Read Me First

 

Faculty Information Course Faculty: Ginger Patterson, Ph.D., R.D. Contact Information: Office:  :  941-561-1177 x3  (Tues, Wed – 7AM – 5PM)* Home:  941-728-3332  (Mon., Thurs & Fri) Fax:  941-728-5142 E-mail address: GPatter879@aol.com

Mailing Address: Dr. Ginger Patterson 17341 Oak Creek Road Alva, FL 33920

*May not always be available due to the nature of my job, but leave a message and I will get back to you.

Course Description

Principles of human nutrition and the relatedness of nutrition, health, disease and wellness are examined. Emphasis is placed on dietary goals, food pyramid and recommended allowances; psychosocial influences and perceptions related to diverse populations; nutrition,nutritional risk factors and related diseases. Nutrition education and promotion methods are also addressed.

Prerequisites

 None

Course Goals

• Identify and apply the principles of nutrition in the selection of an adequate diet based on The Food Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines.
• Describe the functions, digestion and metabolism of proteins, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals.
• Identify and describe the relationship of nutrition and disease.
• Evaluate nutrition information and find sources of reliable information.
• Discuss methods of educating individuals and the community in areas such as weight management and risk reduction.
• Identify the six essential nutrients and how the body uses them. Relate these nutrients to disease and health when consumption exceeds or does not meet requirements.

Course Materials

Required:
Whitney, Eleanor N. and Rolfes, Sharon R. (1999), 8th edition. Understanding Nutrition, St. Paul, Minnesota, West Publishing Company, with CD for nutrition analysis.

Optional:
Support readings or sources of support material will be placed on reserve in the campus library, distributed by faculty, and/or placed on-line.
 

Topic Outline

See: Schedule

Course Evaluation Plan

This course is competency based. Students are required to demonstrate competence by achieving the course goals and objectives outlined for each topic area. Each student will be expected to actively participate in discussion and exercises either in a synchronous or asynchronous format. Students will complete a nutrient intake analysis on a personal three day diet recall. An assessment of that analysis will compare their diet to the Food Pyramid, Dietary Guidelines and Recommended Dietary Allowances. They will consider specific changes needed to maintain or regain health, for the prevention of disease, control of any current problems, and adjustment of energy balance. Students will complete a review of a nutrition topic found in the popular media or on the internet. They will utilize professional journals and/or web pages to determine the accuracy of the information.
 

Assignments and Grade Percentage:
 

Assignments	Percentage	Points
Class Discussion Participation	20%	100
Case Studies	20%	100
Weekly Quizzes	20%	100
Critique of a Popular Diet	20%	100
Diet Analysis	20%	100
Total	100%	500

Grade Scale:

Each of the five grade components will be worth 100 points for a total grade potential of 500 points.
 

Grade	Points
A	450-500
B	400-449
C	350-399
D	300-349
F	< 300

Class Participation (100 points)

Discussion questions are listed in each week’s module.  Students are required to  participate in class electronic discussions.  Read each question and then post your responses on the bulletin board prior to Thursday at 9 A.M. each week for that week’s module.  You will also be responsible for responding to the postings of other students.  This may make it necessary to visit the bulletin board several times during the course of the week.  Satisfactory class participation will be determined by accurate and relevant statements made to the topics under discussion.  Discussions and arguments should be logical and substantiated by facts from the textbook or other readings that have been done by the student.  Raising further questions that that deal with higher levels of the cognitive and affective domain are encouraged.  Each module’s discussions have the potential of seventeen points (each question will have the value of seventeen points.  I will then average the scores from each question for the weekly class participation points).  Responses must meet the above criteria to receive points.  Posting just for the sake of posting is discouraged.  Thought must go into responses.
 

Quizzes (100 points)

Quizzes will be scored weekly.  Each module’s quiz is worth seventeen points. Answers must be posted by Thursday at 9 A.M. for the week beginning on Monday.  One point will be deducted for each day that a response is late.  The value of each question will be determined by the number of answers for that week.  Grades will be e-mailed weekly.
 

