Approved by Faculty Senate

University Studies Course Approval

 Department or Program: Department of Nursing

Department Contact Person for this course: Susan Ballard sballard@winona.edu

1. Use critical thinking to analyze contemporary issues- In class, readings and small group discussions, students are expected to analyze social, political, economic and global factors affecting women’s health. The textbook is particularly focused on these factors. Students are expected to critique women’s health information in media and web sources.

Assessment/assignment: class discussions, final exam

2. Demonstrated effective oral and/or written communication of ideas, informed opinions, and or values- Students are expected to complete journal entries and synthesis on class topics delineating their ideas, new learning, and values of the topic. Additionally students work together to produce a poster presentation on a particular topic. This is done is phases and has assignments in writing that precedes and prepares for the presentation.

Assessment/assignment: Journals/journal synthesis, poster presentation, outline for poster presentation.

3. Identify, find, and use tools of information science related to contemporary issues-In preparation for the poster presentation, students search their topics on web sites and through library searches from professional journals, books, etc.

Assessment/ assignment: poster presentation, annotated bib and outline

4. Demonstrate the ability to work effectively independently and /or in collaborative problem solving groups- Students are expected to work in groups on their poster presentation. They collaborate on identifying appropriate resources, developing a group outline and creating their poster presentation for faculty and peer critique. Additionally, students work in small group discussions to share their thoughts, values, problems in particular women’s health issues.

Assessment/assignment: Annotated references, group outline, poster presentation.

5. Identify principles and applications of personal, civic, and/ or economic responsibility; understand personal responsibility for lifestyle choices- Students are expected to set a personal health goal after taking a health assessment and develop a plan to achieve that goal during the term of the course. Course content includes taking personal responsibility for one’s health, women working for change in workplace, home, community, national, and world issues affecting women’s health.

Assessment/assignment: Personal health goal, plan and evaluation

6. Participate actively (e.g. class discussion, volunteerism, etc,) in issues significant to citizenship in Contemporary Citizenship- Students are expected to attend and to actively participate in small group discussions. Attendance is 15% of the course grade.

Assessment/assignment: Attendance, participation in small group discussions.

Course Requirements

 Submitted with this proposal is the N260 syllabus, which includes the course description, course objectives, unit objectives, teaching strategies, text, and evaluation/assignments.

COURSE: N260: Women's Health Issues: Making a Decision

COURSE CREDIT: 3 credits CLOCK HOURS: 3 hours class/ week

PLACEMENT IN CURRICULUM: Elective course offered yearly or on demand as a general elective course offering.

FACULTY: Jackie Hatlevig Susan Ballard

Stark 341 Stark 330G

507-457-5131 507-457-5137

jhatlevig@winona.edu sballard@winona.edu

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

This course addresses women’s health as a contemporary issue. In addition to learning the biological and psychological factors affecting specific women’s health issues, students are asked to analyze social, political, economic and global factors affecting women’s health. The focus is on preparing students to take personal responsibility for health and wellness. Class learning activities are used to foster critical thinking, personal research, and group collaboration on these issues.

This course is a University Studies course in Unity and Diversity Core that satisfies the Contemporary Citizenship Requirement. Courses fulfilling Contemporary Citizenship requirement must contain 5 of the following requirements and learning activities that promote students’ abilities to:

1. Use critical thinking to analyze contemporary issues;
2. Demonstrate effective oral and/or written communication of ideas, informed opinions, and /or values;
3. Identify, find, and use tools of information science related to contemporary issues;
4. Demonstrate the ability to work effectively independently and/or in collaborative problem solving groups;
5. Identify principles and applications of personal, civic, and/or economic responsibility; understand personal responsibility for lifestyle choices; and/or
6. Participate actively (e.g. class discussion, volunteerism, etc.) in issues significant to citizenship in Contemporary society.

Requirements and learning activities that facilitate these outcomes are highlighted in bold underline script through this syllabus.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: The student will be able to:

1. Define health and wellness.

2. Describe significant health concerns for young adult to older women.

3. Analyze factors affecting women’s health, including physical, psychological, social, political, economic and global variables.

4. Describe important health preventative screenings.
5. Find and critique women’s health information in media and web sources.

