Engaging public health students in providing nutrition education to elementary school students
Abstract
Background: Developing and implementing community interventions is new to many undergraduate public health students. Elementary school-based projects can help students learn to how to research relevant health information, develop learning objectives and evaluation measures, and develop and deliver an engaging lesson plan.
Methods: Public health students enrolled in a private not-for-profit university completed a nutrition education project in the local school district. Students identified relevant National Health Education Standards for students in the third grade. They then developed grade level learning objectives, a lesson plan (nutrition information script, hands on activity, educational handout, and snack recipe), and a pre/post assessment tool to measure learning objectives. After implementing the nutrition education intervention, results of the pre- and post-assessment were compared to determine the extent that learning objectives were met. The students then developed a professional poster to share about their project at the undergraduate engagement, arts, and research conference.
Results: A challenge students identified during lesson plan development was difficulty writing measurable learning objectives and translating these into an age appropriate pre/post assessment tool. Challenges identified during implementation included classroom management. A facilitator of both the lesson plan development and implementation was teamwork. Another strength during implementation was the use of an engaging hands on activity. Students reported that they enjoyed working in the school setting with elementary students and that they gained a deeper appreciation for teachers. They also reported that they gained public speaking skills, personal responsibility, flexibility, and patience. Student statements about their perceptions of impact on the community, personal relevance to the work, and development of civic skills and values showed a commitment to continued participation in community engagement in the public health field.
Keywords
children, nutrition education, planning, implementation, evaluation
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Engaging public health students in providing nutrition education to elementary school students
Background: Developing and implementing community interventions is new to many undergraduate public health students. Elementary school-based projects can help students learn to how to research relevant health information, develop learning objectives and evaluation measures, and develop and deliver an engaging lesson plan.
Methods: Public health students enrolled in a private not-for-profit university completed a nutrition education project in the local school district. Students identified relevant National Health Education Standards for students in the third grade. They then developed grade level learning objectives, a lesson plan (nutrition information script, hands on activity, educational handout, and snack recipe), and a pre/post assessment tool to measure learning objectives. After implementing the nutrition education intervention, results of the pre- and post-assessment were compared to determine the extent that learning objectives were met. The students then developed a professional poster to share about their project at the undergraduate engagement, arts, and research conference.
Results: A challenge students identified during lesson plan development was difficulty writing measurable learning objectives and translating these into an age appropriate pre/post assessment tool. Challenges identified during implementation included classroom management. A facilitator of both the lesson plan development and implementation was teamwork. Another strength during implementation was the use of an engaging hands on activity. Students reported that they enjoyed working in the school setting with elementary students and that they gained a deeper appreciation for teachers. They also reported that they gained public speaking skills, personal responsibility, flexibility, and patience. Student statements about their perceptions of impact on the community, personal relevance to the work, and development of civic skills and values showed a commitment to continued participation in community engagement in the public health field.
