Using Interactive Nutrition Modules to Increase Critical Thinking Skills in College Courses

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Education
• Higher Education Pedagogy
• Cognitive Skill Development

Background:

• Critical thinking is essential for informed decision-making, particularly in health-related fields like nutrition.
• Online learning modules offer a scalable platform for nutrition education, but their effectiveness in developing critical thinking skills can vary.
• Integrating evidence-based frameworks may enhance the pedagogical value of online nutrition modules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of an evidence-based framework on college students' critical thinking decision-making (CT-DM) within an online nutrition module.
• To compare the CT-DM scores of students who received a nutrition module with an integrated framework versus those who received a standard module.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 431 college students (18-24 years old) from introductory nutrition and agriculture science courses.
• Participants were assigned to either an intervention group (module with CT-DM framework) or a control group (standard module).
• Critical thinking decision-making was assessed using a validated rubric, with scores compared between groups using hierarchical linear regression and t tests.

Main Results:

• The intervention group, which utilized the evidence-based framework, demonstrated significantly higher CT-DM scores (18.1 ± 7.6) compared to the control group (15.4 ± 8.4).
• The framework effectively framed nutrition topics as problems, incorporated activities, and provided scaffolding to enhance critical thinking.
• Statistical analysis confirmed the significant difference between groups (F(3,428) = 14.58, P < .001) after controlling for university.

Conclusions:

• An evidence-based framework integrated into online nutrition modules is effective in fostering critical thinking decision-making skills among college students.
• This pedagogical approach, which structures learning around problem-solving and provides support, enhances students' ability to make informed food-related decisions.
• Higher education institutions should consider incorporating such frameworks into nutrition curricula to improve student learning outcomes and critical thinking abilities.