Celebrating National Health Education Week 2013: An On Campus Conference Style Learning Experience

Last week was National Health Education Week (NHEW), and the week's theme focused on the role of health educators in implementing the Affordable Care Act.  National Health Education Week is sponsored by the Society of Public Health Education (SOPHE), and it has been celebrated since 1995 during the 3rd week of October. Promoting NHEW on campus and in the local community is a great way to bring attention to health education and literacy issues.  As a Health Education Professor and Certified Health Education Specialist, I feel that its is important to make a conscious effort to promote NHEW each year on campus.  

This year, I held an on-campus conference to for NHEW with the goal of increasing student awareness of organizations within the Glades and throughout Palm Beach County that address health disparities. The presenters consisted of on-campus faculty and staff as well as community organizations.  I also did two presentations for the conference:  A History of Medicine in America and How Health Insurance Works.  In addition to the conference, there was also an information table set up with numerous brochures for students to take on various health topics.  All of the events were well attended by students, and it provided a great learning opportunity for them to learn about how these organizations affect their community, volunteerism, and upcoming opportunities in service learning.  In addition, students were able to ask questions to gain practical knowledge, and they were encouraged to share what they had learned to begin making a difference in their own communities.  Below is a list of events that the students had an opportunity to attend, and I would like to personally thank each of the individuals and organizations that presented during the week. 

Information Table

Palm Beach County Victims Services

We Help Community Corporation

Alzheimer's Community Care

Date and Time of Event	Organization	Title of Presentation
9:00-10:15 Monday  10/21	Bridges of Belle Glade	"Early Childhood Development Ages 0-8/Financial Literacy"
11:00-12:15 Monday 10/21	Palm Beach County Victims Services, Ms. Angeletta Sewell	"Domestic Violence Awareness"
12:30-1:45 Monday 10/21	American Red Cross	"Red Cross: Who We Are, What We Do, And How We Do"
2:00-3:15 Monday 10/21	Enroll America, Ms. Katie Visik	"The Affordable Care Act:  What You Need to Know"
3:30-5:00 Monday 10/21	Movie and Discussion	"Sick Around America"  Synopsis:  As the worsening economy leads to massive job losses—potentially forcing millions more Americans to go without health insurance—FRONTLINE travels the country examining the nation's broken health care system and explores the need for a fundamental overhaul.
9:00-10:15 Tuesday 10/22	Dr. Steshenko, PBSC Professor	"Common Sense for Healthy Living:  Natural Remedies for a Healthy Life"
11:00-12:15 Tuesday 10/22	We Help Community Corporation, Dr. D.M. Walker	"Home Buying Seminar and Discussion on Housing in the Glades"
12:30-1:45 Tuesday 10/22	Ms. Vanger Simmons, PBSC Professor	"Career Options Workshop:  Occupational Wellness"
2:00-3:15 Tuesday 10/22	Alzheimer's Community Care-Mr. Robert Summers	"Alzheimer's Disease and the Alzheimer's Community Care Association"
3:30-4:45 Tuesday 10/22	Movie and Discussion	"Food, Inc."  Synopsis:  In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment.
9:00-10:15 Wednesday 10/23	Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County	"Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County Information Session"
11:00-12:15 Wednesday 10/23	Focus Group "Student Forum," Dr. Bennett and Dr. Moore	"Our College, Our Campus, Our Future"
12:30-1:45 Wednesday 10/23	First Care Women’s Clinic, Sandi Davis	"Whole Person Health"
2:00-3:15 Wednesday 10/23	PBSC Counseling Center, Ms. Jeannie Hoban	"Mental Health and Life Skills"
3:30-4:30 Wednesday 10/23	Dr. Kristy Taylor, PBSC Professor	A History of Medicine in America
5:00-6:45 Wednesday 10/24	Movie and Discussion	"Suicide Tourist"  Synopsis:  Five months after being diagnosed with ALS, Craig Ewert arrived in Switzerland for his scheduled suicide. A story about struggling to live ... and deciding when to die.     Discussion:  End of Life Planning, Ethics, Morals, and the Things We Never Expected
9:00-10:15 Thursday 10/24	Planned Parenthood, Mr. Al Davis	"Your Sexual Health and Planned Parenthood"
11:00-12:15 Thursday 10/24	Comprehensive Aids Program, Dr. Yolanda De Venanzi	"All you want to know about HIV and AIDS "- Free HIV/AIDS testing will also be done on site. Sponsored by CAP the Comprehensive AIDS Program Of Palm Beach County, Inc.
12:30-1:45 Thursday 10/24	Mr. John Pearson, PBSC Learning Specialist	"Managing Stress and Passing the Test:  Test Taking Skills Seminar"
2:00-3:15 Thursday 10/24	Dr. Kristy Taylor, PBSC Professor	"How Health Insurance Works:  The Basics for Informed Consumers"
3:30-4:45 Thursday 10/24	Movie and Discussion	"Sick Around the World"  Synopsis:  "In the debate over health care, what might the U.S. learn from the successes and failures of five other capitalist democracies? "

