The SOFIT tool assesses physical education classes by enabling the researcher to simultaneously collect data on student activity levels, the lesson context, and teacher behavior. The system enables researchers, teachers, and supervisors to make judgments about physical education lessons, particularly as they relate to program goals. The main outcome variable is student physical activity levels, and these can be reported in number of minutes and % lesson time spent in MVPA (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity); VPA (vigorous physical activity); lying down, sitting, standing, and walking; and estimated energy expenditure per lesson (kcal/kg).

A free 93 minute SOFIT Observer Training DVD is available from Active Living Research. Electronic download and hard copy DVD are available.