Background and Context

Where is the Course Taught?

This course is a part of the University of Hartford's All-University Curriculum (AUC) which makes clear the relationships among disciplinary areas of
knowledge through integrative, cross-disciplinary courses. These courses also emphasize the development of written and oral communication, critical thinking and problem solving, values identification and independent decision making, social interaction and responsibility for civic life. All freshman who matriculate in baccalaureate programs at the University of Hartford are required to take at least four AUC courses during their four years at the university.

Specifically Issues of Health & Society: Weighing In is a science course with laboratory. It meets the science requirement of the general education curriculum for all non-science majors and so the student population that it serves is multidisciplinary. Although it does meet the science requirement in the general education curriculum for science majors it can be taken as an elective and some science-related departments (i.e., Physical Therapy) have made it a requirement in their curriculum. Ironically, one of the more common comments in student evaluations this year was that this course should be a requirement for all students regardless of their major.

Conclusions and Reflections

To ensure the greatest effect for this course, get to know your students as early in the semester as possible - from the first day, if possible. Learn their backgrounds, their initial interest in the subject matter, and their current fields of study. Once this is established, use this information to guide course management. The students can and should be your best assets to bring this course to its fullest potential. They will come from a widely varied background and academic paths. By bringing this to the forefront, they will be a reflection of the society that the course aims to change.

Effective and engaged learning can be accomplished by allowing the students to feel a certain ownership of their learning. The job of the instructor should be to allow the students to speak freely about their already-held beliefs about obesity, tap into their passions about wellness (everyone wishes for wellness), and unleash their creativity toward a societal and individual solution to ensure health and longevity.

Furthermore, it is highly recommended to seek the alliance of a registered dietitian in this course. Those with degrees in the nutrition sciences are trained to have a full understanding of every aspect that surrounds the complexities of obesity. Also, finding a physiologist with diabetes expertise, neurologist (who can give insight regarding the neurological effects of food chemicals) exercise physiologist, psychologist, and sociologist who have insight into the realm of obesity, weight control and their impact on society will also be very advantageous towards the success of the course. If there are not such individuals working at your institution, reach out to the community to have them guest lecture, etc.