Background

       Key Statistics     

       Health Impacts

       Rationale for School
            Programs

       Health Canada

Teaching Tips

       Curriculum Design

       Teaching )Practices

       School-Community
           Cooperation

Teaching Tools

       Lesson Plans

       Webquests

	Using active and cooperative learning and teaching techniques: Inquiry-based learning, problem-based learning and project-based learning learning has become recognized as essential to construvist learning . Cooperative learning , where students work with others in assignments, discussions and projects is also essential to learning where the students "construct" meaning from the information. For a great list of student health project ideas and how to evaluate the student work in those projects, go to our web page on Teacher Tools for webquests. Games, role plays and simulations are also excellent tools to promote active and cooperative learning. Teachers need to know about the evaluation of student work from such active and cooperative learning. See our page on Evaluation Rubrics and learn more about portfolios as a basis of student evaluation.
	Effective use of small group discussions: The fine art of teacher-led and small group discussions is critcal to health education. Students need time to explore their feelings, find meaning and relevance in health topics and to test their ideas with their peers.
	Effective use of media and technologies: Most of the professional discussion of  the effective use of technologies in learning has been focussed on science, math and technology itself.  More recently, there have been concerns about inappropriate and ineffective uses of technology in the classroom. As part of this strategy, students should be taught media literacy skills as they apply in health education. Webquests have become a tool for teachers in all subject areas, although they are relatively underused in health education. Read our pages on webquests and the use of webquests in health education .  Also, go to our start page for webquests , where you can choose from over 100 health webquests or even create your own webquest.
	Effective use of the arts, drama, literature, poetry and music:  Vicarious, like virtual learning, is engaging to the learner and can help in the formation or development of attitudes and beliefs. Students can explore the anguish of health problems, personalize risk and can be led into class/group discussions or self-reflection from the spring board of music, drama, literature, poetry and music.
	Effective use of student reflection through journal writing: Health education journals are highly recommended as a way to encourage students to record, reflect and write about their health learning. For more about journaling in health education, go to our summary . For an example of a health journal, go to the Personal Health Journal we have prepared for use with our webquests.
	Effective use of direct instruction, drills, lectures, research and writing assignments: We cannot forget that health knowledge is also an academic discipline and cab be taught by more traditional methods. Research has showed us that young people need practical, functional knowledge about many health issues and that this information needs to be delivered in a timely way, coordinated with the stages of child and adolescent development and relevant to the time when young people will experiment of be confronted with these health issues.

Equally important is that you match your selection of these teaching techniques with the specific outcomes that you are trying to achieve. See the following chart:
 

Type of Learning Outcome	Teaching/Learning Method
Awareness	Lectures, Group Work, Video/Media, Displays, Exhibitions, Brochures, Internet Reading Assignments, Quizzes
Knowledge	Lectures, One to One Teaching, Written Materials, Research Assignments, Group Work, Reading Assignments, Internet Assignments, Individual Webquests, CD-ROM Resources
Self-Awareness, Attitude Change,	Group Work, Clarifying/Discussing Values, Journaling, Ranking, Categorizing, Role Playing, Individual Webquests, Use of the arts, Music, Theatre, Films, Celebrities, Survivors/Victims, Class Debates
Skill Development	Role playing, Field Trips, Group Work, Group Webquests
Seek/Access Social Support	Role playing, Theatre/Drama/Films, Parent-Student Assignments, Group Webquests, Field Trips
Acccess Health Services	Applied Research Assignments, Field Trips, Project Work, Interviews with Experts, Individual and Group Webquests
Behavioural Intentions/Personal Health Action Plans	Group Work, Self monitoring, Identifying benefits/risks, Setting goals, targets, Devising Coping Strategies, Accessing social support, Accessing support services, Overcoming physical, economic, practical barriers, Group Webquests, Journaling
Influencing their Environments	Advocacy projects, Community Service Learning, Group Webquests, Parent-Student Assignments, School and Class Projects,

	Goals
	Objectives
	Prerequisites
	Materials
	Lesson Description (including clear definition of age, suitability, specific audiences
	Lesson Procedure 1. Closure 2. Follow-up/Enrichment 3. Assessment/Evaluation Criteria

1.      Gain the learners attention.
2.      Review relevant past learning.
3.      Communicate the goal of the lesson.
4.      Model the skills to be learned.
5.      Prompt for correct responses.
6.      Check for skill mastery.
7.      Close the lesson.

Key Resources