Nutrition Mission is a multimedia educational CD-ROM with an accompanying Web site designed to teach 4th - 6th grade students about making healthy food and activity choices. The CD-ROM incorporates a rich learning environment using graphics, audio, video, and interactive animations to excite students and make learning about nutrition fun. The CD includes lessons about the food guide pyramid, food labels, nutrient density, fast foods, snacking, physical activity, and food science experiments. Preliminary data indicates that the majority of youth acquire knowledge and skills related to foods, nutrition, and physical activity

Cason, Katherine L

Lv, Nan

Wenrich, Tionni R

English

Clemson University: TigerPrints

The Journal of Extension Volume 43 Number 3 Article 27 6-1-2005 Nutrition Mission--A Multimedia Educational Tool for Youth Grades 4 - 6 Katherine L. Cason Clemson University, kcason@clemson.edu Tionni R. Wenrich The Pennsylvania State University, trk122@psu.edu Nan Lv The Pennsylvania State University, nql05@psu.edu This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License. Recommended Citation Cason, K. L., Wenrich, T. R., & Lv, N. (2005). Nutrition Mission--A Multimedia Educational Tool for Youth Grades 4 - 6. The Journal of Extension, 43(3), Article 27. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol43/iss3/27 This Tools of the Trade is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Journal of Extension by an authorized editor of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact kokeefe@clemson.edu. 	 JOEHOME JOURNAL GUIDELINES ABOUT	JOE CONTACT NATIONAL	JOB	BANKCurrent	Issues Back	IssuesJune	2005	//	Volume	43	//	Number	3	//	Tools	of	the	Trade	//	3TOT50Nutrition	Mission--A	Multimedia	Educational	Tool	for	YouthGrades	4	-	6AbstractNutrition	Mission	is	a	multimedia	educational	CD-ROM	with	an	accompanying	Web	site	designedto	teach	4th	-	6th	grade	students	about	making	healthy	food	and	activity	choices.	The	CD-ROMincorporates	a	rich	learning	environment	using	graphics,	audio,	video,	and	interactiveanimations	to	excite	students	and	make	learning	about	nutrition	fun.	The	CD	includes	lessonsabout	the	food	guide	pyramid,	food	labels,	nutrient	density,	fast	foods,	snacking,	physicalactivity,	and	food	science	experiments.	Preliminary	data	indicates	that	the	majority	of	youthacquire	knowledge	and	skills	related	to	foods,	nutrition,	and	physical	activity.	IntroductionChildhood	obesity	is	a	serious	health	issue,	with	the	prevalence	reaching	epidemic	proportions	andmore	than	doubling	in	the	last	three	decades.	The	Centers	for	Disease	Control	and	Preventionestimates	that	16%	of	children	and	youth	between	the	ages	of	6	and	19	are	overweight--a	figurethat	has	more	than	tripled	since	the	early	1960s	(Hedley	et	al.,	2004;	National	Center	for	HealthStatistics,	2004).Dietary	interventions,	with	the	focus	of	preventing	and	reducing	obesity,	have	met	with	mixedresults.	The	outcomes	of	numerous	studies	of	school-based	interventions	are	inconclusive	indetermining	which	aspects	of	a	school-based	intervention	are	most	effective.	However,	the	mostsuccessful	interventions	are	behaviorally	focused	and	are	based	upon	the	identified	needs	of	thetarget	population	(Ontario	Public	Health	Association,	2002).	To	provide	research-based	informationthat	focuses	on	the	identified	needs	of	the	youth,	an	interactive	multimedia	educational	CD-ROM,Nutrition	Mission,	was	developed.Project	DescriptionThe	Nutrition	Mission	CD-ROM	incorporates	a	rich	learning	environment	using	graphics,	audio,video,	and	interactive	animations.	The	Interactive	Design	and	Development	(IDD)	Company	inBlacksburg	Virginia	was	contracted	to	produce	the	CD.Katherine	L.	CasonProfessorClemson	UniversityClemson,	South	Carolinakcason@clemson.eduTionni	R.	