Posters
Presentation Type
Poster
Discipline Track
Community/Public Health
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: Young children today learn in diverse environments, including home, school, and through digital media platforms such as apps, videos, games, and songs. With the increase in screen time due to Covid-19 restrictions, digital media has become a valuable resource for remote learning, offering fun and educational interactions. However, the impact of incorporating educational technology or EdTech digital media applications into health education curricula on the performance of PK 4 students in understanding and adopting healthy living concepts remains understudied. By exploring the effectiveness of design elements and strategic approaches this research aims to evaluate newer technology-driven media in enhancing student performance and healthy living education for young learners.
Methods: The study compared two cohorts of PK-4 students from two different school districts across 42 schools, randomly divided into intervention and control groups. In the 2018-2019 school year the PK-4 students received the paper-bound Bienestar/Neema Coordinated School Health Program (BN CSHP) and in the 2022-2023 school year they received the EdTech BN CSHP. The EdTech consisted of visually engaging media, such as animated videos and interactive digital activities. Student performance was assessed using a 13-item health knowledge test, shown to be valid and reliable. Items consisted of healthy living concepts, such as identifying fruits, and recognizing healthy food choices and physical activities using images. A panel analysis nested in the schools with treatment as fixed factors was conducted, and Item Response Theory (IRT) with a 2-parameter model (difficulty and discrimination) was used to measure the students' skills in answering the questionnaires.
Results: The study included 1182 students from cohort 2018 and 1043 students from cohort 2022, with 51% females, and mean age 4.7 (SD 0.3). There were no significant differences of covariates among cohorts. The panel analysis revealed a multiplicative interaction between visits and intervention for both cohorts (p=0.001). Unadjusted analysis showed HKT score increase on 2.7% for the 2018 cohort and 4.6% increase for the 2022 cohort. The IRT model supported effectiveness of the media intervention for both cohorts, resulting in a 0.17 deviations increase after six months of intervention.
Conclusions: The study's conclusions provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of utilizing different forms of media in engaging and educating pre-school students about healthy living. By examining the impact of different media forms and determining which learning method is more effective, health literacy of students at an early age can be better addressed. These findings will contribute to the development of evidence-based strategies for designing educational interventions that effectively promote healthy habits among young learners. This research aims to convey practical applications of the study's findings, highlighting the importance of engaging and visually appealing educational materials for enhancing student performance and engagement.
Academic/Professional Position
Staff
Academic/Professional Position (Other)
Health and Human Performance
Recommended Citation
Puente Barrios, Emilio, "Healthy Media - Enhancing Healthy Living Education in PreK Students with EdTech Media" (2024). Research Symposium. 86.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2023/posters/86
Included in
Early Childhood Education Commons, Kinesiology Commons, Medicine and Health Sciences Commons
Healthy Media - Enhancing Healthy Living Education in PreK Students with EdTech Media
Background: Young children today learn in diverse environments, including home, school, and through digital media platforms such as apps, videos, games, and songs. With the increase in screen time due to Covid-19 restrictions, digital media has become a valuable resource for remote learning, offering fun and educational interactions. However, the impact of incorporating educational technology or EdTech digital media applications into health education curricula on the performance of PK 4 students in understanding and adopting healthy living concepts remains understudied. By exploring the effectiveness of design elements and strategic approaches this research aims to evaluate newer technology-driven media in enhancing student performance and healthy living education for young learners.
Methods: The study compared two cohorts of PK-4 students from two different school districts across 42 schools, randomly divided into intervention and control groups. In the 2018-2019 school year the PK-4 students received the paper-bound Bienestar/Neema Coordinated School Health Program (BN CSHP) and in the 2022-2023 school year they received the EdTech BN CSHP. The EdTech consisted of visually engaging media, such as animated videos and interactive digital activities. Student performance was assessed using a 13-item health knowledge test, shown to be valid and reliable. Items consisted of healthy living concepts, such as identifying fruits, and recognizing healthy food choices and physical activities using images. A panel analysis nested in the schools with treatment as fixed factors was conducted, and Item Response Theory (IRT) with a 2-parameter model (difficulty and discrimination) was used to measure the students' skills in answering the questionnaires.
Results: The study included 1182 students from cohort 2018 and 1043 students from cohort 2022, with 51% females, and mean age 4.7 (SD 0.3). There were no significant differences of covariates among cohorts. The panel analysis revealed a multiplicative interaction between visits and intervention for both cohorts (p=0.001). Unadjusted analysis showed HKT score increase on 2.7% for the 2018 cohort and 4.6% increase for the 2022 cohort. The IRT model supported effectiveness of the media intervention for both cohorts, resulting in a 0.17 deviations increase after six months of intervention.
Conclusions: The study's conclusions provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of utilizing different forms of media in engaging and educating pre-school students about healthy living. By examining the impact of different media forms and determining which learning method is more effective, health literacy of students at an early age can be better addressed. These findings will contribute to the development of evidence-based strategies for designing educational interventions that effectively promote healthy habits among young learners. This research aims to convey practical applications of the study's findings, highlighting the importance of engaging and visually appealing educational materials for enhancing student performance and engagement.