SYLLABUS: HEA 355 Measurements and Evaluation in Community/Public Health Education

(3 credit hours)                                                    

 

Prerequisites: Students must have completed Statistics and Foundation courses.  

 

Instructor:  Dr. Darwin Dennison, Certified Nutrition Specialist, American College of Nutrition

       College of Health and Human Services

Email:         dennison@uncw.edu Please contact me via Blackboard email.

Phone:       910-962-7571 Cell Phone Number: Provided for Tests and Special Assignments

Office Hours:  Monday, Wednesday, 10 am -12 pm. Friday 11 am – 12 pm, 2039 McNeill Hall

                     Virtual Hours: Monday through Friday 8 am – 10 am

                     WebEx: by appointment (must use video cam)

BlackBoard Logon:  https://learn.uncw.edu/webapps/login or through SeaPort.

BlackBoard Help:  https://learn.uncw.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/videos/bborientation/bborientation.htm

TAC Help Desk: tac@uncw.edu or 962-4357. When emailing TAC, provide the course number, section and description of your technical issue.

 

Catalog Description

 
Principles of measurement and evaluation including instrument construction, and an examination of concepts and strategies involved with measurement and evaluation in health education.

 

Course Information

 

HEA 355 Measurements and Evaluation is an online course. Online courses are intensive as reading and assignments are used in lieu of the classroom experience. There are no face to face class meetings, however, there will be synchronous activity including tests scheduled periodically throughout the course. These activities will be scheduled from 2 to 3 hours, usually on Wednesdays late afternoon or early evening. All students must be available, complete tests and participate online during synchronous meetings. WebEx will be used for student – student and student - instructor communication during scheduled times. Face to face office hours are available for students needing assistance in the completion of their assignments. Measurements and Evaluation provides an innovative, technology-based online course that prepares community health education students to evaluate health education programs/interventions/services and research findings. The class focuses upon the active involvement of the students the development of comprehensive applied learning activities with critical reflection experiences.

 

Course Objectives

 

 As a result of completing this course, the student will be able to:

 

• Conduct reviews and analyze community/public health education research literature related to programs/interventions/services.
• Evaluate and synthesize research literature in community health education and be able classify programs by their development and assessment components.
• Appraise the merits and limitations of measurement and evaluation in community health education.
• Formulate the relationship of pilot studies, descriptive studies, qualitative and true experimental designs to program objectives, outcomes and program success.
• Compile a list of data collection instruments including surveys, inventories, indexes, self-management and other instruments used to evaluate community health education
• Describe data analysis plans used to evaluate community/public health education programs/interventions/services and reflect on their strengths and weaknesses.
• Review inventories including critical thinking, intention, critical reflection, satisfaction, and other indices that can be used to evaluate community health education.
• Describe how planning and evaluation supports and enhances community/public health education programs/intervention/services.
• Provide examples of how diversity, global citizenship can be integrate into community/public health education plans.
• Review planned incentive programs and how participant involvement can forward and enhance programs/interventions/services.
• Evaluate the importance and influence of theoretical frameworks and how theory selection can improve or detract from programs.
• Assess the attributes of qualitative and quantitative data collection in community health education programs/interventions/services.
• Analyze the financials related to programs, how funded, cost per person, administrative fees, balance statements and communication to stakeholders.
• Compare results of current programs and identify possible innovative plans for future program planning including social media, online and computer-based programs.
• Create a hypothetical community/public health education program from development to evaluation.

 

 

Artifacts and Activities

The following artifacts will be used to accomplish selected objectives as well as provide service learning and applied learning activities. Data from these artifacts will be posted to student portfolios and serve as partial evaluation of the student learning objectives.

 

Proposal Plan

 

Competency: 4.4 Interpret Results of Evaluation/Research

 

Identify and conduct an on-site review of a community/public health education program/intervention/service and then describe as follows:

 

• Provide an abstract or executive summary including the background information and history.
• Discuss the merits and limitations of the selected plan and the administrative structure.
• Describe the data analysis procedures used to evaluate the program. 
• Compile a list of data collection instruments including surveys, inventories and instruments currently used in the selected plan.
• Describe the population/sample and recruitment methods.
• List possible limitations and strengths the selected plan.
• Identify possible tacks for future program planning.
• Refine the objectives for the plan, the theoretical framework, and the evaluation procedures.
• Develop a statement regarding how the program has been and/or will be evaluated by describing the population, sample, and new instruments for potential use for the evaluation.
• Describe the outcome measures, conceptual and operationalized, as to how the data will be analyzed and presented.
• Complete a review of the financials related to the community health education plan including funding, participant fees, expenses, assets, liabilities and any revenue producing aspects.
• Present results via Poster, PowerPoint Presentation, Revised Executive Summary and Recommendations; and submit to Bb then post copy to portfolio.

