Creating a Sense of Global Community and Belonging Through Collaborative Online International Learning

A sense of belonging has been shown to enhance retention and degree completion among undergraduate students. Helping students feel a sense of belonging in a community should be a focus of today’s educators. In professions, such as public health, that seek to address global issues that affect people around the world, feeling connected to a global community is becoming increasingly important. A technology-focused educational intervention was developed to enhance a sense of global belonging/community among two groups of undergraduate public health students from the United States and the United Kingdom using a 7-week collaborative online international learning (COIL) unit. Guided by the intercultural knowledge and competence rubric, one of several rubrics developed by the American Association of Colleges and Universities to assess the achievement of essential skills on college campuses in the United States and abroad, instructors sought to determine if public health students experienced a change in their intercultural competence. A significant change in students’ knowledge of cultural worldview frameworks was noted (pretest M = 2.50, SD = 0.68 vs. posttest M = 2.93, SD = 0.52, p < .001, d = 0.560). After the unit was completed, 83% of participants reported an adequate or sophisticated level of understanding people from other cultures, an increase of 39% from prior to the COIL unit. COIL can increase students’ knowledge of cultural worldview frameworks, which enhances their intercultural competence and sense of belonging in a global community. Effective learning approaches with technology should be used to enhance student belonging, retention, and degree completion in higher education. Future research should further assess COIL and technology-based learning interventions for positive impacts on belonging

Predictors of complementary and alternative medicine use among Texas university undergraduates

Research regarding use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among all populations in America is needed to understand what seems to be an increasing trend. Education has been shown to be a significant determinant of CAM use, therefore, college students are likely to be CAM users. Little research has addressed the prevalence and predictors of CAM use among this population, so the purpose of this study was to: (1) measure the prevalence and type of CAM use among a sample of college undergraduates; and (2) test the significance of select social-cognitive constructs and demographics as predictors of CAM use. A random sample of undergraduate students within the Texas A&M University System was solicited via email to complete a web-based survey. Findings show high rates of CAM use. Gender, attitude toward CAM, outcome expectancies regarding the health care encounter, and social network use of CAM were shown to be significant predictors of CAM use. Results can inform health care and health education professionals interested in improving health care processes and addressing positive and negative issues related to CAM use

COIL: A Global Experience for Everyone

The two projects discussed utilize Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) to engage undergraduate learners across three continents. COIL methodologies are integrated into classes to decenter students' perspectives on their discipline and augment intercultural awareness. COIL methodologies integrate a capacity for articulating an understanding of global systems relevant to students' field of study. Partners from the US, the UK, Uganda, and Nigeria implemented COIL projects to address the need for advanced intercultural awareness. In the following report, collaborators identify their design process, technology choices, student reporting related to outcomes, assessment strategies, and recommendations for successful future COIL projects

Go!: results from a quasi-experimental obesity prevention trial with hospital employees

Abstract Background Worksite obesity prevention interventions using an ecological approach may hold promise for reducing typical weight gain. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Go!, an innovative 12-month multi-component worksite obesity prevention intervention. Methods A quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design was utilized; 407 eligible hospital employees (intervention arm) and 93 eligible clinic employees (comparison arm) participated. The intervention involved pedometer distribution, labeling of all foods in the worksite cafeteria and vending machines (with calories, step equivalent, and a traffic light based on energy density signaling recommended portion), persuasive messaging throughout the hospital, and the integration of influential employees to reinforce healthy social norms. Changes in weight, BMI, waist circumference, physical activity, and dietary behavior after 6 months and 1 year were primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included knowledge, perceptions of employer commitment to employee health, availability of information about diet, exercise, and weight loss, perceptions of coworker support and frequency of health discussions with coworkers. A process evaluation was conducted as part of the study. Results Repeated measures ANCOVA indicated that neither group showed significant increases in weight, BMI, or waist circumference over 12 months. The intervention group showed a modest increase in physical activity in the form of walking, but decreases in fruit and vegetable servings and fiber intake. They also reported significant increases in knowledge, information, perceptions of employer commitment, and health discussions with peers. Employees expressed positive attitudes towards all components of the Go! intervention. Conclusions This low-intensity intervention was well-received by employees but had little effect on their weight over the course of 12 months. Such results are consistent with other worksite obesity prevention studies using ecological approaches. Implementing low-impact physical activity (e.g., walking, stair use) may be more readily incorporated into the worksite setting than more challenging behaviors of altering dietary habits and increasing more vigorous forms of physical activity. Trial Registration This study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT01585480 ) on April 24, 2012