A comparison of two differential methods for nutrition education in elementary school: lecture- and experience-based learning program

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This research was conducted to compare lecture- and experience-based methods of nutritional education as well as provide fundamental data for developing an effective nutritional education program in elementary schools. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 110 students in three elementary schools in Jeollanam-do were recruited and randomly distributed in lecture- and experience-based groups. The effects of education on students dietary knowledge, dietary behaviors, and dietary habits were analyzed using a pre/post-test. RESULTS: Lecture- and experience-based methods did not significantly alter total scores for dietary knowledge in any group, although lecture-based method led to improvement for some detailed questions. In the experience-based group, subjects showed significant alteration of dietary behaviors, whereas lecture-based method showed alteration of dietary habits. CONCLUSIONS: These outcomes suggest that lecture- and experience-based methods led to differential improvement of students dietary habits, behaviors, and knowledge. To obtain better nutritional education results, both lectures and experiential activities need to be considered.