Overview of Learner Centered Approaches to Nutrition Education

University of Wisconsin Memorial Union
August 25, 2006 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

The Steering Committee requested an overview training for committee members and other opinion leaders at the county and local levels to clarify the principles of Learner Centered Approaches (LCA) and what LCA will mean to the Network’s efforts.  This training was conducted on August 25, 2006 at the UW-Madison Memorial Union and was attended by 30 state, county and local partners.  Partners represented the following agencies:  UW-Extension, WIC, DPI, Ho-Chunk Nation, and Great Lakes Intertribal Council.

The session began with an introduction and summary of the Network's Logic Model plan for 2007-2010 by Patti Herrick of DHFS. Next, Betsy Kelley led the group in reflecting on effective learning experiences and discussing aspects of their experiences that were learner centered.  Susan Nitzke of the UW-Madison Department of Nutritional Sciences/UW-Extension reviewed behavior change theory and its relationship to LCA.

Following a break, three learner centered teaching techniques were demonstrated.  Gayle Coleman of UWExtension demonstrated Facilitated Dialogue in a role play with several audience members.  Amy Rettammel (UWExtension) and Tony Zech (WIC) showed a video produced by the University of Minnesota to give an example of motivational negotiation.  Betsy Kelley (WNEN) discussed research on learner-centered classrooms and demonstrated a lesson on whole grains from an experiential learning-based curriculum called “Professor Popcorn.”

Next, Amy Rettammel led a discussion of the challenges and opportunities for each agency.  Connie Welch of DHFS and Mary Jane Getlinger of WNEN asked participants to list what their agency needs before being able to implement LCA.  Evaluation comments indicated that participants were familiar with the theory and explanation of learner-centered approaches and would have liked more time for planning how to integrate LCA in their agency's work.

Click here to go to the agenda with links to handouts.