Case Studies (100 points)

Case studies will be scored weekly.  Each module’s case study is worth seventeen points.  Responses must be posted by Thursday at 9 A.M.  One point will be deducted for each day that a response is late.  Higher points will be given based on appropriate application of knowledge from the required reading.  Creative thinking will earn more points than just parroting back information from the textbook.  Using information gotten from outside readings, if the source is noted and if it is relevant, will earn extra points.
 

Critique of a Popular Diet (100 points)

Students may use a popular diet book or a commercial diet center for the critique.  Read the book or interview the personnel at the center.  Then, based on all you have learned, discuss the pros and cons of the diet.  Address issues such as, but not limited to, what makes it a fad (if it is), is it balanced, how might it be harmful, what are its strengths and/or weaknesses, would you recommend it, etc.  The critique will be at least three pages in length, typed and double-spaced. I highly recommend reading Chapter 9 prior to writing your paper.

Submission instructions:  Papers are to be submitted to Dr. Patterson by 9 AM on Thursday May 31.  Papers submitted after the deadline will lose 5 points for each day late.  It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that the instructor has received the paper and to check with the instructor prior to the due date to make sure the paper has been received in full.  You may email, mail (US), or fax the paper (Fax number and address are listed above).

Thirty points will be based on how well the diet is described.  This will include, but is not limited to: how long does it last, how much does it cost, what are the credentials of those running it or writing it, what does a person have to do, what foods must be stocked, what is the calorie level.  In other words, what is it all about.

Forty points will be based on analyzing the diet.  This will include, but not be limited to: comparison to the criteria for fad diets, balance, variety, focusing on certain foods, leaving food groups out of the plan, appropriate calorie levels, incorporation of exercise, etc. Obviously, the more comprehensive your critique the higher the points you will receive.

Twenty points will be based on your conclusions about the appropriateness of the diet for the population.

Ten points will be based on punctuation, grammar, and spelling.
 

Personal Diet Analysis  (100 points)

Diet Analysis – Students will be required to keep a detailed diet recall for three days, one of which will be a week-end day.  Students will analyze this data using the diet analysis program on the CD that came with your book. Using this data, students will write an assessment that will include, but not be exclusive to: comparison to RDA’s for age, comparison to dietary guidelines to determine dietary risk for disease and how the risks are impacted by the eating behaviors, need for energy intake changes, if any, based on weight goals, and specific changes that need to be made in the diet to bring it into line with healthful eating.  Use of exercise information would also enhance the assessment.  Assessment will be at least three pages in length, typed and double-spaced.  Also forward the three days recall and the computer printout for only the three day average of the comparison to the RDA.  You may also include the three day average food pyramid if it is appropriate to your written assessment of your diet.  Do not send each day’s graph printout, only the 3 day average.

Submission instructions:  Papers are to be submitted to Dr. Patterson by 9 AM on Thursday June 14.  Papers submitted after the deadline will lose 5 points for each day late.  It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that the instructor has received the paper and to check with the instructor prior to the due date to make sure the paper has been received in full.  You may email the written assessment, but it is best to mail (US) or fax the graphs for the three day average  printout with comparison to RDA for all nutrients (Fax number and address are listed above).

No points are based on how you eat, so be as normal as possible to make it of value to you.

Twenty points will be based on the accuracy of the analysis.  Did you input correctly, use the appropriate analysis program, print out and include all information with your paper (include your actual recall as well as printouts).

Seventy points will be based on the analysis itself.  How well did you relate your eating to dietary recommendations, the Pyramid, the diet planning principle?  How well did you incorporate information from the course?  How well did you relate the information from the analysis to your personal life?  What kind of recommendations did you make for yourself?  Are the recommendations appropriate for your lifestyle?  The more information you include and the more insight you use the higher the points.  For instance, based on what you learned about the appropriateness of the RDA for calories were you able to incorporate a recommendation for need to increase or decrease your current calorie level? (This issue alone, if handled correctly will show your ability to apply what you have learned, therefore, it will be worth ten of the seventy points.)

