Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.
Educational Media and Communications Support
Plan Goals
To develop educational media in support of state specialists' educational and outreach goals. Media may include video, multimedia programs, games and print materials.
- Owner
- Jeanne Gleason
Impact Reports
Multimedia Production: Don't Be Gross
Grant Title: Peer Networking and Social Norms Design: Implications for Food Safety Media and Behavioral Change
In partnership with Rutgers University, this project is designed to help youth adopt and engage in behaviors that prevent foodborne illness. The objectives of this proposal are as follows:
1) Using research findings on food safety needs, attitudes, and interests of middle school students, create a series of 'video snacks' that use social norms design and Theory of Reason Action to change food safety behaviors of middle school youth. Note that video snacks are defined as short (approximately 2- to 3-minute) animated videos or mini-games that focus on a single topic (e.g., hand washing, water bottle sharing, etc.) using an approach designed to shift social norms. They are intended for distribution through peer social networks.
2) Conduct formative evaluation of video snacks throughout the development process.
3) Conduct process and controlled summative evaluation studies to document the effect of the video snacks disseminated through peer networks using viral marketing techniques on middle schoolers’ food safety attitudes, perceived social norms, and behaviors. Note that viral marketing is the distribution of messages by the audience of interest to their pre-existing social networks, such as Facebook or Twitter. That is, an individual exposed to an engaging message shares the message with his or her social network (e.g., friends, family) who, in turn, share it with their social networks, and so on creating a snowball effect. Traditionally, the message was delivered via word-of-mouth; with the advent of the Internet, viral marketing also uses email, social network posts, instant messaging, links to video clips, games, and the like.
4) Prepare tools for disseminating video snacks to additional peer networks (e.g., MySpace, 4-H clubs, scout troops, summer camps) and professionals (e.g., science teachers, family and consumer sciences teachers, health teachers, Extension agents).
Researchers have created seven animations and short videos to help youth understand food safety. Testing on all animations and videos will begin Fall 2012.
This project is funded by USDA’s NIFSI grant program.
Grant Title: Peer Networking and Social Norms Design: Implications for Food Safety Media and Behavioral Change
In partnership with Rutgers University, this project is designed to help youth adopt and engage in behaviors that prevent foodborne illness. The objectives of this proposal are as follows:
1) Using research findings on food safety needs, attitudes, and interests of middle school students, create a series of 'video snacks' that use social norms design and Theory of Reason Action to change food safety behaviors of middle school youth. Note that video snacks are defined as short (approximately 2- to 3-minute) animated videos or mini-games that focus on a single topic (e.g., hand washing, water bottle sharing, etc.) using an approach designed to shift social norms. They are intended for distribution through peer social networks.
2) Conduct formative evaluation of video snacks throughout the development process.
3) Conduct process and controlled summative evaluation studies to document the effect of the video snacks disseminated through peer networks using viral marketing techniques on middle schoolers’ food safety attitudes, perceived social norms, and behaviors. Note that viral marketing is the distribution of messages by the audience of interest to their pre-existing social networks, such as Facebook or Twitter. That is, an individual exposed to an engaging message shares the message with his or her social network (e.g., friends, family) who, in turn, share it with their social networks, and so on creating a snowball effect. Traditionally, the message was delivered via word-of-mouth; with the advent of the Internet, viral marketing also uses email, social network posts, instant messaging, links to video clips, games, and the like.
4) Prepare tools for disseminating video snacks to additional peer networks (e.g., MySpace, 4-H clubs, scout troops, summer camps) and professionals (e.g., science teachers, family and consumer sciences teachers, health teachers, Extension agents).
Researchers have created seven animations and short videos to help youth understand food safety. Testing on all animations and videos will begin Fall 2012.
This project is funded by USDA’s NIFSI grant program.
Multimedia Development: Foodborne Norovirus in Elder Care Facilities: An integrated approach to prevention and control
The overall goal is to reduce the risk for human NoV infection among residents in elder or extended care facilities. This will be achieved using targeted prevention and control strategies based on laboratory-based research and risk assessment by developing a multi-media educational intervention program to prevent and control of NoV infections in elder and residential care facilities. Media development of educational tools will begin in Fall 2012.
This project is funded by USDA’s NIFSI grant program.
The overall goal is to reduce the risk for human NoV infection among residents in elder or extended care facilities. This will be achieved using targeted prevention and control strategies based on laboratory-based research and risk assessment by developing a multi-media educational intervention program to prevent and control of NoV infections in elder and residential care facilities. Media development of educational tools will begin in Fall 2012.
This project is funded by USDA’s NIFSI grant program.
Multimedia Development: Identification of Safe Food Handling Messages for Populations of Different Demographics
In partnership with Drexel University, this project is designed to identify the most common perceived barriers and benefits of the targeted safe food-handling behaviors and competing unsafe behaviors within the target population; develop educational messages and materials to support a community-based food safety campaign for target populations to address the dangers of Salmonella and Campylobacter foodborne illness; and, implement a community-based food safety education campaign using the new educational materials with five multiple ethnic sub-groupings within the Philadelphia area. Media development for this project will begin in Spring 2012. This project is funded by USDA’s NIFSI grant program.
In partnership with Drexel University, this project is designed to identify the most common perceived barriers and benefits of the targeted safe food-handling behaviors and competing unsafe behaviors within the target population; develop educational messages and materials to support a community-based food safety campaign for target populations to address the dangers of Salmonella and Campylobacter foodborne illness; and, implement a community-based food safety education campaign using the new educational materials with five multiple ethnic sub-groupings within the Philadelphia area. Media development for this project will begin in Spring 2012. This project is funded by USDA’s NIFSI grant program.