 

Summary of Studies (SOS)

 

Competency 4.1: Develop Evaluation/Research Plan
Competency 4.5:  Apply Findings from Evaluation/Research

Part 1) develops a summary of studies including the following information:

• Title of Study – provide the title of the articles with complete biographical references to the Journal
• Population - Sample – Dependent variable - Independent variable – Theory and Rationale – Hypothesis 
• Findings and Results – Controls – Design - Critique – Abstract:  Copy and paste the abstract of the study, search results, related literature, and other information if needed to support your SOS.
• Analysis of the Study – Strengths and Weaknesses
• Submit to Bb and then post a copy to your portfolio.

Part 2) develops an abstract of a study on a research topic of interest relative to your intended graduate study or future professional tasks.

Compose the proposed abstract of the study indicating type of study, population and sample, independent variable with construct and operational definitions, dependent variables with construct and operational definitions, theory and rationale, hypothesis type, research and statistical design, and what you intend to find as a result of conducting the study. Submit the abstract to Bb by the due date and submit a copy to your portfolio. 

Program Analysis – Develop an Inventory or Evaluation Instrument, then Analyze Using Histograms and/or t-Test Analysis

Competency 4.2 Design Instruments to Collect Data
Competency 4.3 Collect and Analyze Evaluation/Research Data

Using the Office Button in Excel, add the Data Analysis Tool Pack.  On the menu ribbon Data, enter your data based upon the analysis using the Excel Data Analysis Tool Pack. 

• Enter your data based upon the analysis of the students’ ages and gender in two (2) of your classes on a specific date.
• Determine the mean age, standard deviation and measures of central tendency.
• Describe how histograms, t-tests and descriptive data can be uses in program planning.
• Finally, using a t-test (2 sample) determine the p-value to determine if there is a significant difference between the ages in class 1 and class 2.
• Produce a four (4) figure histogram depicting the gender in each class.
• Based on this activity, develop a measurement instrument, implement the instrument and analyze data using the Tool Pack.
• Copy and paste these findings to a word document.  Post a copy to your portfolio.

Resources & Materials

• Practical Research : Planning and Design, Leedy and Ormrod, Tenth Edition
• Planning, Implementing and Evaluating Health Promotion Programs, Jim McKenzie and Brad Neiger

• Program Planning and Evaluation Searches, Thematically Classified
• UNC Reach Database
• COS Scholar and Pivot Workbench
• RSS Feed Systems

Academic Expectations

 
In choosing UNCW, you have become part of a community of scholars. I recognize that the learning experience is challenging and requires hard work. It also requires a commitment to make time available to do that hard work. I expect you to make academics your highest priority by dedicating your time and energy to training your mind and acquiring knowledge. Academic success in critical thinking and problem solving prepares you for the changes and challenges you will encounter in the future. Our faculty and academic support resources are readily available as partners in this effort, but the primary responsibility for learning is yours.

Course Policies and Agreement

During the first two days of class you must respond via Blackboard e-mail to attest that you have read the Course Policies and Agreement. You must send an e-mail. Go to Course Tools, Send Email, Select Users, and select Darwin Dennison. Then write a simple ‘OK’ that you agree to the following six mandatory conditions of this class:

1. HARDWARE AND SKILLS. You must have daily access to a computer, Pentium 3 or higher with DSL or cable Internet connections.  If you have questions regarding hardware and skills go to http://www.uncw.edu/online/techreq.html .  If you have difficulties during the course contact tac@uncw.edu, phone 962-HELP (962-4357). Please indicate to the TAC consultant that you are taking a Blackboard course... provide the consultant with the course number and instructor.

