Best Practices in Fitness Education

This webinar focuses on best practices in K-12 fitness education and emphasizes that fitness education should be a learning process, not simply fitness testing or participation in physical activity. The presentation highlights standards-based instruction, health-related fitness concepts, training principles, goal setting, self-monitoring, reflection, and developmentally appropriate Physical Best activities. A major theme is shifting from simply “doing fitness” to “learning about fitness,” with assessment used to support student learning, personal improvement, and meaningful goal setting rather than comparison or ranking.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Describe the purpose of fitness education within a standards-based physical education program; 
• Distinguish fitness education from physical activity, exercise, and fitness assessment; 
• Explain the shift from fitness testing to fitness learning;  
• Align concepts with instruction, student practice, self-monitoring, reflection, and growth; 
• Examine Physical Best activities that teach fitness knowledge through active, developmentally appropriate learning experiences. 

Webinar presenters: Jennifer Smith and Brent Heidorn.

This webinar explores how educators can meaningfully align health-related fitness instruction and assessment with the SHAPE America National Physical Education Standards. Participants will discover practical strategies for integrating fitness education and assessment into engaging lessons rather than treating it as a stand-alone test. Examples for grades K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12 will demonstrate developmentally appropriate applications that support physical literacy and lifelong wellness.  

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Identify health-related fitness components and principles; 
• Locate fitness across all four National Physical Education Standards; 
• Use indicators and progressions to plan instruction; 
• Build an inclusive, standards-aligned fitness lesson. 

Webinar presenter: Christina Collins.

This webinar will explore practical ways to make health-related fitness more inclusive, student-centered, and meaningful for every learner. Participants will examine current research on health and body size, explore inclusive language and assessment practices, practice individual goal-setting strategies, and leave with ready-to-use lesson ideas aligned to the SHAPE America National Physical Education Standards.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Apply key concepts related to health-related fitness, body awareness, and body neutrality in PE instruction; 
• Adapt fitness activities and assessments to support the needs and abilities of all students; 
• Implement individualized fitness goal-setting strategies that focus on personal growth; 
• Design or adapt health-related fitness lessons aligned with the National Physical Education Standards and inclusive teaching practices. 

Webinar presenter: Nicole Sheffer.

This webinar explores the transition from traditional, event-based fitness testing to a holistic, process-oriented fitness assessment framework. Participants will learn how to transform the gymnasium into a personalized wellness environment where students set goals, track progress, and evaluate their own growth while teachers establish standards and provide guidance. With this approach, students gain agency, psychological safety, and ownership of learning. Standards-based lesson activities and assessment options will be provided.  

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Distinguish between traditional fitness testing and holistic assessment models; 
• Establish supportive fitness assessment environments using self-assessment and teacher guidance strategies; 
• Support student engagement through goal-setting approaches, positive attitudes, and meaningful learning experiences; 
• Align fitness assessment practices with the National Physical Education Standards. 

Webinar presenter: Fran Cleland Donnelly and Dave Schmidt.