Online fitness Aim of activity To demonstrate how families can use the internet to source the right exercise clothing and equipment and to stay in shape for less cost. Live Long & Prosper theme Getting active Skills for Life covered Numeracy & IT Learning outcomes By the end of the session, families will be able to: Understand and use different search engines and websites to compare and source inexpensive exercise clothing and equipment Appreciate that the fitness equipment and clothing doesn’t have to be expensive Resources required Calculators and internet access Using search engines and websites handout Calculating percentages handout A prize (optional) Introduction: Online shopping made simple (10 minutes) Before starting explain that before undertaking any new physical exercise or fitness regime and before purchasing any specialist equipment that people should consult an expert in those fields. Go though the learning outcomes of the session with the group. Pass around ‘Using search engines and websites’ handout. This handout is for people to keep, so that they can refer to it in their own time. Talk through the possible online sources of fitness clothing and equipment. Search engines like Google can be used to find out different websites that sell the fitness products that we are looking for. Other specific websites will compare the prices of different items for sale on different sites. There are more search engines and price comparison sites available but they are all similar to use. There are pros and cons of all websites and search engines. Get participants to go to each listed website on the handout and talk through the good points, bad points and top tips of using the sites as outlined. Ask participants to search for specific items on each search engine or website to get them used to how they work.

Online fitness Main content: Team challenge Split the group into even teams. The challenge is to find online a) the cheapest possible yoga outfit and equipment set, and b) the most expensive. They must find: A mat suitable for exercise Some bands to help with exercises A pair of trousers/shorts A t-shirt or top suitable for exercise The teams must use the websites you have gone through and others they find online to come up with the cheapest and most expensive alternatives. The teams must also work out how much cheaper their low cost alternative is to their high cost one. Offer a prize to the team that has found the biggest difference. Extra bit If you have extra time, you may wish to look at using simple percentage calculations to compare prices between discounted top price items and low cost alternatives. Go through both types of percentage calculations on the handout to explain how to find a percentage of a number and work out the percentage difference of two figures. Offer the participants two scenarios for each percentage calculation so they can have a go at working them out for themselves. Then show them on a flip chart or whiteboard how you would have worked it out. Conclusion/Review (5 minutes) Close the session by asking the group which website or search engine they thought was the easiest to use, and most helpful, and discuss why. Where to find further information For search engines and comparison websites:

Online fitness Where to find further information (continued) For information on sport and keeping fit: The Adult Core Curriculum has information on numeracy and literacy: The BBC Skillswise website can help with calculations: For more information and advice on implementing Skills for Life learning in your organisation:

Online fitness A search engine is a website on a computer that can search other websites all over the world to help you find what you are looking for. One of the largest search engines. Type in the box what you are looking for and click on the search button. A list of websites will appear on screen with links to relevant pages. The good points: It is easy to use. It offers the largest number of options. You do not have to register or login. The not so good points: It includes a huge amount of information about a huge amount of things. It takes time to search through webpages to find the best options. You can’t compare prices immediately. You will have to visit each site and note the prices yourself. Tips: Use the words that say exactly what you are looking for to get the best results, e.g. by typing ‘fitness clothing’ you are likely to get a lot of shops. Try more specific words such as ‘cheap yoga outfits’ or ‘low cost football kit’ or ‘second-hand running machines’. Always click the box that says ‘pages from the UK’, otherwise you will find a great number of webpages selling clothing and equipment from America. One of the largest shopping comparison websites in the UK. It will help you to find products, compare prices and buy products online. You can go to the section which has the products you are looking for, or just type in the item you wish to buy on the home page. A list of available products and their prices will then be brought up, which you can compare. You can then go direct to the site to make your purchase. The good points: You can compare prices for new products easily and instantly. It is a free service to use. Other people review the products and tell you if they think they are good value for money. The not so good points: It doesn’t always show all of the websites that sell the product. Sometimes it is worth using other search engines as well. The sites you are purchasing from may not be trustworthy, so do be careful with the security of personal details. You may need to use different words and try a couple of different searches to find your product. Tips: Try to keep your search as specific as possible to be able to compare prices, e.g. compare the price of all tracksuits first, then trainers, then aerobics mats and so on. Research the products and companies in which you are interested, by looking at reviews as well as prices, sizes and other costs. Always try another search, with a different search engine or price comparison site, just to double check you are choosing the best product you can. Search engines and useful websites

Online fitness Search engines and useful websites This is an auction site where users can bid for new and second hand items. Once you have registered online you are able to put in bids for the items on offer and if you have the highest offer in the time period of the auction, you are able to buy the item. There is sometimes an option to buy an item outright at a set price. You then deal with the seller to make the purchase. The site is sorted by different categories. You type in the item you are looking for and a list of items matching that description appears. You can then look through the list and find out more before you make a bid. The good points: You can find some very good bargains especially on second hand items. You can find usual or limited edition items that might not be available anywhere else. Sellers and bidders are reviewed and monitored through the registration process. The not so good points: There may be no guarantee with the product because you are buying from individuals. As with any open market place there are some fraudulent sellers to be watchful of but these are kept to a minimum with the use of buyer feedback and investigations. And, unlike a crowded market, you won’t get your pockets picked! You need to register and become a member before you can bid and buy. Tips: In your initial search don’t be too specific or you may miss out on certain items. Sellers may describe similar items in different ways. Start with all fitness equipment, and then narrow it down to all jogging bottoms. Stick to sellers who have received good reviews on a number of occasions from different buyers, these are likely to be more reliable. Only bid for items that you really want to purchase as if you are the winning bid you will be expected to buy or may risk being given a negative rating by the seller, which could cause problems for future purchases.

Online fitness Calculating percentages 1. Finding a percentage of a quantity – useful when looking at discounts Percent means out of one hundred, so 15% means 15 out of one hundred. e.g. 15% = 15/100 = 0.15 To work out what 30% of £800 is: 30% of £800 = 30/100 x £800 = 0.3 x £800 = £240 £800 - £240 = £560 Some percentages can be converted easily into fractions and worked out more quickly that way. 50% = 50/100 = 1/2 so 50% of £400 = 1/2 x 400 = £ Finding a percentage difference of two numbers – useful when comparing prices Working out the percentage difference of two numbers can make them easier to compare. To find out the percentage difference of £50 and £ = 30 30/50 = x 100 = 60% So the £20 item is 60% cheaper. Quick Questions 1.A 20% discount is offered on a £90 yoga set from a leading high street fitness shop. You’ve found one online for £70. Which one is cheaper? Answer (not to go on handout to delegates): 20/100 = x 90 = = £72 cheaper 2.The Designer Sports Store advertises a tracksuit for £40 but you find a similar one online at Fitness for All for just £15. What percentage cheaper is the second tracksuit? Answer (not to go on handout to delegates): = 25 25/40 = x 100 = 62.5% cheaper