Search

The present study was undertaken to measure critical thinking dispositions in students as they enter the health education program at Illinois State University (ISU). Health education undergraduate students at ISU were found to have shortcomings in critical thinking dispositions during a study from 2000-2003. Dispositions (e.g. truthseeking, open-mindedness, inquisitiveness) were measured by the California Critical Thinking Dispositions Inventory (CCTDI). Health education majors (n=96) were compared to students in other health science disciplines (n=187) and to health education minors (n=48). CCTDI scores did not differ between health education majors and other health sciences students but scores for majors were significantly higher than for health education minors. Specifically, health education majors scored significantly higher for inquisitiveness, cognitive maturity and total critical thinking disposition. The findings have significant implications for health education academic programs and the profession. Health education professionals commonly confront complex, ill-structured problems and their ability to effectively respond to these problems is largely dependent upon strong critical thinking dispositions. Focusing on the development of critical thinking dispositions in professional preparation programs, and further research on pedagogy effective in developing the dispositions, is needed.

Millions of pounds of food are donated annually from grocery stores, restaurants, and other sources through thousands of food assistance agencies. Few local health departments have both the legal authority and resources to assure food safety in this highly decentralized network. A number of communities are using innovative public-private partnerships to improve donated food safety even in the absence of legal authority or significant new resources. These approaches begin with an understanding of the local food donation network, then progress to finding opportunities to create benefits for network members and seeking food safety improvements from network members. Local health department leadership is needed to improve food donation safety programs. This involvement could include coordinating the variety of privately-based food safety inspections currently taking place and exploring funding opportunities through the tax savings enjoyed by food donors. This special report provides an overview of food donation networks and the food safety challenges common to many communities. It then explains some of the innovative programs being implemented in communities. Finally, we highlight opportunities for developing comprehensive food donation safety programs in the absence of significant new resources or legal authority., Introduction Over 12% of the U.S. population was food-insecure in 2015 (World Hunger Education Service, 2018). Risks to the food-insecure include not only hunger and malnutrition but also the consequences [...]

Phosphorus (P) pollution of surface waters contributes to hazardous algal blooms, posing a significant public health risk from contact with toxins released by the algae. Replenishing P depleted from agricultural soils poses additional public health risks from pollution associated with fertilizer production and the exhaustion of limited domestic P deposits. Environmental health professional responsibilities can impact sources of P pollution, such as onsite wastewater treatment systems, land use planning, watershed and drinking water protection, and stormwater control. The watershed planning process provides an opportunity for environmental health professionals to become involved in protecting public health by assuring the most cost-effective strategies for P control and recovery. This special report reviews the properties of P that provide both opportunities and challenges for P control and recovery, presents progress being made in P recovery from surface waters, and highlights the most promising technologies for the near future. These technologies have significant implications for public health, the environment, and the economy. Environmental health practitioners can play a role in developing and implementing these technologies and in educating the public about the benefits of P recovery., The Public Health Consequences of Phosphorus Pollution Phosphorus (P) is essential for plant and animal life. Most of earth's ecosystems, however, evolved under P-limited conditions (Schoumans et al., 2014; Scinto [...]

Explores partnerships between educators and employers of environmental health graduates that can help address the challenges of employing qualified faculty, ensuring the relevance of skills and knowledge developed, and motivating students to learn. Focuses on joint projects in which students help employers identify and solve problems in the field. (JRH)

Promotion of innovations is enhanced by understanding market segments and their different needs. The Innovativeness-Stages matrix is a way of identifying market segments by their receptiveness to innovation and stage in the adoption process. (SK)

Describes an interactive classroom game designed to enhance student understanding of air pollution control strategies. Discusses the game's focus on the differences in compliance costs that can occur between the three principal control approaches of emission limits, emission permits, and emission taxes. (TW)

Presents an interactive classroom technique to help students understand how the market can be used to arrive at a cost-effective method for pollution control. Emphasizes the understanding of the fundamental ideas that the optimal level of pollution is rarely zero and that marketable pollution permits are efficient means of control. (KO)

Phosphorus (P) pollution of surface waters contributes to hazardous algal blooms, posing a significant public health risk from contact with toxins released by the algae. Replenishing P depleted from agricultural soils poses additional public health risks from pollution associated with fertilizer production and the exhaustion of limited domestic P deposits. Environmental health professional responsibilities can impact sources of P pollution, such as onsite wastewater treatment systems, land use planning, watershed and drinking water protection, and stormwater control. The watershed planning process provides an opportunity for environmental health professionals to become involved in protecting public health by assuring the most cost-effective strategies for P control and recovery. This special report reviews the properties of P that provide both opportunities and challenges for P control and recovery, presents progress being made in P recovery from surface waters, and highlights the most promising technologies for the near future. These technologies have significant implications for public health, the environment, and the economy. Environmental health practitioners can play a role in developing and implementing these technologies and in educating the public about the benefits of P recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of environmental health requires the knowledge of many facts and terms, and it also requires mastery of an array of concepts that can be difficult for many students to thoroughly comprehend. Guided-inquiry learning is a process by which students "discover" basic concepts through active investigation. In this article, the authors describe several guided-inquiry learning modules used in their undergraduate environmental health program and their experience in using them. Some modules are used in professional courses while others are used in a general education course. Overall, the authors experienced increased student engagement and interest with guided-inquiry learning. Students are able to comprehend some abstract concepts more quickly and seem to retain the concepts longer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standards have the potential to be a significant tool in the marketing of services, just as they have been in the marketing of product Ranging from regulatory to voluntary, product-based to producer-based, standards can increase the competitive position of a product by reducing customer uncertainty. However, the lack of a framework for understanding and. designing standards has limited their application in service industries. Examination of existing standards suggests a framework of five key dimensions. Through the example of chemical management services (CMS) we show how this can be done, resulting in three options for the CMS industry. Using this framework as a guide, other service industries can determine if a standard would provide significant competitive advantage and, if so, design the optimal standard for their market conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to measure critical thinking dispositions in students as they enter the health education program at Illinois State University (ISU). Health education undergraduate students at ISU were found to have shortcomings in critical thinking dispositions during a study from 2000-2003. Dispositions (e.g. truthseeking, open-mindedness, inquisitiveness) were measured by the California Critical Thinking Dispositions Inventory (CCTDI). Health education majors (n=96) were compared to students in other health science disciplines (n=187) and to health education minors (n=48). CCTDI scores did not differ between health education majors and other health sciences students but scores for majors were significantly higher than for health education minors. Specifically, health education majors scored significantly higher for inquisitiveness, cognitive maturity and total critical thinking disposition. The findings have significant implications for health education academic programs and the profession. Health education professionals commonly confront complex, ill-structured problems and their ability to effectively respond to these problems is largely dependent upon strong critical thinking dispositions. Focusing on the development of critical thinking dispositions in professional preparation programs, and further research on pedagogy effective in developing the dispositions, is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]