Elementary teachers' perceptions, practices, and curriculum needs related to nutrition education and physical activity in Wells County, Indiana

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Authors
Knox, Francoise A.
Advisor
Friesen, Carol A.
Issue Date
2005
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (M.S.)
Department
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Other Identifiers
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes and knowledge of elementary school teachers related to nutrition and physical activity. The information will be used to develop, implement, and evaluate the school-based component of a program entitled "Operation Wellness" in Wells County, Indiana. The primary focus of this study was to determine if teachers needed further training in nutrition and physical fitness concepts and to assess their value of the inclusion of nutrition education and physical activity into their curriculum.A 58-question web-based Teachers' Physical Activity and Nutrition (TPAN) survey was adapted from an instrument created by the Montana Department of Health. The web-link for the survey was forwarded by the principals of the four elementary schools in Wells County to all 100 elementary teachers employed in the county's public schools. Sixty-four of the 100 teachers (64% response rate) responded. The number of years teaching experience ranged from 1 to 37 years. Slightly more than three-quarters (77.6%; n=42) of the teachers reported including nutrition in their curriculum; of these, 83% reported including less than 10 hours per year . Over one-third of the respondents (38%) thought they could teach nutrition, yet only 12% thought they could teach physical fitness, without any additional training. Most teachers wanted ideas to integrate nutrition (75.5%) and PE (93%) into their classroom curriculum. Over half (56%) of the teachers reported having had some type of formal nutrition training. There was no difference in the hours of nutrition education included in the curriculum by those with formal training. The majority of teachers surveyed indicated a 2-hour in-service for nutrition education and physical activity education would be the most desirable option for additional training. Findings from this study can be generalized to communities with similar demographic information to determine the potential needs of the educators.

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