HS 401 - Community Health Methods Syllabus

Course Outcomes

Plan and facilitate group discussions.
Conduct assessments using different media methods and advocate for change.
Plan and prepare information for mass media outlets.
Act as a health education resource person.
Prepare and conduct health interventions that are based on cultural competent activities.
Plan healthy interventions based on environmental (ecological) change.

Course Description

This course is designed to give practical experience with, and exposure to health promotion skills that a health promotion educator will use in a variety of settings.

Course Expectations

This course will provide valuable experiences for you, if you are willing to put forth the effort to fully engage in the designed activities. As with most things in life, what you get out of this course will depend upon what you put into it. The following are recommendations for success in this class:

Plan to spend six hours per week on this course. You may need to spend more, depending upon your own learning style and skill set.
Read all material in every course page. This includes the lesson overviews and notes from your instructor that you will find in each lesson. Do NOT rely exclusively on the "Calendar" feature in your student dashboard to inform you of work to be accomplished. Many course pages do not have due dates associated with them, thus they will not appear on your dashboard. However, each page contains important information!
Be sure to read all materials and view all videos in their entirety. It is critical that you do not take shortcuts.
Plan your time so that you work consistently throughout the week in every week of the course. Each week, you will have a major assignment due. You will have a quality learning experience and less stress if you spread the work out through the week.
Each week, look at the instructions for the lesson assignment at the beginning of the week. Some assignments require planning and may involve coordinating with class members or others in your community. Making arrangements with others requires time.
This course requires that you collaborate with other individuals. Expectations related to this are described below in the section, Online Learning at BYU-Idaho and the Learning Model, Teach One Another.
In Lessons 2 and 3, you will be required to complete a two-part assignment in which you attend a cultural event and analyze your experience. The assignment is introduced in Lesson 2 and is due by the end of Lesson 3. You are strongly encouraged to read the assignment instructions now. They are found in the Lesson 2 page titled, “Culturally Diverse Event Part 1.” Reading the information now will allow a longer time span to select and attend a cultural event. You are welcome to attend your event before Lesson 2; however, be sure you have first read the assignment instructions to ensure the event meets the criteria.

Online Learning at BYU-Idaho and the Learning Model

It is important that you, as a student, understand the approach to online learning that is used at BYU-Idaho. Familiarize yourself with this by viewing the Orientation to Online Learning at BYU-Idaho found in the Introduction Lesson.

As in all BYU-Idaho courses, this course will utilize the BYU-I Learning Model. It incorporates the following elements in coursework: Prepare, Teach One Another, and Ponder and Prove.

Prepare

This will occur each week as you read/view the provided materials. As you read the materials provided, and watch videos, consider how the content in the materials relates to the activities you will engage in during the lesson. Take notes for yourself and write down questions you may have. You may pose questions in the discussion board found in each week's Questions and Conversations page.

Teach One Another

This course requires that you collaborate with other individuals. At times this will occur synchronously. For example, in Lesson 5 you will meet virtually with a group of your classmates. In Lesson 6 you will organize and meet with your own focus group, composed of individuals of your choice (not necessarily class members). The course designers recognize that you are busy online students with complicated schedules. However, it is our hope that you recognize it is simply not possible to be trained in community health methods without interacting with others. Consider the word, “community.” By very definition, this implies coordinating and communicating with people, and as such, collaborative activities are an important and essential part of the course. Care has been taken to make the course as convenient for you as possible, while still allowing you to collaborate with others. It is expected that you will do your part throughout the course by cheerfully participating in group work and communicating effectively with your classmates, including responding promptly when requested. Do not assume the group meetings in Lessons 5 and 6 can be organized in a day or two. Typically more time is required. Follow all instructions and begin early to contact the appropriate individuals.

There are only two synchronous activities in the course (listed in the above paragraph). However, you will frequently communicate asynchronously with your classmates through discussion boards where you will have an opportunity to post your comments and respond to others’ statements. Rather than viewing the discussion boards as "busywork," approach them with a sincere desire to learn from others and help them learn. If you do so, you will find the discussions can greatly enrich your own learning experience.

In your course work, remember also, working with others is not only essential in community health situations; it is part of life. In families, church councils, professional settings, and elsewhere, it is Heavenly Father’s will that we lift and support one another. This class will help prepare you to effectively collaborate and communicate with others.

Ponder and Prove

In each lesson, you will engage in assignments that allow you to practice the skills that you are learning about. This is an opportunity for you to refine your skills, and demonstrate understanding and proficiency.

Prerequisites

Before taking this course, you should have successfully completed HS 390 Program Planning/Implementation.

Required Materials

Methods for Today's Health Educators ISBN: 978-1-284-00397-0 See directions below regarding how to purchase the ebook. Approximate cost: $30.
Web camera and microphone
Portable device for recording video and taking photos (camera, smart phone, tablet, or other device that has this capacity)

How to Purchase e-book

This is a custom e-book created specifically for this course. The approximate cost is $30. To purchase the e-book, complete the steps below:

Step I - Purchase Access Code

Choose ONE of the following options:

Option 01

Purchase access code from the University Store. To find the text, use the search box in the upper right of the web page and enter this ISBN: 9781284003970.

Option 2

Purchase access code through JBLearning. You will need to search for the ebook. To find the text, use the search box in the upper right of the web page and enter this ISBN: 978-1-284-00397-0.

Step II - Redeem Access Code

Redeem access code on the Publish web site.

Grading Policies

You will be graded on a linear scale (not curved). An “A” is a merit that will require dedication to coursework and mastery of subject matter. Just completing the minimum expectations does not denote “A” effort. You will need to take the time to study, apply, and understand these topics (such that you could teach a section of this course on your own) in order to get an “A”.

