The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an undergraduate health course in preparing pre-service teachers to teach and manage student health issues. This class is a requirement for all students enrolled in education at Montana State University. The assumption behind the course is that K-12 students will have difficulty learning if they have health problems. These problems include improper nutrition, having a friend with an eating disorder, feeling unsafe in school, depression, chemical dependency and living in a home with an abusive guardian. Teachers are in a position to influence students by conveying health information, identifying and working with students who have health problems, and modeling positive health behaviors. Unfortunately, many teachers feel unprepared or uncomfortable teaching health and are uninformed on how to help students with personal health problems. A pre-course post-course survey was used to gather data on pre-service teacher's: 1) belief in the importance of including health content in schools, 2) intention to include health in their teaching, 3) belief of how important health is to student learning, 4) ability to include health content in their area of teaching concentration, and 5) ability to identify, provide information on, and find resources for a student who has a health problem related to mental health, fitness, nutrition, sexuality, tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, and relationships. An overview of the course will be provided. Results, conclusions, and implications of the study will be presented.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe pre-service teachers' values, beliefs, and attitudes regarding school health education. 2. Discuss the effectiveness of a 3-credit health course in preparing pre-service teachers to teach and manage student health issues. 3. List variables associated with pre-service teachers' perception of school health education
Keywords: School Health, Teaching
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.