Designing Online Nutrition Education for Low Digital Literacy Populations: Insights From the EatFresh.org Mini Course

Abstract

ObjectiveTo design a user-friendly, evidence-based online nutrition course and accompanying learning management system (LMS) for the SNAP population, many of whom have low digital literacy.Target AudienceAdult (16+), low-income, English and Spanish-speaking participants.Theory, Prior Research, RationaleThis course grew out of EatFresh.org, a recipe and nutrition website. Google Analytics and enthusiasm from partners validated the appropriateness of the website, though an impact evaluation was unable to demonstrate a dose/response relationship in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. This course added the capability to assess change on nutrition indicators.DescriptionCourse was developed in leading eLearning software with content management. A combination of in-house staff combined with outsourced engineering created 15 modules and evaluation tools, which were organized into three courses. Staff and contract engineers customized an open-source LMS to build the course. Our design process allowed us to iterate on the instructional strategies, content, and online course structure to create a usable product ready to scale.EvaluationUsing a Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, we focused on Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance as part of our evaluation. A survey of Eatfresh.org partners validated the existence of a vibrant ecosystem for dissemination. Agile design ensured the intervention could be delivered as intended. Software was chosen for content maintenance and sustainability.Conclusions and ImplicationsThe instructional strategies underwent considerable revisions during the first stage of testing leading to the adoption of an engaging narrative structure. Dedicating time to design a simple sign-in and streamlined user flow allowed the focus to be on the dynamic content, as opposed to the mechanics of taking the course.FundingSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education ObjectiveTo design a user-friendly, evidence-based online nutrition course and accompanying learning management system (LMS) for the SNAP population, many of whom have low digital literacy. To design a user-friendly, evidence-based online nutrition course and accompanying learning management system (LMS) for the SNAP population, many of whom have low digital literacy. Target AudienceAdult (16+), low-income, English and Spanish-speaking participants. Adult (16+), low-income, English and Spanish-speaking participants. Theory, Prior Research, RationaleThis course grew out of EatFresh.org, a recipe and nutrition website. Google Analytics and enthusiasm from partners validated the appropriateness of the website, though an impact evaluation was unable to demonstrate a dose/response relationship in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. This course added the capability to assess change on nutrition indicators. This course grew out of EatFresh.org, a recipe and nutrition website. Google Analytics and enthusiasm from partners validated the appropriateness of the website, though an impact evaluation was unable to demonstrate a dose/response relationship in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. This course added the capability to assess change on nutrition indicators. DescriptionCourse was developed in leading eLearning software with content management. A combination of in-house staff combined with outsourced engineering created 15 modules and evaluation tools, which were organized into three courses. Staff and contract engineers customized an open-source LMS to build the course. Our design process allowed us to iterate on the instructional strategies, content, and online course structure to create a usable product ready to scale. Course was developed in leading eLearning software with content management. A combination of in-house staff combined with outsourced engineering created 15 modules and evaluation tools, which were organized into three courses. Staff and contract engineers customized an open-source LMS to build the course. Our design process allowed us to iterate on the instructional strategies, content, and online course structure to create a usable product ready to scale. EvaluationUsing a Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, we focused on Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance as part of our evaluation. A survey of Eatfresh.org partners validated the existence of a vibrant ecosystem for dissemination. Agile design ensured the intervention could be delivered as intended. Software was chosen for content maintenance and sustainability. Using a Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, we focused on Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance as part of our evaluation. A survey of Eatfresh.org partners validated the existence of a vibrant ecosystem for dissemination. Agile design ensured the intervention could be delivered as intended. Software was chosen for content maintenance and sustainability. Conclusions and ImplicationsThe instructional strategies underwent considerable revisions during the first stage of testing leading to the adoption of an engaging narrative structure. Dedicating time to design a simple sign-in and streamlined user flow allowed the focus to be on the dynamic content, as opposed to the mechanics of taking the course. The instructional strategies underwent considerable revisions during the first stage of testing leading to the adoption of an engaging narrative structure. Dedicating time to design a simple sign-in and streamlined user flow allowed the focus to be on the dynamic content, as opposed to the mechanics of taking the course.