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Promoting the Health of Today’s Freshmen Through Learning Communities. Alberta McCaleb, DSN, RN Professor and Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs and Partnerships University of Alabama School of Nursing - UAB. Presentation Objectives.
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Promoting the Health of Today’s Freshmen Through Learning Communities Alberta McCaleb, DSN, RN Professor and Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs and Partnerships University of Alabama School of Nursing - UAB
Presentation Objectives • Describe the history of implementation of learning communities at the University of Alabama at Birmingham campus. • Discuss the campus criteria for inclusion of content as a framework for learning community development. • Describe the format used to build a self-assessment freshman seminar related to health.
Presentation Objectives • Describe content related to the freshman seminar entitled “Body and Brain Power: Keeping Yourself Healthy.” • Discuss integration of content within the learning community courses. • Describe outcomes of the implementation process. • Identify lessons learned and modifications to be made.
UAB’s Journey • Work of the accreditation review team for the SACS visit (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) • Work of the Quality Enhancement Plan Committee (QEP) • Appointment of Director of Core Curriculum Enhancement – Dr. Marilyn Kurata • Request for proposals for Freshman Learning Communities (FLCs) approved by the Undergraduate Academic Programs Council
UAB’s Journey • First Freshman Learning Communities (FLCs) implemented in Fall, 2006 • Capacity for 200 of the 1410 freshman admitted to participate • Self-selection of schedule during the Summer, 2006 orientation sessions
General FLC “Rules” • Community consist of an anchor course – 3 credit hours, English Composition 101, and 1-2 selected math/science courses. • Approximately 30% of the course content is related to QEP targeted competencies: ► Writing ► Quantitative Literacy ► Ethics and Civic Responsibility
Body and Brain Power: Keeping Yourself Healthy • 70% of content in the FLC seminar focuses on a theme of the community. • Theme concepts: Health, Self-care, self-assessment (getting to know your own health issues) and genetics/family health issues • Health framework focuses on content such as: physical, psychosocial, developmental, and spiritual processes
Brain and Body Power:Content Specific • Orientation & Intro to Health • Self-assessment survey – Personal Health • Tour & Introduction to Fitness – UAB Recreation Center Staff • Library Assignment – Health-related concepts such as self-help, stress response, learning styles, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need, Family health, self-concept, etc.
Brain and Body Power:Content Specific • Myers-Briggs Inventory Assessment • Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need & Motivation • Managing Stress • The Body’s Response to Stress
Brain and Body Power:Content Specific • Keeping Yourself Safe at College • Avoiding Self-Abusive Behavior • Cardiovascular Health Indicators • Nutritional Health & Self-assessment
Brain and Body Power:Content Specific • Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and Glucose Assessment • The Epidemic of Obesity • Health Consequences of Obesity • Women’s Health Issues
Brain and Body Power:Content Specific • Men’s Health Issues • Health Lifestyles • Diabetes: Could it be me? • Birmingham Health Images • Family Health Assessment & Genogram
Integration of Content Between Courses: EH 101 • Library assignment • Autobiographical Essay • Analyzing Images Essay
Integration of Content Between Courses: PY 101 • Psychosocial content • Motivation & Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need Theory • Learning Styles and Personality
Measuring Outcomes • Course Level – Student Performance ►Exams X 2…………………….40% ►Out of Class Activities…..20% ►Class Participation………..20% ►Final Project………………….20% ~80% of the participants passed with a C or better; 1 W; ~20% D/F
Measuring Outcomes • Course Evaluation - SON * Teaching Effectiveness Data Not Available * Weekly speaker evaluation summary -Relevant content (84 - 94%) -Effective Teaching Methods (90 – 94%) -Knowledgeable, organized (63-88%) -Recommend speaker (63-100%)
Measuring Outcomes • University Level →Item per item evaluation with focus groups at the University Level →Most item ratings clustered around “somewhat” likert scale →Highest rating: Library, getting to know other students, ability to meet new people, role of advisor, exercise impact, establishing personal goals, work together, retention, college recommendations
Lessons Learned • Specific, concrete communication • Class attendance policy • Stagger some subject areas across weeks, not class periods • Improve miscommunication about course • Change Name • Improve FLC team involvement
Contact Information • Dr. Alberta McCaleb Professor and Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs and Partnerships University of Alabama School of Nursing University of Alabama at Birmingham 1530 3rd Avenue South – NB 104C Birmingham, Alabama 35294 Telephone: 205-934-6535 Email: mccaleba@uab.edu