Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Journal of School Health
Publisher
Wiley
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences / School of Education / School of Science
RAS ID
58114
Funders
Healthway / The WA Health Promotion Foundation / Open access publishing facilitated by Edith Cowan University, as part of the Wiley - Edith Cowan University agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Obesity-driven nutrition education in schools does not appear to result in healthier adolescent food choices. This study explored food systems as an alternative pedagogical approach to engage students in nutrition education. METHODS: After playing a food systems computer game, 250 13- to 16-year-old students in 5 Western Australian secondary schools, participated in group discussions to distinguish learning and interests in food systems. Discussion records were thematically coded using constant comparative analysis. RESULTS: Students reported crop growth, food production and food waste, healthier food choices, and food systems as knowledge outcomes of game play. They requested additional content on food production, costing, handling, processing, and accessing local produce. Experiential activities were preferred pedagogical approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Cross-curricular pedagogy which embraces human and planetary health through a food systems lens, can engage adolescents in nutrition education. Transformational computer games are effective to engage, educate and stimulate inquiry in food systems education.
DOI
10.1111/josh.13351
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Comments
Miller, M., Barwood, D., Devine, A., Boston, J., Smith, S., & Masek, M. (2023). Rethinking adolescent school nutrition education through a food systems lens. Journal of School Health, 93(10), 891-899. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13351