Express Session

Summary

Express session allows trainers and caregivers the ability to record sessions for multiple animals at one time.  The Express Session tool provides a set of "Global" fields that populate to each individual Session Record. Global data fields include date, time, session type, rating, duration (in minutes) and comments. The session type and rating can easily be adjusted on a per animal basis once each row of records appears.  This tool allows trainers and caregivers an easy way to quickly record sessions for multiple Individual animals. 

Important:  Express Session only works for INDIVIDUAL animals that have a NUTRITIONAL PLAN configured AND have "Record Training Data" turned ON in their profile.

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TO USE EXPRESS SESSION FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

1. Click on the "Express Session" link within the Animal menu from the Navigator panel on the left.

2. Select the Area/Exhibit containing the animals that are being recorded. 
3. Select each animal you want included in the express session from the "Animals" list, and then click the right arrow button to move them to the "Selected" list.  You can use the double arrow (>>) button to move all animals at one time. The animals showing in the Selected list will be included in the Express Session. 
4. Click on the "Start Express Session" button. 

5. The Time field will default to the current time.  This can be adjusted by clicking inside the field and using the dropdown picker to change the time.
   
   IMPORTANT:  The date cannot be changed in Express Session.  
6. Select the Session Type from the dropdown.
7. Select a Rating for the session based on a 1-5 scale.  Once the rating is selected, a session record for each animal will appear below the "global" selectors.  
8. Enter the Duration of the session in minutes. 
9. Add any Comments that you want to note regarding the session. 
10. Each Session Type dropdown will default to the "global" selection from the top row.  However, you can change any Session Type by using the dropdown for each Individual. 
11. Select the Trainer (caregiver) that conducted the session with the corresponding animal. 
12. Key in the Food amount that was fed to each animal.  
    
    NOTE:  Due to the nature of "express session", food values entered in this field are recorded as a single value (total sum of all food types).  Each fish type will be calculated and assigned to each animal based on a percentage of total diet as configured in that animal's current Nutritional Plan. 
    NOTE:  If you prefer to itemize the food fed for each animal you may do so by clicking the "N" icon to the right of the Rating dropdown.  See section below describing the function of each icon. 
    IMPORTANT:  The calculated food field on the main screen will supersede any values that may have been entered in the itemized popup if both tools have data entered.
    TIP:  If you prefer to enter the food amount as the number of food items fed instead of weight, you can configure the system to do so within the Master Food Inventory tool.  This will require you to estimate the number of food units for a single weight unit (i.e. pounds or kilograms).  
13. A series of icons (buttons) that trigger popup modal windows are available for each row.  These allow additional information to be appended to the session record.  See below for more detail regarding each button icon.  
14. Click the "Submit Session Data" when complete. 

TIP:  Session Type and Rating will automatically populate based on the global (top row) selection when first starting the Express Session.  You can change each of these if necessary with the corresponding dropdown menus in each row.  

IMPORTANT:  You cannot enter more food than is configured in the animal's Nutritional Plan using the calculated food field on the main page.  Once an animal's total diet is recorded, you must use the itemized food tool ("N" icon") to record food for a session. 

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 As mentioned above in Step #13, there is optional data that can be appended to each session.  The utilization of these tools requires additional configuration.  Below is a description of what each button represents. 

1. Nutrition Detail:  This tool will launch a new window that will allow you to itemize which food types were fed during the session.  It is important to know that if you utilize this function, you do NOT want to enter a value in the calculated food field on the main page.  If you do enter a value on the main Express Session page is will supersede anything entered here. 
   
2. Medicines & Vitamins Administered:  This tool allows caregivers to check off any vitamins or medicines that were given during the session. 
3. Incident: This feature allows you to track sets of conditions and is often used to monitor critical behavior patterns and associated data.  For example, many Members use this to track aggression, associated behaviors, targets of the aggression and location in the environment.  
4. Social Pairing:  Used to record specific social pairs that teamed up during the session. 
5. Enrichment:  Allows the User to record Environmental Enrichment devices that were administered during the session and the intent of each device. 
6. Learning:  This tool allows you to track the progress of new behavior that is being conditioned. 
7. Session Summary:  This popup modal will show you the other sessions that have already been recorded for a specific animal.  This can help prevent duplicate entries from different members of your team.