How to Identify the Characteristics of High Risk Learners in Higher Education

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The relationship between students and faculty is the corner-stone of student success and retention rates. For faculty it is important to develop relationships with students early on, since generally students will only be in the class for a short period. Faculty must be able to recognize the characteristics of high-risk learners and offer the proper interventions to aid them. When dealing with high-risk learners, faculty should be willing to communicate and make referrals to advisors and other college resources as appropriate.

A high-risk learner is a student who may exhibit several of the following characteristics in the classroom:

• signs of low self-esteem

• feelings of alienation, as if they do not belong

• struggling with reading comprehension

• struggling with writing skills

• a lack of organizational skills

• language barriers

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The ASALH Conference 2013: A Day by Day Reflective Account of a Life Changing Experience

Dr. Kristy Taylor and Ms. Lisa Ransom of
 JaxHeritage Consultants 

Earlier this month, October 2nd-6th, I had the opportunity to attend the ASALH conference.  ASALH stands for the Association for the Studyof African American History and Life; the organization was started by Dr. Carter G. Woodson on September 9th, 1915.  If you are not familiar with the work of Dr. Woodson, his book The Mis-Education of the Negro, is a must read for all persons interested in the study of African American history and life.  Many of the key points made by Dr. Wood in the 1933 publication of the book are still relevant today. The ASALH conference was one of the most important learning experiences that I have had in my professional career.  I also met great individuals like Ms. Lisa Ransom of JaxHeritage Consultants and Mr. Matt Bowman of Micanopy Winery. From the moment that I arrived at the conference the learning began, below is a synopsis of my ASLAH experience:

Day 1:  Wednesday 10/2/2013

I arrived in Jacksonville on Wednesday night, and I missed a few of the pre-conference events.  I did however take the time to find the hotel at which the conference was being held as well as catch a few scenic sites in the immediate River Front area.

Day 2:   Thursday 10/3/2013

Upon arriving at the conference, I went to the registration booth in order to ensure that everything was squared away for the event.  One of the first presentations that I attended was:  “From the South to Boston:  Perspectives on Black Migration, Activism, and Coalition Building."  I learned the about the civil rights movement from the Black-Brown Perspective and the influence of Hispanic and Latina culture on the movement, particularly in the Boston area.  The concept of Black-Brown relations during this era was new to me, and I never realized how these individuals worked together to achieve their goals and the commonalities that they shared.  I found this very interesting since I had always thought Boston to be more progressive.

I also visited the exhibit hall in which, I had the pleasure of purchasing a variety of books on African American life and history for only $5.00 each.  I walked away with at least 20 different books to add to my library at home.  While attending the luncheon for that day, I received a text from my supervisor that I would be allowed to proceed with teaching an African American History course at our college.  We currently do not offer the class, and it had been deactivated previously due to a lack of enrollment.  It was a very symbolic moment in my mind, as I set listening to the daughter of slain civil rights leader, Medgar Evers and Ms. Lisa McNair, the sister of Denise McNair, who died in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, AL.  I also had the pleasure of meeting them and taking a picture with them after event.  In addition, the panel was hosted by Mr. Jeffery Steinberg, founder of Sojourn to the Past. 

After the luncheon, I spent the rest of the day visiting and listening to various presentations such as:  Canada and the Emancipation Proclamation, Racial Uplift During and After the Civil, and Reinterpreting Reconstruction at each of which I was able to take plenty of notes for further research in the future.  The Thursday, plenary session was an appreciation for Dr. John Bracey, an influential leader, speaker, activist, and professor in the field of African American Studies.  The panel was consisted of other visionaries and revolutionaries such as Dr. Earnest Allen, Dr. Darlene Clark Hine, Dr. Stephanie Evans, Dr. John Higginson, and Dr. Sonia Sanchez (Yes, that Sonia Sanchez, the poet). 

