39E-5

C. M. MICHAEL, PHS Department, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056

The field of dietetics offers many career opportunities including employment in the food industry in product development, marketing, or sales. Dietetics majors need a good understanding of food quality, the interrelationship of ingredients and a thorough appreciation of the research process. Educational literature suggests that including a variety of projects can increase active involvement and enhance learning. The experience of using three diverse course projects to teach food science knowledge and develop professional skills is discussed.

An advanced foods course is a required course for seniors in dietetics. Lectures, readings, lab experiments and course projects are used to achieve course objectives.

A food science research review sends students into the research literature. Guided with specific questions, students learn current research topics, research methodology, how research should be written, and industry trends. Oral and written reports develop communication skills.

A second project focuses on product/recipe development for consumers. Each student develops an individual project, but during each reformulation, each class member is responsible for giving specific feedback and/or suggestions for ingredient or preparation modification to each classmate, using a consumer perspective. Students are evaluated on final product quality and on what they’ve learned from their involvement in each of the other class projects. This project clarifies ingredient options, roles and interrelationships and develops creativity, problem-solving and management skills.

Finally, students design and conduct an individual research project. Formal sensory evaluation and objective evaluation are included. This project clarifies the research process, builds confidence in research abilities, encourages critical thinking and problem-solving and enhances oral presentation and written communication skills.

Student assessment measures and course evaluations illustrate the effective ness of these projects. Including both independent and group participation learning projects increases active involvement and enhances learning. These projects can be used effectively in other university instructional settings.