IMPORTANT DATE FAQS

Q. When does the Global Children's Challenge^™ start?

It will kicks off on Wednesday 19th September 2012.

Q. How long does it run for?

It concludes 7 weeks later on Wednesday 7th November, 2012.

Q. What if we have holiday / vacation time when the event is on?

We recognise that schools need breaks – and that means more time to get active outside the classroom! Around the world, our event may conflict with a few holiday / vacation days. This is not a problem and we encourage teachers to plan around this and to ensure children record step counts in their step guide. Once back in class, the teacher can enter the step averages retrospectively. This means no class will miss out or be left behind.

APPLICATION FAQs

Q. Which school years can get involved?

Participation in the Global Children's Challenge^™ is restricted to the final three academic year groups in your primary, junior or elementary school. Depending on your country, this is likely to be children ranging in age from 8 to 12 years old.

Q. Can you apply for an entire school at once?

The Global Children's Challenge^™ accepts applications from class teachers only. Each class wishing to submit their interest to participate is required to apply separately.

For example if your entire school is wishing to apply to participate, and there are 6 classes at your school, each of the 6 class teachers will need to submit an application for their class individually. It is important to take into account the enthusiasm, initiative and motivation of teachers when considering taking part - these are all vital to the success of the program within the classroom as the teacher is the driving force.

GLOBAL CHILDREN'S CHALLENGE^™ FAQs

Q. When are pedometers worn, do students wear them just at school?

They are worn all the time (except in bed and in water). Every step counts including running, dog walking, playing basketball, rollerblading.... the list goes on. From the moment a student gets up in the morning, to when they go to sleep, they should wear their pedometer.

Q. If students undertake other physical activity apart from walking e.g. horse riding, soccer, basketball etc… can students be allocated steps for these activities?

We understand that children take part in a wide variety of physical activities that range from horse-riding to surfing. All are fantastic for staying active and keeping healthy. We encourage all types of activity as part of a healthy lifestyle, however it doesn't allocate steps to children for participating in these activities. If a child decides to keep the pedometer on during other activities (assuming it is safe to do so), then the reading on the pedometer will stand and be allowed. For example, many participants have worn their pedometer during basketball, football, martial arts and recorded steps as a result.

Q. What happens if students lose or break their pedometer – is each class provided with spares?

Each Teacher Starter Kit includes 33 pedometers. This is based on an average class size of 26-28 students, so there will be some extras to use as replacements. Beyond that, Global Children’s Challenge™ pedometers can be purchased throughout the event from the website. dd>

Q. Will students ever need to replace the battery in their GCC Pedometer? What do they do with the old battery that they remove?

The GCC pedometer is fitted with an Alkaline Coin LR1130 battery inside. This battery is built to last the full duration of the event however at some point in the future; this battery will come to the end of its usable life. If this happens, a replacement LR1130 battery can be purchased very easily and can be fitted by unscrewing the two small screws on the reverse of the pedometer. It is important that the old battery is disposed in an environmentally correct manner. Although this differs by country and region, many local authorities participate in a battery collection scheme so we advice that you contact your local authority to seek their advice on the local provisions for the safe disposal of old batteries.

Q. : Can teachers expect support throughout the duration of the Global Children's Challenge^™?

Yes! Prior to and throughout the 6-week event we will provide teachers with a large variety of material to assist in the promotion of the event within their school and within their classroom. Examples of a few helpful resources that will be available to download are:

• A Class Poster in your Teacher Starter Kit to assist with student awareness and motivation throughout the 50 days.
• A copy of the course so that teachers can see what countries and locations their class will be visiting over the 50 day challenge (this will assist in integrating the course into class curriculum and activities if they choose).
• Location quiz questions. Teachers can use these to ask their students to research these selected cities prior to a quick class quiz if they choose.

Q. How does a teacher build the Global Children's Challenge^™ into their classes' daily routine?

We recommend that first thing in the morning when class begins, students should be asked to record their steps from the previous 24 hour period and then reset their pedometers together. The teacher (or student) collects everyone's steps for the day, adds them together and enters them into the Global Children's Challenge^™ website along with the amount of students present that day. The website will work out the class average. Together, teacher and children can watch the class move along the map and see if they have reached a new location!

STEP ENTRY & WEBSITE FAQs

Q. The Global Children's Challenge^™ begins on September 15, 2011 but when does each class enter their first step count?

The Step Entry function works in a way where the class is always entering steps for the previous day. On September 15, the Step Entry function will be disabled. It will only be enabled when the clock ticks (or hums) over to September 16. At some stage during class on 16th September the class will enter their first average step count for the initial 24 hour period of the Global Children's Challenge^™ (which is September 15).

Q. Does the class have to enter their daily step average every day?

The Global Children's Challenge^™ recommends that the classes daily average step count is entered every day to allow a steady journey throughout the course, and to ensure the class statistics are a true and up-to-date reflection of their performance. It will also allow students the time to properly explore the virtual course and learn about other countries, towns, cities and the day to day lives of similar aged children in different cultures. However, where it isn't possible to enter the class step average every single day (there are weekends, public holidays, sports days etc), we recommend students keep a manual record of their daily step counts after each 24-hour period. The next time the class logs in to the website, the teacher will be able to view and update all the missed days.

Q. How does the teacher calculate the daily step average of the class?

The daily step average of the class that needs to be entered into the site for each of the 50 days of the Children's Challenge, is calculated in the following way: Add up each of the student's daily step count for the previous 24-hour period. Divide this sum figure by the number of students in the class that day.

Q. How will class statistics and achievements be viewed on the website throughout the Global Children's Challenge^™?

Each class in the Global Children's Challenge^™ will be able to view names of other participating classes, including profiles, team images, positions on the leaderboard and their daily step averages. Through the community page of the Global Children's Challenge^™ website, classes will be able to share information and interact globally with other classes and schools.

Q. Is the Global Children's Challenge^™ website secure?

Very! Entry into the Global Children's Challenge^™ website is only possible with a username and password, which will be provided to each teacher that has a class participating. Only one teacher from each class will be provided with this username and password to enter the daily class step average.

Students will be able to enter the site so they can view content at home, in order to show and involve their families. This access, however, won't allow them to enter steps.

Q. Will the website be translated into other languages?

The location and country information provided throughout the virtual journey around the world will be translated into 4 languages: English, German, French & Spanish.

STUDENT MANAGEMENT FAQs

Q. If a student is sick, on holidays or didn't record their steps for some reason or another, what does the teacher need to do?

Nothing. As the website only accepts a class step average per day, it won't matter if a student didn't record their steps for a day or even multiple days because the missing student won't affect the class average for those days.

Q. What happens if a student is caught cheating?

The Global Children's Challenge^™ is about improving student health and it is an event based on personal integrity. It will be the responsibility of each class teacher to encourage student honesty and accurate step count reporting throughout the duration of the event.

If a teacher suspects a student is cheating, it will be at the teacher's discretion as to how it is dealt with.

Cheating is defined as:

• Shaking the pedometer manually to accumulate steps.
• Putting the pedometer on someone else to benefit your step count.
• Strapping the pedometer to a moving object other than you (cars, dogs, space shuttles etc.)
• Submitting inflated or untrue step data.
• Resetting someone else's pedometer.
• Jeopardising someone's pedometer which includes hiding it, or destroying it.