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University students and after-school program team
to teach health lessons

Project-based learning in Indianapolis, Indiana

Presented by Denise Ferrell, DNP, R.N.

Health education was once a missing link between University of Indianapolis community health nursing and global languages/cross-cultural studies students. With the help of former Greyhound assistant professor, Denise Ferrell, DNP, R.N. and assistant professor Peter Vakunta, Ph.D., the two majors united for six weeks.

Students enrolled in the University of Indianapolis's RN to BSN community health nursing and global languages/cross-cultural studies courses collaborated to teach health education to inner-city Indianapolis children. Students partnered with a local YMCA after-school program, Monday through Friday, for six weeks.

Children ages 6-18 were taught dental and oral hygiene, nutrition, and exercise fitness. The initiative was based on a project-based learning ,PBL, and inter-professional education, IPE, model. "Project-based learning is a teaching method that allows students to have an active learning approach to a project."

The project being student-led allows students to dive deep into questions about the community that need to be answered, Ferrell said. Inter-professional education allowed students from various professions with a common goal to answer existing problems within the community. The topic of the partnership was inspired by a service-learning conference Ferrell attended that encouraged participants to think outside the box to assist communities in problem-solving.

Initially she considered health literacy amongst parents who have to administer their children medicine. Upon discussing the intersecting fields of health disparities and low or limited literacy rates with global languages professor Peter Vakunta, Ph.D., health literacy was the topic both chose for PBL assignments in their courses.

Students agreed that oral health was an important topic after speaking with local dentists, Ferrell said. Students also felt it was important to educate the children on other health topics. Orientation to the course project included: the introduction of students, the YMCA lead person and informant from the community, where the service-learning project occurred. A typical day at the program started with an after-school snack followed by homework assistance, a health literacy lesson and dinner.

The health literacy lessons focused on brushing one's teeth, and flossing, however general health topics like food groups and exercise were also covered. Children were taught by small group discussions, live demonstrations and age-appropriate pamphlets. One demonstration even included the use of a dental mouth prop, thanks to a local dentist who also provided free floss, toothbrushes, and toothpaste.

Children weren't the only beneficiaries of the program, though. Nursing students learned the basic foundations of literacy and communication, while modern language students learned more about nutrition and health.

Though the children were mainly students, they served as teachers at home. Parents were interested in the material their children were learning and were happy to engage with them about the information when they came home. The program was a win-win for all involved.