WenrichGraduate	Research	AssistantThe	Pennsylvania	State	UniversityUniversity	Park,	Pennsylvaniatrk122@psu.eduNan	LvGraduate	Research	AssistantThe	Pennsylvania	State	UniversityUniversity	Park,	Pennsylvanianql105@psu.eduPrior	to	CD	development,	three	focus	group	interviews	were	conducted	with	27	youth	to	assesstheir	present	knowledge	about	nutrition	and	snacking	and	physical	activity	habits.	The	results	wereused	to	develop	the	CD-ROM's	educational	messages.During	the	development	process,	three	additional	focus	group	interviews	were	conducted	with	29youth	to	gather	information	about	educational	activity	design,	format,	and	characters	that	wouldappear	on	the	CD.	The	researchers	provided	content	information	and	assisted	IDD	with	thedevelopment	of	the	educational	activities.The	final	version	of	the	Nutrition	Mission	CD	is	a	secret	agent	headquarters	where	children	canenter	as	recruits	with	their	own	code.	The	recruits	complete	a	short	pre-test,	and	then	begin	toparticipate	in	"special	agent"	training	in	four	areas:	Mission	Briefing,	Mission	Training,	R	&	D	Lab,and	the	Mess	Hall.The	Mission	Briefing	training	consists	of	lessons	on	the	food	guide	pyramid,	nutrition	facts	label,and	nutrient	density.	Mission	Training	highlights	the	physical	activity	pyramid	and	provides	anactivity	log.	The	R	&	D	lab	focuses	on	specific	nutrients	(calcium,	fats,	iron,	protein,	sodium,sweeteners,	and	vitamin	C)	and	their	food	sources.	The	R	&	D	lab	also	includes	grade-appropriatefood	science	experiments	that	can	be	conducted	in	school	or	at	home	with	the	assistance	from	anadult.	The	Mess	Hall	includes	information	and	games	related	to	fast	foods	and	snacking.Each	training	area	was	developed	to	focus	on	content	areas,	using	a	variety	of	educationaltechniques.	Emphasis	is	on	learning	through	exploration	and	examples.	The	lessons	incorporate	acycle	of	instruction,	practice,	test,	and	reward.	Games,	video,	bar	charts,	multiple	choicequestions,	and	mini-lectures	are	used	to	communicate	information.	Each	training	area	takesapproximately	20-30	minutes	to	complete;	however,	the	games	can	be	played	for	as	long	as	thestudent	likes.The	final	activity	for	each	level	is	a	Mission	Readiness	test.	This	comprehensive	test	is	formattedlike	a	board	game	in	which	you	collect	three	pyramids.	The	score	is	based	on	the	number	ofmultiple	choice	questions	answered	correctly.	This	activity	requires	the	child	to	apply	and	evaluatethe	information	presented.Nutrition	Mission	even	includes	a	rap,	"The	BVM,"	which	emphasizes	balance,	variety,	andmoderation.	A	companion	Web	site	includes	resources	for	students,	educators,	and	parents.	TheWeb	site	includes	educational	handouts,	resource	lists,	description	about	how	the	program	meetseducational	standards,	the	lyrics	to	the	rap,	and	links	to	credible	Web	sites	that	offer	nutrition	andphysical	activity	information.EvaluationNutrition	Mission	includes	a	pre-test	and	a	post-test	evaluation.	Educators	can	upload	the	studentdata	to	the	Web	site,	where	it	is	compiled.	Preliminary	data	from	56	students	who	completed	thepre-test	and	post-test	indicates	that	the	majority	of	youth	acquire	knowledge	and	skills	related	tofoods,	nutrition,	and	physical	activity.	Table	1	shows	the	percentage	of	students	who	answeredeach	question	correctly	as	well	as	the	significance	of	the	corresponding	paired	t-test	results.	Thestudents	improved	their	scores	significantly	between	pre-test	and	post-test	for	each	of	the	10questions	as	well	as	the	total	score.Table	1.Percentage	of	Correct	Responses	for	Each	Question	at	Pretest	and	Posttest(N=56)Question%	Correct	(pre-test)%	Correct(post-test)p-value	fromt-test1.	Each	day	you	should	eatthe	most	servings	from	whichfood	group?41 89 .0002.	The	Food	Guide	Pyramidteaches	us.	.	.73 96 .0003.	How	many	servings	shouldyou	have	from	the	milk	groupeach	day?54 86 .0004.	The	Nutrition	Facts	label.	.	. 38 63 .0095.	When	a	food	is	nutrientdense,	it.	.	.38 86 .0006.	A	good	snack	is.	.	. 29 91 .0007.	Which	statement	is	falseabout	fast	food?27 70 .0008.	