How do we write an effective education package for

children and young people?

The KICk-OFF Group experience

Julie KnowlesPaediatric diabetes research nurse

Where to start?

• Idea

• Aim/Goal

• Reflection:-What is our experience in designing andimplementing an effective teachingpackage for children and young people?

• Can we:-Write an effective teaching package?Deliver the package in a way that promoteslearning?

Reflection:

Is there a difference between teaching children to Adults?

Qualifications

Trial and error!No specific course to educate HCP’s how

to teach children or how to develop an effective teaching package

730ENB 998

Gaining theoretical knowledge about subject

• “..invest time in understanding how teaching children differs from teaching adults.”

• “Being a good nurse does not automatically mean one is a good teacher.”

Woodring Paed. Nursing 2000

• “Teaching requires you to transform the knowledge you possess into suitable tasks which lead to learning.”

Learning to teach in secondary school

Adult education

Education programmesfor adults with type 1diabetes should bedesigned and deliveredby members of theMultidisciplinarydiabetes team inaccordancewith the principles ofadult education

NICE 2004

Children and young people education

Diabetes education should be delivered by HCP witha clear understanding of theSpecial and changing needs ofyoung people and theirfamilies as they grow throughthe different stages of life

Educators should have accessto continuing Specialisedtraining in diabetes educationand educational methods

Principles of Adult LearningPioneered by Malcolm Knowles

• Adults are autonomous and self-directed

• Adults have a wealth of life experiences and knowledge

• Adults are goal orientated• Adults are relevancy orientated• Adults are practical• Adults demand respect from instructors

How do children learn?

Cognitive development

“This is the process through which pupils develop their knowledge, understanding,problem solving and creative thinking.Influenced by maturation and the learningenvironment both at home and at school”.

Chapel et al (2005)Learning to teach in the secondary school

Theories• Behaviourism

Learning from external stimuli. It can be conditioned by giving rewards and punishments

• Piaget – 4 stages of child development. Focused on maturation. Growing up does not mean knowing more but it changes how we think.

• Vygotsky – Learning is a social processLanguage development and learning through interaction with others of same age and older.

• IQ – Focused on the concept of intelligenceGeneral intelligence that determines our capacity for learning.Multiple intelligences (Gardner's theory (1983)

Muijs et al (2005)Effective Teaching

Learning styles• Many different preferred

learning styles e.g. VAK model

Visual (seeing and reading)Auditory (listen and speak)Kinaesthetic (touching and

doing)

• Extended by others to include:

Print-oriented (reading)Interactive (group work)Olfactory (use of smell

during a lesson)

Teaching styles

A good teaching style presentsinformation in a number of ways

therefore matching more studentsto their preferred learning

environment.

KICk-OFF Kids In Control Of Food

• DAFNE• Focus groups• Working with school teachers to write the

curriculum• Work with Sheffield Hallam University to get

an insight into how children learn• Pilot - 2004• RCT - DUK Sept. 2008

Points to think about when planning to develop an education package

• What are your aims and objectives?

• Who is the target group?

• Do you have a curriculum/lesson plan?Is it age appropriate?

• How many are invited to each session?

• Are the parents/carers/friends involved?

• How long will the learning experience last?

• When will it be delivered?

• Who will deliver the education?

• How much will it cost?

• Do the educators need training and how?

• How will the information be delivered?Think about presenting the topic in a way that helps

children learn

• How will you assess the impact of that learning experience for the learner and the teacher?

• Have you changed behaviour?

Evaluation of the whole teaching package/experience

Schools Teachers appraisalSelf reflection

OFSTED (Office For Standards in Education)

• Lessons should be purposeful ……….• Pupils give chance to organise their own work…..• Lessons should elicit interest, be relevant and

challenging..• Work well matched to the child’s ability and learning

needs• Pupils language should be developed and extended ...• A variety of learning activities ……..• Show good order, control and mutual respect……

Evaluation, professional development, and continuing

education process

• Data collection/audit• Comparison study looking at new package

compared to old regimen• Cost implications to families and trust• Assess family satisfaction • Educators experience/peer review/appraisal• ?where to go for skills training related to

teaching children and young people• Transition to adult educational diabetes

service

Thank you for listening

• Please let us know if you are interested in joining the KICk-OFF project.

• kjprice@sch.nhs.uk• j.a.knowles@btinternet.com