FAQs

General Questions

Active U is a program for members of the campus community to team up, get active, and enhance your overall well-being. With Active U, you can start tracking your progress as you virtually walk (cycling, yoga, swim or garden) to San Francisco. You can participate as an individual or create a team with your faculty, department, office, centre or student group. You can even challenge other teams to see who can circle the island the fastest. Active U includes a calendar of on-going events including guided tours, events, prized and contests.

Active U officially started on March 26, 2008 with a map of Vancouver Island. The Victoria to San Francisco map was launched May 2010.

Active U is for all members of the campus community (students, faculty, staff and their families).

The Victoria to San Francisco trek is an on-going challenge.

Yes, in part. From off campus, you would be able to take part in the virtual trek to San Francisco. Both the Active U main website and the activity tracking website are available on-line.

No. You can take part as an individual or as a member of a team. If you do chose to join a team, you will be able to track BOTH your individual progress to San Francisco and the progress of your team.

Pedometers are available for individual or bulk purchase through the UVIC Bookstore.

Do I have to buy a pedometer?

As the Active U tracking program has a built in activity converter, you are able to take part in the program without a pedometer. You would be able to log your daily physical activity using the time you spent doing the activity (eg, 40 min swim, 1 hour yoga class, 30 minute walk). It is however more challenging to log your daily steps without a pedometer.

This sounds fun. How do I go about setting up a group so that my colleagues and I can track our steps together?

Full details on how to set-up a team are available on the Active U website. Click here for more details.

How long is the trek from Victoria to San Francisco? How many steps?

The trek to San Francisco is 1670 km which equates to 2,178,000 steps.

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Getting Started and Registration

I am currently not very physically active. I’m uncertain on how to start. Can you help me?

In order to determine a good starting point, we have provided you with a number of resources and strategies on both the Getting Started and the Pedometer sections of our Active U webpage. Please pay specific attention to the SMART goals section on the Getting Started page and the “How to increase to 10,000 steps/day” section on the Pedometer page. Congratulation on making this commitment to yourself!

How do I register for Active U?

I am in the process of registering and I have been asked to check that “I have read and understood the ParQ”. What is the ParQ?

Details on the ParQ are available when you register by clicking on the word ParQ at the end of the statement “I have read and understood the Par-Q).

Par-Q stands for Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire. It was originally developed by the British Columbia Ministry of Health. It has been revised in 2002 by an Expert Advisory Committee of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. To view a pdf version of the Par-Q, click here.

When registering, should I use my NetLink ID and Password as my ActiveU password?

No. Since the enhancement of functionality of uSource, faculty and staff have been advised to keep personal usernames and passwords confidential. NOVA advises that if you share your password with someone, he or she will now be able to access your personal information. If you have used your NetLink ID and Password when registering for Active U, we suggest that you change your NetLink Password. Click here for instructions.

To make it easier, why didn’t Active U use NetLink IDs and Passwords?

With the Active U activity tracking program, User Names and Passwords can be viewed by members of the Active U Core Committee, Team Leads and the company who developed the tracking program. Considering this, the use of NetLink Ids and Passwords was not considered as it would have had an negative impact on the privacy of your personal information.

Who else can see my steps? My registration information?

If you are participating as an individual, your steps and registration information can be accessed by members of the Active U Core Committee (as main administrator to the activity tracking program) and the company who developed the tracking program.

If you have joined a team, your steps and registration information can be accessed by your Team Lead, members of the Active U Core Committee (as main administrator to the activity tracking program) and the company who developed the tracking program.

If I join at team, will I still be able to track my own progress?

Yes. You will have access to both your personal map and statistics as well as your Group Map and Group Activity.

I use a wheelchair. Can I participate?

Absolutely. There are a number of options.

If you would like to wear a pedometer, it can be clipped onto your upper arm using an arm-band with a velcro attachment. Click here for details and picture. For the purposes of logging your steps, the tracking program uses an average step length of 0.762 meters. Depending on the circumference of the wheel on your wheelchair, you may want to calculate a correction factor for the steps that have registered on your pedometer prior to entering your steps into the activity tracker.

I have a medical condition that limits how physical active I can be. Do I have to log a certain number of steps per day?

No. The program is a means of logging your physical activity, no matter what the level. In order to determine a good starting point for your trek around Vancouver Island, we have provided you with a number of resources and strategies on both the Getting Started and the Pedometer sections of our Active U webpage.

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Editing your User Info after registering

I registered on Active U, but now I want to join a group.  Do I have to submit a whole new registration or is there another way I can join?

Yes, you can join a team using the same User Name and account that you started with. Please do not start a new User Name as this will alter your stats and step history. See “How do I join a team?” below.

How do I join a team?

Once you are logged on, you will see a box on the right-hand side of the screen called “Your Stats”. On the third line it says “Edit User Info” – Click on these words. A new box will open, containing the information that you provided when you registered. The last line is named “Groups”. If you have not joined a team yet, it will say “No Group”. On the right hand side of the box is an arrow. Click on the arrow to open the pull-down menu. Select your team from the pull-down menu. To save this change, you must “Update Information”. For further details, please view the orientation presentation.

