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Computer enhanced education in undergraduate dietetics programs
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http://hdl.handle.net/1860/89
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| Title: | Computer enhanced education in undergraduate dietetics programs |
| Authors: | Williams, Jennifer M. |
| Keywords: | Educational technology
Nutrition -- Study and teaching -- United States |
| Issue Date: | 7-Nov-2002 |
| Publisher: | Drexel University |
| Abstract: | Since computer technology was reported as underutilized on a previoussurvey, the objective of this study was to strengthen the role of technology forundergraduate programs in food and nutrition. The purpose was to determinewhether attendance at a workshop on computer applications would increase thevariety and frequency of use of computer applications and educational materials inundergraduate nutrition programs and would stimulate the development of computerenhanced education materials. A 89-item questionnaire was mailed to all respondentto a survey in 1999 following their opportunity to attend workshop training focusedon developing database, web design, and Internet Browser skills. All DieteticsEducation Practice group members who responded to the pre-workshop survey(n=444). T-tests were used to compare the differences in numerical data. Chi-squareanalysis was used to compare the response distribution for categorical variables.Logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratios and confidence intervals forcategorical variables when more than two variables were being compared. Theoverall response rate was 70% (n=311). There were significantly more dieteticinternship affiliates and program directors among the workshop attendees. Attendeesattended significantly more Annual DEP Meetings over the past 5 years. Workshopattendees had greater odds of using databases for program evaluation/managementand for using presentation software for student assignments than non-attendees.
Attendees had a higher frequency of use of Internet Browsers for programevaluation/management and a lower frequency of use of statistical packages forclassroom instruction than non-attendees. There were no differences in findingswhen dietetic internship affiliates were excluded from the analysis. With regards tothe Internet Integration into the Classroom workshop, there was a significant increasein the use of the Internet for program student assignments. With regards to theDatabase workshop, there was a significant increase in the use of the databases forprogram evaluation/management and student assignments. There was no significantdifference in self-reported proficiency with web design, the Internet, or databasesbased on specific attendance at the individual workshops. There was no significantdifference in the number of computer-enhanced education materials developedbetween attendees and non-attendees; most of the classroom activities developedinvolved the Internet. This research documents the effectiveness of workshop-basedinstruction on computer skills at enhancing the incorporation of software and Internetuse into the classroom experience. Many more didactic areas of instruction areneeded to optimize computer use by dietetics educators, and improved access tosoftware, hardware and IT support are desirable. The challenge of reaching dieteticseducators who do not attend DEP meetings may require a different venue for training,such as the American Dietetics Association Annual Meeting, or even better, on-lineforms of education. |
| URI: | http://dspace.library.drexel.edu/handle/1860/89 |
| Appears in Collections: | Drexel Theses and Dissertations
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