Can you imagine what it felt like to sit in the presence of these individuals all in one space? At the luncheon, when I received the message that I would be allowed to teach African American History, I could only shed tears of joy as I listened to the young lady sing, Lift Every Voice and Sing.  In my mind it was a reconfirmation of my destiny as an educator in my community.

Day 3:  Friday, 10/4/2013

Pictured with Mr. Matt Bowman and Dr. Robert Hayling

When I arrived at the conference, I attended the Carter G. Woodson luncheon, and Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead was the key note speaker; her speech was very heart-felt and motivational.  After the luncheon, I again spent most of the day going in and out of various presentations.  It is important to note that in order to gain full perspective on various topics, it is best to sit in on an entire presentation.  Because I wanted to learn as much as possible, I chose to visit various presentations at different points and focus on note taking for further research later on.  I attended Black Women Organizing between the Depression and the Cold War and August Meier’s Negro Thought in America 50 Years Later.  I found the presentation on Dr. August Meiers to be so interesting that I stayed the entire time.  I was surprised to learn that Dr. Bracey was leading the discussion.  It was very inspirational listening to him discuss Dr. Meiers, as well as the exchanges that occurred between him and Dr. Clark Hine, who was sitting in the audience. The plenary session was entitled, How Free is Free?: The March Since 1963, and it was yet another great reflective discussion on African American progress since the March on Washington.  I ended the night by attending the Taste of Black Expo, hosted by the Jack and Jill Chapter of Jacksonville, FL. 

Day 4:  Saturday, 10/5/2013

I arrived at the beginning of the luncheon on Saturday, and Mr. Bernard Kinsey was the keynote speaker.  Mr. Kinsey is a former CEO of Xerox, and he owns one of the largest personal collections of African American art and historical artifacts.  I was excited to find out that Mr. Kinsey is from the West Palm Beach area, although he and his wife currently reside in California.  I would love to some day have part of his collection on display at our main campus in the future. After the luncheon was over, I was standing in line to purchase Mr. Kinsey’s book, and I met Dr. Robert Hayling.  Dr. Hayling was a civil rights leader in St. Augustine, and he actually worked directly with Dr. Martin Luther King.  I think that it is important that we learn all we can from individuals like Dr. Hayling regarding the work that they did during this period.

I attended the Afro, EBlack Studies, and the Digital Revolution Seminar:  Recent Initiatives and the plenary session: Making Emancipation:  From a Black Reconstruction to a Black President.  The plenary session was not only very inspirational and informative, but I learned the names of several individuals whose work I would like to read in the future:  Dr. Edna Medford, Dr. Robin Kelley, and Dr. Paul Ortiz.  I found the perspectives of Dr. Kelley and Dr. Ortiz of particular interest.  Dr. Ortiz spoke from the perspective of the influence of Hispanic/Latino culture on the civil rights movement.  I also attended the ASALH Annual Banquet, and Dr. Johnetta B. Cole was the key note speaker.  Dr. Cole was a true inspiration, and I will be writing more about her later on.  I found her speech to be motivational in the sense that it was thought provoking, challenging, and promoted personal accountability and upliftment in the same sentiment.

Day 5:  Sunday, 10/6/2013

On Sunday, I spent the day touring various sites in St. Augustine.  I do not think, that I can do this experience justice by including it as a part of the overall synopsis of the ASALH experience, so I will write about it another day.  In short, I learned things about Florida’s history, that I never knew, and I also learned about Ft. Mose.  Ft. Mose is the first free African settlement in the United States.  The tour of St. Augustine was such a moving experience, and I also got to learn about Dr. Hayling’s influence in this area, because his name came up on several occasions throughout the tour.

Overall, the ASALH conference was a great learning and networking opportunity.  As I continue to work to build my knowledge and reputation in the field of American History, the ASALH conference will continue to play an important role in my personal and professional development.  

Changing the Delivery of Remediation Education at Colleges: Widening the "Open-Door"

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Many colleges are reconsidering the definition of "open-door" when it comes to student enrollment and remediation courses. While remediation courses are helpful in building up student skills in general education areas such as Reading, Mathematics, and English, some colleges are changing their approach to how remediation education is done. At the 2-year and 4-year level, having an open-door policy means that the college offers a variety of resources to help students build the necessary skills they need in order to be successful in higher level courses.