How do I change the information that I entered when I registered?

Once you are logged on, you will see a box on the right-hand side of the screen called “Your Stats”. On the third line it says “Edit User Info” – Click on these words. A new box will open, containing the information that you provided when you registered. You can edit any of the information contained in the boxes. To save your changes, you must “Update Information”. For further details, please view the orientation presentation. Click here to view the presentation.

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Trouble logging in

I have forgotten my password? Who do I contact?

If you are on a team, your Team Lead can provide you with this information. If you are not on a team, you can either email us at activeu@uvic.caor click on “Forgot Password” in the Log-in box. Your password will be emailed to you.

I have forgotten my username? Who do I contact?

If you are on a team, your Team Lead can provide you with this information. If you are not on a team, you can email us at activeu@uvic.ca.

Why can’t I log-in? I enter my User Name and Password and I see the pop-up box, but I return to the log-in window and I notice it says “Invalid Username and/or Password” in red at the top.

You are entering either your User Name or Password incorrectly. If you are on a team, your Team Lead can assist you by confirming your log-in information. If you are not on a team, you can email us at activeu@uvic.ca.

When I log-in., I can only see our team map and graphs. Why?

This will only happen if you on a team. Team Leads have the option of customizing up to three team pages. If the Team Lead customizes Page 1 of these pages, all team members will log-on and see a gray coloured screen with the words “Group Challenge” at the top. To view your personal page and enter your steps and activities, click on the word “Map” on the second menu line of the toolbar.

I tried to log on this morning and for some reason I get the “Invalid Username and/or Password” message. When I clicked on the link “Forgot Password”, it says that my e-mail address is not found. What does this mean?

Unfortunately, it is possible to delete a Username and all of the data. This may have happened so please email us at activeu@uvic.ca and we will do what we can to assist you.

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Logging your steps and other activities

How do I enter my steps?

Steps (and activities) are entered in the Your Stats! Section on the right hand side of the map. To enter your steps:

1. Use the pull down menu to enter the correct date in Activity Date
2. Enter your steps in the Enter Steps box (do not use commas)
3. Click on the Submit Steps button.

How do I enter other activities?

Activities (and steps) are entered in the Your Stats! Section on the right hand side of the map. To enter your activity:

1. Use the pull down menu to enter the correct date in Activity Date
2. Select the activity from the Select Activity pull down menu. Please note that while the activities are listed in alphabetical order, some entries contain more than one activity (eg. Tai Chi/Yoga/Pilates or Hiking/Rock Climbing).
3. Click on the circle indicating the amount of time you performed the activity (to the nearest ½ hour). If you performed an activity for more than 2 hours, simply enter the activity twice.
4. Click on the circle indicating the intensity (Mild, Med, Intense) that you performed the activity at.
5. Click on the Submit Activity button

I entered my steps and my activity and only my steps are noted?

If you have both steps and activity to enter, you will need to make two entries. The Your Stats! Section on the right hand side of the map, contains both a “Submit Steps” and a “Submit Activity” button. Enter either your steps or your activity and click on the appropriate button. If you try and enter both your steps and your activity by clicking Submit Steps, only your steps will be entered.

Do I have to log-on everyday?

No, you do not have to log your steps and activity everyday. However, if you are part of a team and chose to log your steps less frequently (eg, once per week), this may have an impact on your team statistics (eg. Group Activity).

I made a mistake when entering my steps. Can I correct this?

Yes. In the Steps History section (to the right of the map at the bottom of the page), click on the appropriate time frame (ie. last 7 days, last 30 days or all steps). Click on the # of steps for that day. A new box will open titled “Edit your steps for (date)”. Edit your steps information using Update and Delete buttons. If your steps are related to an activity, it is best to delete the entry and re-enter the activity. To close the Edit your steps page, click on “Back to Map”.

Do I wear my pedometer for my dance class? Bike ride? Run?

No. While your pedometer is the best way to log your steps while walking, you should enter your other activities using the “Submit Activity” button. We recommend that you take your pedometer off while you take part in these other activities. If you will be keeping your pedometer with you, it is advisable to note your steps prior to starting other activities. This is especially important for bike rides as the vibration and side-to-side motions during your ride will likely register as steps on your pedometer..

I don’t see yoga as an activity. What do I do?

Yoga is in the Select Activity pull-down list. The activities are listed in alphabetical order, but some entries contain more than one activity. This is the case for Yoga which is included in the grouping “Tai Chi/Yoga/Pilates”.

How do I get steps for other activities? How are these steps calculated?

Your get steps for other activities by submitting the activity using the “Submit Activity” button. See “How do I enter other activities?” above.

Steps for other activities are calculated using METs, which stands for Metabolic Equivalent. One MET is defined as 1 kilocalorie per kilogram per hour and is the caloric consumption of a person while at complete rest.

An activity that burns 1.0 to 2.9 METs is considered low-intensity physical activity; 3.0 to 5.9 METs is considered moderate physical activity; and an activity that burns 6.0 METs or more is considered vigorous physical activity.

