Instructional Program Is to Educate Health Instructors

¶ … instructional program is to educate health instructors so they can go out into their respective communities and provide critical health information to at-risk populations. It is thus absolutely essential that these teachers have accurate information yet are able to disseminate it in an accessible fashion. They must understand the material but also be able to use effective teaching strategies. With this in mind, the initial pedagogical techniques will be lecture-based, to get the necessary information across. However, to maintain a high level of student engagement early on in the process, there will be frequent class discussions about the material, as well as reinforcing tests and quizzes to ensure students are retaining what they have learned.

Once students have a base of knowledge, the teacher can assign practical exercises so the students can use what they have learned -- for example, simulating being teachers themselves and demonstrating how they would present the information to different audiences. Or they might be asked to perform useful exercises that would reinforce the health concepts they were learning, such as designing a meal plan for someone who is diabetic on a budget. Practical exercises prepare students for the rigors of work 'in the field.' Team-based exercises can also be useful including role-plays in which students play the roles of community members, voicing the concerns these individuals might have about the health education process. It is essential that some sort of hands-on, practical learning is incorporated into the educational strategy, given that these students are supposed to be 'practical' health educators, not merely disseminators of theoretical knowledge.

Technology can be an extremely useful asset for students and teachers alike, particularly given the limited time frame of the educational sessions. Email can keep students informed about class developments and the teacher can share various articles or points of interest even when class is not meeting. Or teachers can use technology in instructional materials, such as the following.

Role play health education on the subject of domestic violence

Resources needed:

Access to the Internet

Requirements

Each student will be asked to research facts about domestic violence online, specifically to find a 'case study' of a woman affected by domestic violence as homework