Multimedia Development: Improving Hygienic Food Preparation in Child Care Centers
In Partnership with Michigan State University, this project is designed to determine childcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors toward food preparation, hygiene practices with children, and handwashing procedures; conduct microbiological analysis of swab samples taken in childcare settings to determine the degree of fecal contamination; develop a risk assessment to determine the most risky areas of pathogen transmission in childcare settings through modeling transfer coefficients, and to rank the potential interventions that could reduce the risk of Norovirus and Shigella infections; and create, implement, and disseminate an educational strategy and intervention tools based on the results of Objectives 1, 2 and 3, to enhance food preparation safety and other health hygiene practices among childcare workers. NMSU's Media Production team finalized development of media and intervention tools.
Currently, the site includes curriculum guides for 5 days, with age-appropriate activities and songs for preschool learners and childcare personnel. Other curriculum resources on the site include hand-washing posters, germ spread worksheets, hand-washing sequence cards, and labels and instructions on how to create a germ kit. Other features included in the site are links to other complementary resources and products that day care workers, parents and teachers would find helpful. This project is funded by USDA’s NIFSI grant program.
Program available at the comprehensive website "Because I Care, I Wash My Hands" (http://handwashing.nmsu.edu), including curriculum guides, songs and video demonstrations. 100 DVDs were distributed to participating daycare centers and MSU.
In Partnership with Michigan State University, this project is designed to determine childcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors toward food preparation, hygiene practices with children, and handwashing procedures; conduct microbiological analysis of swab samples taken in childcare settings to determine the degree of fecal contamination; develop a risk assessment to determine the most risky areas of pathogen transmission in childcare settings through modeling transfer coefficients, and to rank the potential interventions that could reduce the risk of Norovirus and Shigella infections; and create, implement, and disseminate an educational strategy and intervention tools based on the results of Objectives 1, 2 and 3, to enhance food preparation safety and other health hygiene practices among childcare workers. NMSU's Media Production team finalized development of media and intervention tools.
Currently, the site includes curriculum guides for 5 days, with age-appropriate activities and songs for preschool learners and childcare personnel. Other curriculum resources on the site include hand-washing posters, germ spread worksheets, hand-washing sequence cards, and labels and instructions on how to create a germ kit. Other features included in the site are links to other complementary resources and products that day care workers, parents and teachers would find helpful. This project is funded by USDA’s NIFSI grant program.
Program available at the comprehensive website "Because I Care, I Wash My Hands" (http://handwashing.nmsu.edu), including curriculum guides, songs and video demonstrations. 100 DVDs were distributed to participating daycare centers and MSU.
Multimedia Development: Ninja Kitchen
Grant title: Youth Understanding of Food Borne Illness with Computer-Based Interventions for Science
The project’s focus is to investigate the food-handling responsibilities and obstacles to adopting safe food-handling behavior encountered by middle school consumers, including knowledge of foodborne disease and preventative behaviors, psychosocial factors (i.e., attitudes, self-efficacy), and self-reported food-handling procedures.
Team members completed initial qualitative research involving focus groups with middle school youth, parents of middle school youth, and food safety experts. This study had three phases: baseline focus groups with middle school youth and baseline focus groups with parents of middle schoolers, interviews with food safety experts, and follow-up focus groups with middle schoolers. For baseline youth interviews, middle school children in five states (Maine, New Jersey, Tennessee, Georgia, New Mexico) were recruited from schools and extracurricular youth groups.
Findings from this initial research show that middle school youth are preparing food more frequently and need more effective and engaging education tools that help them learn the importance of food safety practices and how to prevent foodborne illness. These findings will better prepare researchers, educators and media developers to create effective, engaging intervention tools for this audience.
Researchers and educators developed an interactive game that meets food safety educational behavioral objectives and national science standards for use in middle school science classrooms. Team members are currently testing a beta version of the game, Ninja Kitchen, on the target audience. This project is funded by USDA’s NIFSI grant program.
Research on effectiveness is underway by project partners. Game available at ninjakitchengame.com
Grant title: Youth Understanding of Food Borne Illness with Computer-Based Interventions for Science
The project’s focus is to investigate the food-handling responsibilities and obstacles to adopting safe food-handling behavior encountered by middle school consumers, including knowledge of foodborne disease and preventative behaviors, psychosocial factors (i.e., attitudes, self-efficacy), and self-reported food-handling procedures.
Team members completed initial qualitative research involving focus groups with middle school youth, parents of middle school youth, and food safety experts. This study had three phases: baseline focus groups with middle school youth and baseline focus groups with parents of middle schoolers, interviews with food safety experts, and follow-up focus groups with middle schoolers. For baseline youth interviews, middle school children in five states (Maine, New Jersey, Tennessee, Georgia, New Mexico) were recruited from schools and extracurricular youth groups.
Findings from this initial research show that middle school youth are preparing food more frequently and need more effective and engaging education tools that help them learn the importance of food safety practices and how to prevent foodborne illness. These findings will better prepare researchers, educators and media developers to create effective, engaging intervention tools for this audience.
Researchers and educators developed an interactive game that meets food safety educational behavioral objectives and national science standards for use in middle school science classrooms. Team members are currently testing a beta version of the game, Ninja Kitchen, on the target audience. This project is funded by USDA’s NIFSI grant program.
Research on effectiveness is underway by project partners. Game available at ninjakitchengame.com