Page 260 - Nutrition Counseling and Education Skills: A Guide for Professionals

lower level objectives are ready for those at higher levels. The taxonomies assist the educator in thinking of
higher levels of knowledge that may be more appropriate for the learner. They also serve to remind the
educator that there are interrelationships among the three domains. Although clients can plan menus using
their diets, it is also important they think that the food choices are important enough to their health to follow
them. Employees need not only to know proper sanitation procedures but also to value them if they are going
to practice optimum sanitary procedures regularly.

CASE ANALYSIS 5

What approaches to nutrition education might he try with high-school students eating lunch in the
cafeteria? Using the performance objective you wrote, what domain(s) of learning should be used in the
learning plan?

Organizing Learning Groups

Learning may take place individually or in groups. Groups are advantageous in that they save time and money
and provide opportunities for people to share experiences. Those who are successful in making dietary changes
can model behaviors and discuss information with those who have been unsuccessful in coping. The more
complex the information to be learned, the greater is the need to discuss it in groups. However, an
experienced employee who needs to be trained in a new technique would derive greater benefit from an
individual non–group-focused learning plan that does not waste time reviewing steps he or she has already
mastered.

Even when a single learner is involved, the educator should consider whether or not other learners should
also be present. In nutrition counseling and education, the individual responsible for purchasing the food and
preparing the meals should be present. When a child is placed on a modified diet, such as a diabetic diet,
usually the mother or caregiver requires instruction as well, since her cooperation is essential to the child’s
successful adherence to the diet and management of the disease.

The preassessment should show differences in knowledge levels and should assist in making grouping
decisions. Frequently, all new employees are grouped together for initial orientation and training. This is an
example of grouping by similar learning needs rather than by age, educational level, amount of experience, or
job title. Grouping by general learning content often requires division into more than one learning group
based on employees’ job content and application. Wait staff, for example, may require sessions on sanitary
dish and utensil handling, whereas cooks may need classes on sanitary food handling.

Another consideration is whether supervisors should be taught in the same classes as their employees. One
disadvantage of such a grouping is that the employees may be reluctant to participate by asking questions
when the superior is present. Setting the size of the group will affect the learning plan. Larger groups of 30 to
50 or more will decrease the ability for individual participation compared with small groups of 10 to 15.11,12,27

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