Which	of	the	following	fastfood	items	contain	the	leastamount	of	fat	per	serving?11 52 .0009.	How	much	moderatephysical	activity	should	youget?27 71 .00010.	Which	of	the	following	isthe	best	strategy	formaintaining	a	healthy	diet?27 61 .000Total	score	mean 36 76 .000Total	score	range 10	to	70 40	to	100	Nutrition	Mission	educator	and	student	user	responses,	obtained	from	email	messages	andpersonal	discussions	with	users,	have	been	overwhelming.	The	educators	have	reported	that	theCD	has	enabled	them	to	teach	nutrition	and	physical	activity	concepts	in	a	new,	innovativemanner.	Students	are	likewise	enthusiastic	about	their	experiences	with	the	program	and	findthemselves	wanting	more.	These	comments	provide	project	staff	with	insight	into	the	success	ofthe	Nutrition	Mission.From	educators:"I	love	the	food	science	experiments.	What	a	wonderful	way	to	teach	nutrition	concepts!""My	students	love	the	CD.	They	could	play	the	games	for	hours!""You	should	have	heard	the	gasps	when	the	single	slice	of	pepperoni	pizza	sent	it	through	theroof!"From	students:"I	couldn't	stand	IQ	until	I	saw	her	in	the	BVM	rap.	She	is	kinda	like	Mrs.	Doubtfire--reallycool!""I	wish	my	teacher	would	allow	us	to	play	the	games	longer.""This	just	boggles	my	mind!		I	never	thought	about	nutrient	density	before.	Now	I	will	paymore	attention	to	what	I	eat!"ConclusionThe	Nutrition	Mission	CD-ROM	is	an	innovative	way	to	help	youth	acquire	knowledge,	skills,attitudes,	and	behaviors	necessary	to	improve	their	nutrition	and	fitness.	Preliminary	evaluationdata	shows	that	Nutrition	Mission	students	are	making	significant	improvements	in	theirknowledge	and	skills	regarding	foods,	nutrition,	and	physical	activity.	User	responses	indicate	thateducators	and	students	alike	are	enthusiastic	about	using	the	CD.	Extension	educators	and	othereducators	who	work	with	youth	can	incorporate	Nutrition	Mission	as	an	integral	component	of	theircurriculum	to	facilitate	improvements	in	nutrition	and	physical	activity	choices	among	theirstudents.To	order	Nutrition	Mission,	send	a	check	for	$30	per	CD	plus	$5	for	shipping	per	order	to	the	PennState	Publications	Distribution	Center,	112	Agricultural	Administration	Building,	University	Park	PA16802.	To	order	using	a	MasterCard	or	VISA,	call	toll-free	1-877-345-0691.ReferencesHedley,	A.	A.,	Ogden,	C.	L.,	Johnson,	C.	L.,	Carroll,	M.	D.,	Curtin,	L.	R.,	Flegal,	K.	M.	(2004).Overweight	and	obesity	among	US	children,	adolescents,	and	adults,	1999-2002.	JAMA	291:2847-50.National	Center	for	Health	Statistics.	(2004).	Obesity	still	and	major	problem,	new	data	show.Available	at:	http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/overwght99.htmOntario	Public	Health	Association.	(2002).	The	effectiveness	of	school-based	strategies	for	theprimary	prevention	of	obesity	and	for	promoting	physical	activity	and/or	nutrition,	the	majormodifiable	risk	factors	for	type	2	diabetes.	Ontario	Public	Health	Association,	Health	Canada,Canadian	Diabetes	Strategy.Copyright	©	by	Extension	Journal,	Inc.	ISSN	1077-5315.	Articles	appearing	in	the	Journal	become	the	property	of	theJournal.	 Single	 copies	 of	 articles	may	 be	 reproduced	 in	 electronic	 or	 print	 form	 for	 use	 in	 educational	 or	 trainingactivities.	Inclusion	of	articles	in	other	publications,	electronic	sources,	or	systematic	large-scale	distribution	may	bedone	only	with	prior	electronic	or	written	permission	of	the	Journal	Editorial	Office,	joe-ed@joe.org.If	you	have	difficulties	viewing	or	printing	this	page,	please	contact	JOE	Technical	Support©	Copyright	by	Extension	Journal,	Inc.	ISSN	1077-5315.	Copyright	Policy

Nutrition Mission--A Multimedia Educational Tool for Youth Grades 4 - 6

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Nutrition Mission--A Multimedia Educational Tool for Youth Grades 4 - 6

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