Grading Scale

This course will use the following standard BYU-Idaho grading scale:

Percentage	Grade
93% - 100%	A
90% - 92%	A-
87% - 89%	B+
83% - 86%	B
80% - 82%	B-
77% - 79%	C+
73% - 76%	C
70% - 72%	C-
67% - 69%	D+
63% - 66%	D
60% - 62%	D-

Grade Components

Grades will be determined as follows:

Assignment	Points
1. Discussion Board ( Six items; 20 to 50 points each)	135
Meet one Another	20
Introduction Assignment: Mini-me	25
L02 Discussion Board: Case Study	30
L04 Discussion Board: Culturally Diverse Event Part 2	30
L05 Discussion Board: Facilitation: Lessons Learned	30
2. Assignments/Projects (Twelve items; 10 to 50 points each)	470 Points
L03 Assignment: Culturally Diverse Event Part 1	10
L04 Assignment: FEMA Training Exam	50
L06 Assignment: Conducting a Support Group	50
L07 Assignment: Conduct Your Own Focus Group	50
L08 Assignment: Building a Community Coalition	40
L08 Discussion Board: Community Coalition Incentives	5
L08 Assessment: Community Coalition Incentives	5
L09 Assignment: Current Legislation	50
L10 Assignment: Create a Press Release	40
L11 Assignment: Photovoice Project	100
L12 Discussion Board: Using Social Media for Health-related Campaigns	10
L13 Assignment: Walkability Assessment	40
L14 Conclusion Self-assessment	20
3. Miscellaneous (Five items; 5 to 20 points)	40 points
L01 Syllabus Quiz	20
L01 FEMA Training Program	5
L04 Student Survey	5
L05 Group Signup for Lesson 5 Assignment	5
L10 Student Survey	5
4. Materials Assessments (Eleven items; 10 points each)	110 points
Total:	755 points

Due Dates

All due dates are based on your local time zone, NOT on the time in Rexburg, Idaho (Mountain Time).

Late Work Policy

Students should complete their work on time, and generally, late work will not be accepted. However, the instructor has discretion to accept late work or extend due dates in case of extenuating circumstances.

External Resource - FEMA Training

In Lesson 3 of this course, you will complete an online training offered through FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). FEMA is an agency within the United States Department of Homeland Security.

Tutoring

Tutoring options for online students are available through the Academic Support Centers. There may be course-specific tutoring available. Check the details in the link provided.

Online Support Center

The Online Support Center (OSC) is available to help students with problems in online courses. If you have questions about this course, the instructor, technical difficulties, or your online learning experience, please contact the OSC.

OSC Contact Information

Phone: (208) 496-1800

Toll-free Phone: (866) 672-2984

Email: onlinelearning@byui.edu

Live Chat: To access the chat feature, please visit the website below.

Website: OSC

Disclaimers

Each student has a responsibility to carefully read assigned materials and instructions. Questions should be noted and directed to your instructor. You also have the responsibility to contribute to others’ learning through your participation in discussion boards and review material with partners.

This syllabus and the course schedule may be changed at any time prior to or during the semester as the need arises based upon circumstances. Any changes will be available to view on the course documents.

Mutual Respect

Public health/medical issues can, at times, be controversial. Discussion of the pros and cons, ethics, and policy proposals may be discussed in this course. Purposeful and respectful debate in discussion boards help stimulate critical thinking and you are encouraged to help create an exceptional learning environment. It is also important to remember that academic debate does not necessarily reflect an individual's personally held opinion of a particular topic.

All of your correspondence with the instructor and your classmates must be respectful. Writing something disrespectful or "venting" is unprofessional and not becoming of a BYU-Idaho student. In addition, it is not in accordance with the Honor Code and you will be subject to discipline accordingly.

University Policies

Please visit the University Policies page to read BYU-Idaho’s policies on student honor, students with disabilities, sexual harassment, and complaints and grievances.

Honor Code

Following the Honor Code is of great importance as you strive to be a disciple of Christ. Your commitment to live the Honor Code will contribute to the overall BYU-Idaho community. Your actions should be respectful and should foster an environment where all can feel the Spirit.

BYU-Idaho’s Dress and Grooming standards apply to all students, including online students. By adhering to the Honor Code you will create a learning environment, “consistent with the ideals and principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” For more detailed information, see the Honor Code webpage.

Academic Honesty

As followers of Christ, all BYU–Idaho students, staff, and faculty are expected to be honest in all their dealings. This also applies and extends to behavior and actions related to academic work. It is critical for students to understand the seriousness of academic dishonesty and misconduct, which are not tolerated by the University, and strive to produce and submit only the results of their own effort and original work.

To copy another person’s work from the Internet, a book, or from any other source and claiming it to be your own work, is plagiarism. Read the official definitions of plagiarism and cheating from the Academic Honesty portion of the Honor Code. It is worth remembering that while students are encouraged to work with one another and share ideas, the sharing of text, code, or anything like unto it is inappropriate. When working on a group project, you have the responsibility to assure that others in the group do not plagiarize. Remember: there is never an acceptable excuse for plagiarism or cheating.

Penalties for Academic Dishonesty

Although the Academic Honesty section of the University Policies explains what constitutes each of the many forms of academic dishonesty as well as procedures and guidelines for handling such incidents, specific application of consequences are left up to each individual instructor.

In this course, instructors will be responsible for creating and applying their own policy regarding penalties for academic dishonesty. Penalties may vary from point deductions to receiving a zero on the entire assignment. In some cases, the instructor may report an incident to the University Honors Office. Cases will be analyzed on an individual basis and penalties applied according to the severity of the misconduct.