow running the Progressive Aerobic
Cardiovascular Endurance Run, but if they stick with it, the
pace of this test heats up really quick and then they stick
to it and relax. By the very end, they are running almost
full-out. I love the PACER test now, and have tried to pass
that love on to my students. The CD has a great musical track,
and even if it isn't Dr. Drape or Cool-Whipp-Io or whatever
it is these kids are listening to these days, the music hath
charms to sooth the savage beast. It also has beats and rhythm
that will help move their feets.
There are two other options besides the PACER test; the old
standard mile, and a walk test. Two things to consider before
you consider using this test:
- How long are your P.E. periods? Mine used to all be 30
minutes; now my 7th-8th graders have 45-50 minutes, and
- How long is your Gym?
I have what seems like the smallest Gym in the universe,
and the 15m test takes up most of my small basketball floor.
Do you have room (and the weather) to do this test outside?
And a loud boom-box?
I've had 3rd graders still running after 5 minutes of getting
the kids stretched, and the test explained and split into
groups, because 1 group has to keep score while the other
group runs because the class had 27 kids in it. Twenty-seven
kids in my small gym can't run all at the same time. Logistically,
you have to know these things and plan. What if the CD skips?
(Ive had the CDs refuse to cooperate, and I wanted to DESTROY
them, I was so frustrated). Have you made a backup that works?
Does your boom-box pump up the volume, dance, dance!
I've never been comfortable taking skinfold measurements,
but if you want to then the skinfold calipers will come in
handy. The curl-up test comes with two pieces of rubber strips;
one for 5-9-year-olds (30-35 inches long, 3 inches wide) and
for the older kids, 4.5 inches wide. These can be made of
cardboard or some other thin, flat material. The tests are
explained with great pictures and also videos on the included
DVD. Criterion-referenced norms are imbedded in the software
so that individual reports of your students' progress can
be printed and taken home, telling them where they stand in
the events they participated in (usually, but not confined
to, the PACER Test, Curl-ups, Push-ups, Back-saver sit-and-reach,
and BMI through measuring height and weight).
The modified pull-up requires a squat rack, but the flexed-arm
hang and pull-ups can be done on a standard pull-up bar. I've
never used the ActivityGram, so I can't report on it, but
partnered with Play60, it is sure to be of great use to you
and your students.
Plans to build your own modified pull-up and back-saver sit-and-reach
equipment are provided, but being one of the least mechanically-inclined
souls on earth, I’d pay someone to build this, or beg
for money to buy a new one.
If you don't know anything about this test, and want to get
on board, check out the Cooper Institute's website
or just order the kit and familiarize yourself with it. Having
the clipboard on hand will give you the norms values for the
boys and girls, and will help you organize your junk. Do the
research. Find out for yourself how reliable and valid the
tests are, and if you don't like the proffered tests you can
add in old-school favorites, like the standing broad jump
(measures leg power) vertical leap test, shuttle-run, and
others.
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