2. TESTS. You understand that there will be multiple online tests... plus quizzes. All tests are timed, that is, you must complete the test in a designated number of minutes from the time you log on. Each test is scheduled on one day usually on Wednesdays, no exceptions. You can take the test any time within the scheduled period, usually 2 to 4 hours. The tests are electronic and tests that are past due cannot be made up. In general, tests include data from the text, the worksheets, outside readings and assignments. Tests must be taken as an individual effort. Electronic surveillance methods are used to identify cheating and plagiarism through computer IP addresses, file resource numbers and specialized software.

3. ASSIGNMENTS.  All assignment files must use the correct file format must be electronically uploaded via the assignment page into Blackboard for full credit.  Late assignments do not receive credit. You understand that it is your responsibility to learn to download your assignments to your desktop, complete the assignment and then upload your completed assignments into Blackboard, on time and complete, for full credit. There are no exceptions.  All assignments are due as posted, usually on Wednesdays. New assignments are posted Thursday or Friday. When the time period is closed... it is done. If you wait until the last day to complete your assignments, over time you will have crashes, the site will be down, and/or other issues may cause you to submit your assignments late and you will not receive credit or will lose points. Submitting early is to your advantage.

4. SERVER DOWN/DRIVE CRASHED. You understand that there are information technology issues that you must personally deal with and resolve to successfully complete the course including but not limited to server being down, or viruses / crashes destroying your work before it is uploaded into Blackboard. It is your responsibility to resolve any computer related issues so that your assignments and tests are submitted on time. You are advised to save your data and not wait until the deadline to submit your assignments, quizzes, or tests. If you wish to be safe from a technology standpoint, use UNCW microcomputer lab computers. Although Dr. Dennison is knowledgeable in technology, please keep in mind that his expertise is in the course content and that you must use UNCW information technology support (TAC) to answer navigation, browser, file management, and server related issues.

5. PARTICIPATION.  Please understand that this course has required synchronous online tests and activities. You must be available online during scheduled activities on Wednesdays from 5 pm to 9 pm.  

Also note that the course professor can view your participation statistics, that is, how much time you spent online. You understand that if you have an issue that prevents you from being online for more than 3 days, you must provide rationale or risk being dropped from the class. Each week there are assignments due and/or tests. These tasks must be electronically submitted on or before the due date for credit. Electronic assignments that are past due cannot be made up.

6. E-MAIL. The assignments and procedures in this online class are designed to be clear and precise.  If you need to ask a question, use the Blackboard e-mail system in Course Tools. Select Darwin Dennison, enter message and select Submit.

Please Note: All e-mails must use complete sentences, correct grammar, and spelling or the e-mails will not be answered. You understand that replies may come any time within 24-48 hours. Please read all related course material before sending your e-mail. If the answer to your question is stated anywhere in the course material, you will be advised to re-read these references. Please contact TAC@uncw.edu or 962-4357 if your question is regarding file management or navigating Blackboard.

Agreement

If you agree with these conditions, simply send me an e-mail with an "OK" within 48 hours of the beginning date of the class OR within 48 hours of registering for the class. You will be dropped from the class if I do not receive your e-mail. And, I reserve the right to drop you from the class if you do not agree with or do not follow any of these conditions.

Basis for Grading

• Assignments (based upon Summary of Studies, Proposal Plan, and Program Analysis).   Assignments are due each Wednesday.
• Points are taken off for incomplete, inaccurate assignments. (Late assignments receive no points).
• The culmination of assignments yields three artifacts including the SOS, Proposal Plan, and Program Analysis that must be posted to your portfolio for full credit.
• Accumulated intermittent assignment points count as tests (25% of grade).
• On time completion of assignments and scores on 3 assignments, collected throughout course count for 75% of grade.

Final grade is total points on 3 collection points plus assignment points divided by 4.

Students with Disabilities
 
If you have a diagnosed disability (physical, learning or psychological) that will make it difficult for you to carry out the course work as outlined, please advise me during the first two weeks of the course so we may review possible arrangements for reasonable accommodations. You must also contact and register with the Office of Disability Services in Westside Hall (ext. 3746) and obtain an Accommodation Letter.

UNCW Honor Code

All tests and assignments are to be completed on an individual basis. Assignments and tests should be your own work exclusively and there should be no collaboration on assignments and tests. Questions regarding assignments and tests must be directed to the instructor of the course. You are not to send or receive or communicate in any manner, any information related to tests with any other persons. Please review the Honor Code to make certain that you are adhering to all policies.

 

 

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