Secondary School Usage of Instructional Materials on Nutrition and Aging

Abstract

In this study, a programmed instruction module, "Adaptations of Homemaking Skills for the Aged: Nutritional Needs," and a slide presentation, "Are You Ready to be an Older American?", were tested in secondary home economics classrooms. Specific objectives were twofold: first, to determine what effect, if any, the module, the slides, or the combination had on the attitude of students toward the aged; and second, to explore the feasibility of the use of the independent learning module in teaching concepts about the nutritional needs of the aged. The sample consisted of 70 high school students comprising four classes and including both males and females, blacks and whites. The module alone or the module with slides proved to be the most effective means of teaching the concepts of nutritional needs of the aged. None of the materials, the slides, the module, or their combination made a significant difference in the attitudes of students toward the aged. Further exposure to information about the aged, whatever the format, is needed to improve the negative attitudes toward the aged found in this study and others preceeding it.