Ten points will be based on punctuation, grammar, and spelling.
 

Teaching Strategies

The Health Science program is designed to provide career advancement opportunities for individuals in the health professions. Faculty and administrators are committed to a philosophy of a holistic curricula which provide and support integrated interdisciplinary education and practice experiences for health professionals. The department of Interdisciplinary Studies aims to provide future-oriented, assessible, and student-focused education programs that foster professional growth, career mobility and advancement,and diversification. Faculty encourage students to be responsible for their own learning throughout their professional career.

Learning Strategies

Students will be responsible for completing all assignments listed in each lesson. Discussion will take place through the use of bulletin board postings, e-mail, and telephone.

Distance Learning -- Computer and Technology Skills Orientation

For Nutrition for Human Health and Wellness, you must have a working email account and access to the Internet. As a registered FGCU student, you will have a student email account. If you have never used your FGCU email, check out FGCU students' email homepage. You can access the Internet through computers at the FGCU Computer Lab or at ECC in Charlotte or Collier Counties.

You will find it beneficial to own a home computer and to subscribe to an Internet connection through an Internet service provider (ISP). For a home computer, it is recommended that you have the following minimum configuration: Windows 95, 16 MB RAM (32 or higher preferred), 28.8 KB Modem (36 or higher preferred), black and white printer, and color monitor (SVGA preferred). You will use word processing and email, access the course web page, and conduct Internet searches.

The WebBoard (http://onyx.fgcu.edu/~172)

The WebBoard is used to:

• Facilitate class discussion
• Share information and resources
• Provide feedback regarding course projects
• Post assignments for critique
• Answer questions regarding homework and exams
• Facilitate the formation of individual study groups.

Students are required to participate and contribute to the class discussion on a weekly basis.

To access the WebBoard (online discussion program), you will need to use Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer 3.0 or above.
 

Use of Web-based Chat Room

Chat rooms allow you to "converse" electronically with other computer users who are online at the same time. Unlike e-mail, message boards, or mailing lists, chatting takes place in real time. It's like chatting on the phone, only instead of talking, you type. Your professor may use chatting for online class discussions, online small group discussions, or virtual office hours.

A chat room is available for this class. Virtual office hours in the chat room and time for instructor-led chats will be announced/sent to students as soon as they are decided. Student groups can arrange time and make use of the chat room for group work.

Tips for Success/Study Skills

See: Read Me First and How to Succeed

Course Policies

Attendance: Students are responsible for their own learning and are expected to participate all electronic class discussions.

Assignments, Projects, and Examinations: All projects and assignments are to be submitted to the course instructor on the date due. Late submission of assignments and projects may be accepted with prior approval, but will result in lowering grades by ten percent.

Academic Integrity: All assignments, projects, and examinations are to be completed solely by the student. Inclusion of facts, ideas, quotes, or other materials from outside sources must be cited and referenced in all work. Evidence of cheating and plagiarism are cause for disciplinary action by the university. Plagiarism and cheating refer to the use of unauthorized books, notes, or otherwise securing help in a test; copying tests, assignments, reports, or term papers; representing the work of another person as one's own; collaborating without authority with another student during an examination or in preparing academic work, or otherwise practicing academic dishonesty.
 

Academic Dishonesty/Cheating Policy:

"All students are expected to demonstrate honesty in their academic pursuits. The university policies regarding issues of honesty can be found under the "Student Code of Conduct" on page 11, and under "Policies and Procedures" on pages 18 - 24. of the Student Guidebook . All students are expected to study this document which outlines their responsibilities and consequences for violations of the policy. "
 

Disability Accommodations Services:

Florida Gulf Coast University, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the university's guiding principles, will provide classroom and academic accommodation to students with documented disabilities. If you need to request accommodation in this class due to a disability, or you suspect that your academic performance is affected by a disability, please see me or contact the Office of Multi Access Services. The Office of Multi Access Services is located in the Student Services building, room 214. The phone number is 590-7925 or TTY 590-7930.