Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111408

Adam B. Becker, PhD, MPH, Community Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street - SL29, Suite 2301, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-988-4734, abecker@tulane.edu

While the field of public health is placing increasing emphasis on the use of evidence in programming decisions, there is a lack of consensus regarding what constitutes “evidence.” The diversity of opinion around this question presents challenges for teaching evaluation skills to future public health practitioners. Problem-based learning is one approach that has been recognized for its utility in helping students to develop analytical skills and critical thinking. This pedagogical approach enables students to consider issues and derive solutions in the context of real-life situations. Problem-based learning about the topic of evidence in public health enhances students' capacity to make educated choices regarding the use of evidence in their own evaluation practice. This paper presents the problem-based learning approach taken in one graduate-level program evaluation course. The structure and methods of the course will be described. These include: course reading, small group activities and discussion, structured meetings with staff of local public health programs to which they have been assigned, and written assignments given throughout the semester. The problem-based approach is designed to help students to develop the final course requirement - an evaluation plan that is feasible within real public health program constraints and has the potential to collect meaningful and useful evidence of program effectiveness.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the meaning of "evidence" for public health practice-focused evaluation.
• Describe methods for teaching graduate-level public health students about using "evidence" in evaluation.
• Discuss the use of problem-based learning for teaching about the use of "evidence" in program evaluation.

Keywords: Curricula, Problem Based Learning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.