Can I enter more than one activity per day?

Yes. Multiple entries can be made each day.

What do I do if I took part in an activity for more than 2 hours (eg. long hike)?

To log your activity, make one entry for the first two hours, and then make another entry for the remaining time. Remember that you can make multiple entries each day.

What if an activity is not in the list?

First, make sure that the activity is not on the list. While the activities are listed in alphabetical order, some entries contain more than one activity (eg. Tai Chi/Yoga/Pilates or Hiking/Rock Climbing). If you activity is not there, email us at activeu@uvic.ca.

I’ve entered my activity time and intensity and clicked on Submit Activity, but nothing happens. Why?

You may have missed a step in entering your activity. Make sure that you selected your activity from the Select Activity menu and that you clicked on the “Submit Activity” button (and not “Submit Steps” button).

I’ve entered my activity information and clicked Submit Steps, but nothing happens. Why?

If you are trying to submit an activity, you must click on the “Submit Activity” button and not the “Submit Steps” button.

What should I do when I go on vacation?

As the ActiveU and activity tracker websites are on-line, if you have an internet connection where you are vacationing, you can enter your steps just like when you are home. If you will not have internet access, keep a written log of your steps and other activities and enter them when you return.

What is the BMI on the right side of the map?

BMI stands for body mass index. The BMI is a ratio of weight-to-height. Research studies in large groups of people have shown that the BMI can be classified into ranges associated with health risk. There are four categories of BMI ranges in the Canadian weight classification system. These are:

- underweight (BMI less than 18.5);

- normal weight (BMIs 18.5 to 24.9);

- overweight (BMIs 25 to 29.9), and

- obese (BMI 30 and over).

For a more detailed BMI graph, please visit Health Canada’s BMI Nomogram at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/weights-poids/guide-ld-adult/bmi_chart_java-graph_imc_java_e.html)

For more information on the BMI, please visit Health Canada’s “Canadian Guidelines for Body Weight Classification in Adults – Questions and Answers for the Public (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/weights-poids/guide-ld-adult/qa-qr-pub_e.html#2)

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Individual statistics

Where do I find a summary of my steps to date?

Your steps are summarized in three places. The visual line on the map, in the Your Stats! Section (to the right of the map at the top of the page) and in the Steps History section (to the right of the map at the bottom of the page). For further details on each of these, please view the orientation presentation.

How can I gauge my progress?

Why is my average steps per day so low? So high?

Your average steps per day is obtained by adding up all of your steps and dividing this number by the number of days you have been stepping. The number of days you have been stepping is the number of days since the day that you registered. If you registered early and did not log any steps, then your average steps will seem low. If you registered and then added steps or activities for days prior to your registration date, then your average steps will seem high.

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Team statistics

Is there a difference between the Group Map and Group Activity graph?

Yes, there is a difference. Once signifies how well a team is doing in the number of steps logged while the other signifies how well a team is doing at logging their steps on a daily basis. See more details below.

How is the Group or Team Map calculated?

The red line on the team map notes the calculated Average Steps for your team. To get this number, the steps of all team members are added up and divided by the number of team members. So if your team had logged 1,000,000 steps and there were 10 team members, your Average Steps is 100,000 steps.

How is the Group or Team Activity graph calculated?

The Group Activity graph is based on the percentage of active members (rather than steps logged). This is a measure of participation level for your team, rather than physical activity level. This percentage is calculated as the number of days that daily steps have been logged over the last 7 days, divided by the number of days that the team members have been registered over the last 7 days.

Why is our red line moving so slow on our Group Map?

Remember that the red line notes the Average Steps for your team. If you have a number of team members who are not logging steps, this will pull-down your average and result in your red line moving slowly.

When we track our steps individually, does it automatically add all our steps as a team together for an overall result?

Yes, as long as you are noted as a team member.

How can I be sure my steps are being added to my team statistics?

To confirm that you have been added to your team look for your team name on the top line of the orange toolbar in the activity tracking website or ask your Team Lead to confirm that you are registered for the team.

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Teams

How to I start a team?

Good instructions on how to create a team are located on the Active U website. Click here.

How do I join a team?

See above in the Editing your User Info after registering.

What is the difference between a team and a group?

Nothing. The words team and group are interchangeable.

Can you join more than one team?

No. As your steps are automatically added to your groups totals, you can only join one team.

How do I become a team lead?

Can there be more than one team lead?

Yes. Teams can establish more than one team lead. This is especially helpful for vacation coverage.

Can we provide you with a list of names to set-up our team?

As each individual must sign-up on their own and establish their User Name and Password, we are not able to accept a list of names. Once the team has been established, new users can easily add themselves to the team when registering and existing members can easily add themselves to the team following the instructions noted in “How do I join a team?” above.

Can two or more departments create a team?

Yes. Teams can be made up of any variation of faculty, department, office, centre or group. We sometimes use the word “department” for ease, but teams are not limited to being departmental teams.

I’d like to register a team. Some people are already registered users. How do we add them to the team?

Each registered user has to add himself/herself to the team by following the instructions in “How do I join a team?” above.

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