Not only do these post-secondary institutions offer remediation courses, but they also provide learning labs and additional one-on-one tutoring based on student needs similar to that of universities. In the past, the open-door policies offered by these institutions have always had a controlled, sequenced structured approach, with students being placed in remediation courses based on placement test scores. The new approach to improving how remediation courses are delivered provides colleges with a variety of options based on state recommendations. Several of these options are to:.....  CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING THIS ON EZINEARTICLES.COM

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How Post-Secondary Health Education Courses Can Be Used to Enhance Job Readiness Skills

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As the focus on wellness and preventative care becomes the norm in order to reduce healthcare costs, colleges and universities can also get involved by promoting health education courses that are already available on campus. Post-secondary institutions whose primary mission is to graduate students, who are workforce ready, should include a wellness component within the course of study. Many of the people investing in wellness education programs are employers seeking to reduce their own healthcare expenses for employees. Employers invest in wellness programs for their employees to boost morale and increase productivity. Workplace wellness programs not only help to increase productivity and ultimately affect a company's revenue, but the programs also help to cut long-term healthcare costs for employers that provide healthcare benefits. One study indicated that for every $1.00 spent on wellness programs, healthcare costs are reduced by $3.37. In addition the cost of absenteeism is reduced by $2.73 for every $1.00 spent; with over 130 million individuals in the workforce, wellness programs can save employers a significant amount of money each year (Baicker et. al, 2010).  CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING THIS ON EZINEARTICLES.COM

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Critical Thinking in Post-Secondary Education: It's About More Than Job Readiness Skills

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The goal of post-secondary education at the community college level has primarily been to equip students with the skills that they need for the workforce. Offering courses of study that allow students to be workforce ready, not only helps to increase completion rates but it also helps to boost economic development in the communities in which the graduates are hired. For this process to work effectively, college administrators, educators, and business leaders must share similar goals. While workforce readiness is important, students should also be able to think critically and problem solve as an everyday life skill.

Critical thinking is the process of evaluating information and making decisions based on effective observation, reasoning, and analysis. A key feature of thinking critically is the communication process, which can provide the necessary clarity for individuals to ask in-depth questions that lead to sound conclusions. Critical thinking promotes rationality because thinkers are able to raise important questions, identify problems, evaluate information, think open-mindedly, and communicate with others in order solve problems effectively. In addition, critical thinking promotes accountability, responsibility, and organization for making decisions since students must be actively engaged in the process.  CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING THIS ON EZINEARTICLES.COM

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What Is a Meta-Major and How Does It Work?

Meta-majors consists of a group of academic classes and sequence structures that introduce students to a broad set of career options, while meeting the academic requirements across multiple areas of study. The courses allow students to explore a wide variety of career options, with the purpose of choosing a profession based on their interests, skills, and talents. In addition, Meta-majors help to promote STEM initiatives which emphasize courses in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Meta-majors can also be helpful in boosting completion rates among all students, to include those enrolled in developmental education courses since research indicates higher graduation rates among students who identify a program of study within their first year. Meta-major programs can be designed to help students navigate through the confusing process of choosing the appropriate classes, by providing them with a structured learning sequence and relevant course options to choose from. Students begin their studies with "gateway" courses such as English Composition and College Algebra before moving on into the meta-major areas of studies. It would also require that students who are unsure about what classes to enroll in consult with campus advisors for guidance.

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The Journey Begins: Kristy Taylor as Dr. Kristy Taylor, DHSc.......U.S. History Professor??

I thought that this would be a good place to share my thoughts, research, and experiences as a Health Science and American History Professor.  After recently finishing my doctorate in Health Science with an emphasis in Global Health from A.T. Still University my life started to head in a totally unexpected direction.  Last year, in the middle of finishing up my doctorate, I decided to take some additional courses in another subject area, just in case I would be affected by new legislation passed regarding Florida colleges.  I chose to take classes in American History from American Public University, and it has been one of the best decisions that I have ever made.  While it was difficult to take so many courses at the same time, now with only two classes left to finish my second master’s degree in History, the journey has been well worth it.

I find myself pursing my passion as I work to learn more about African American History, African Diaspora, the Founding Fathers, the Constitution, etc.  There is so much to learn!  There is also the other issue of combining my 10+ years of healthcare experience with my new career as an American History Professor (part-time).  I am far from the belief that I will ever stop teaching healthcare, as I have taught a variety of courses in this area over the years.  In fact, healthcare will always remain my primary area as I am very interested in researching health disparities, healthcare law, healthcare ethics, and other public health issues, particularly from various cultural perspectives. This blog is simply a place to share my passion for all things academia as it relates to health, history, and working in the field of education.  

Connect with me on Linkedin.com:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/kktaylor

Email:  DrKristyTaylor@gmail.com