Page 266 - Nutrition Counseling and Education Skills: A Guide for Professionals

Figure 12-1 ■ What people remember.

In spite of the advantages of efficiency, a major drawback of lectures is that there is no guarantee that the
material is learned and remembered or that food choices and eating behaviors will change. This is because the
individual is a passive participant whose learning depends on listening skills. Lecture may be the least effective
technique for use with adults.

Although well-educated people may respond positively to lectures because of long experience with this
approach, those with less education or those from other cultures may learn better with other methods.5 Their
attention to lectures may wane quickly as they tune out, especially if the lecturer is not an effective speaker or
if the lecture is dull. Lectures seldom meet the requirements of adult education because they lack self-directed
learning and problem-solving approaches. Lectures are improved by limiting the number of concepts
presented, using examples and summaries frequently, and adding focused visual aids. Lectures can become
more interactive by providing ample time for interactive discussion along with written handouts to reinforce
what was heard.

Discussion

Discussion tends to promote active participation by learners. This technique can be used on a one-on-one
basis or in a group. Interactive discussion helps participants to examine their own thinking and internalize
knowledge through the exchange of ideas and verbal responses. The instructor can guide the discussion by
raising open-ended questions, posing problems, or highlighting key issues so that clients or employees make
comparisons or work to draw conclusions.

Group discussion is greater when the participants are fairly well acquainted or have a common interest.
With a series of classes on weight reduction, for example, clients could discuss and share what they have done
to change their food choices, recipes, and shopping habits. The basis for discussion may be common
experiences, written case studies, or topics that were preannounced so that the group can interact. For best

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