Publication Date

2023

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Duffrin, Melani W.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

School of Health Studies

Abstract

Introduction: Food, fitness, and nutrition (FAN) professional development (PD) for informal educators can serve to impact science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics, and medicine (STEAM+M) learning environments. Using food as a teaching tool in shaping the development of informal educators and education of students offers a unique opportunity for the acquisition of scientific knowledge and essential skills. The purpose of this study was to develop a Food FAN Academy for informal educators and evaluate the effectiveness of the PD. Methods: Case study method was utilized for the research study and the Food FAN Academy PD was a two-hour session designed in a see one, do one, teach one approach. Researcher developed Food FAN cards utilization and subject matter was the foundation for the Food FAN Academy. The study was approved by the Northern Illinois University Institutional review board and participants were recruited from the university STEAM outreach center. STEAM educators (N=7) voluntarily participated in a Food FAN Academy and a subset (N=2) volunteered to demonstrate abilities to use food as a teaching tool in an afterschool program. Food FAN Academy participants completed a post academy 21-item 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, assigned a net promoter score ranging between 1-10, and provided written feedback on an affective domain of learning surveys (ADLS) post academy. Subset participants were evaluated using a researcher developed observation checklist and post implement open ended question survey. Survey results were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 26.0. Results and Discussion: Participant demographics were gender identity 1 (14%) was male, 5 (71%) were female, and 1 (14%) was non-binary, race 5 (71%) Caucasian, 1 (14%) Asian, and 1(14%) other, ethnicity 6 (86%) non-Hispanic and 1 (14%) Hispanic, age 3 (43%) 30-34, 1 (14%) 35-39, and 3 (43%) 40-49, and years of experience as an educator 2 (29%) 0-2, 2 (29%) 5-9, 2 (29%) 10-14, 1 (14%) >20. Overall, Food FANS Academy were positive about the experience. Of the 21 5-point Likert scale items, 18 receive ratings of 4.5 or higher. Items receiving the lowest scores were temperature comfort of the room (3.86±0.9), learning space furniture comfort (4.29±0.76), and continuing to build on skills I learned (4.29±0.49). The net promoter score rating was 9.86±0.35 and the comments were favorable. Observation of lesson implementation indicated that both educators were prepared, able to engage students, adapt to the learning environments, and complete the lessons. The educator’s written feedback on the experience provided valuable insight for modifying lessons to adapt to the learning environments. Conclusions: This case study provides evidence to support the continuation of the Food FAN Academy and Food FANs card in STEAM+M informal learning environments. Future research with larger sample sizes and evaluation of the educator’s students experience is warranted.

Extent

77 pages

Language

en

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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