6. Make personal lifestyle and health care choices.

TOPICAL OUTLINE:

I. Personal Health

A. Concept of wellness

1. Demograhpics of women across the lifespan
2. Overview of health care issues pertinent to women
3. Taking charge of own health status over the lifespan
4. Utilizing the health care system wisely

F. Women's health policy and research

G. Cultural diversity and women's health

II. Reproductive Health

A. Sexuality and sexual functioning

1. Menstruation and associated health problems (PMS, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, toxic shock syndrome)
2. Sexually transmitted diseases

1. Fertility management
2. Health care concerns during pregnancy and childbirth
3. Gynecologic conditions e.g. cervical dysplasia, endometriosis
4. Menopause

3.  
4. Health Concerns over the lifespan

1. Self esteem and body image
2. Heart disease

C. Cancers in women

1. Alcohol and other drug use, abuse, dependencies
2. Eating disorders
3. Mental health/mental illness
4. Relationship issues
5. Mental disorders
6. Aging

IV. Issues and situations affecting women's health

A. Violence

B. Homelessness

C. Poverty

1. Incarceration
2. Workplace

TEACHING STRATEGIES:

Required Readings Journals

Health Goal Formulation and Evaluation Class presentations

Group Discussions Group Poster Presentation

EVALUATION METHODS:

Journal Evaluation Presentations Evaluation

Critique of papers Health Goal Evaluation

Final Examination Attendance/Participation

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:

The Boston Women's Health Book Collective. (1998). Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century. New York: Simon and Schuster, Inc.

Testwell. Making Wellness Work for You. (1993). Stevens Point, WI: National Wellness Institute.

Other resources to help you get started on broader reading:

Critical thinking on the World Wide Web by University of Missouri-Columbia. Reviews the "web, critiquing sources, documenting sources.

http://www.missouri.edu/~muiit/html/critical_thinking.html

Site on Women's Health Issues with many links; need to always critique sources.

http://feminist.com/health.htm

Mayo Clinic's WebSite with many resources on general health and women's specifically

http://www.mayo.ivi.com

Women's Health Resources On-Line by Canadian Women's Health Network

http://www.web.net/cwhn/resource/resmain.html

WWWomen - a search engine for women's issues

http://www.wwwomen.com

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

I. Journal Synthesis-Due Date: April 19, 2001 (Contemporary Citizenship, a, b, e)

1. Keep a weekly journal in a folder or on a computer disc addressing one class topic per week. For each entry:

1) identify the topic

2) discuss your thoughts and feelings regarding the topic, and

3) indicate how your readings influenced your feelings about the topic

Bring journal/disc to every class. The journal will be spot checked by faculty (this may be weekly or bi-weekly). Submit journal in folder; using a compact system to facilitate handling. Make sure your name is on outside of journal/disc and each entry is dated with the topic of the day indicated.

B. Journal Synthesis (worth 10% of total grade)

A typed synthesis of your journal is due on April 19, 2001 (1-2 typed written pages). You should reread all your journal entries and type a synthesis of your learning addressing the following criteria:

1. Identify a critical incident/idea which stands out from your journal entries.

2. Explain why it stands out, expand the topic, and whether there has been new learning.

3. Discuss any changes in your attitude regarding this topic.

4. Describe the impact of this topic on your personal goals.

1. Describe future plans regarding this subject in your life.

Note: Weekly journal entries are graded P/F but must be done in order to develop a synthesis.

 

II. Health Goal (Due Date: January 11, 2001 and April 17, 2001). (Contemorary Citizenship b, e)

1. Identify a personal health goal and type the following description of it (Due January 11, 2001):

1. Describe the personal behavior(s) influencing your health which you want to change.
2. Explain the benefits to you for changing your behavior(s).
3. Describe the goal(s) in measurable terms.
4. List your planned strategies for accomplishing your goal(s).
5. Explain how you plan to keep track of your progress.

B. A typed evaluation of your health goal using the following criteria (worth 10 points) (Due April 17, 2001):

1. Restate your goal(s).
2. Describe if you attained all, part, or none of your goal.
3. Analyze how your plan worked for you and your support person.
4. Describe how you would do things differently, given what you know from your readings, experiences, etc.
5. In what ways do you plan to continue working on this goal?

III. Poster Presentation

This is a group project focusing on women's experience, politics regarding women's health, power issues, and/or women's roles and choices. This project consists of three parts. Annotated references and outline are to be typed.

(Contemporary Citizen Requirement a, b, c, d)

1. Two typed annotated references from each group member on the topic of the group's choice. Groups will sign up for topics during the first couple of class periods. Due Date: January 23, 2001. (worth 10 points) Guidelines for references:

1. Typed onto 81/2 by 11" sheet of paper with your name and group topic at the upper right corner; single or double spacing okay.
2. Citation in APA format at top of annotation.
3. Clearly written summary of content of article or book and application or usefulness for project topic. Use good spelling and grammar.
4. Choose references which are appropriate for the group topic and current.
5. Each group member will submit different references - no duplication.

B. Detailed outline of the topic and assessment questions from the group (worth 10 points), due February 6, 2001.

1. Type onto 8 1/2 by 11" paper with your names and group topic at upper right corner; single or double spacing OK

2. Title of presentation

3. State definition/description of the topic

4. List issues for women

5. Describe how issues are handled by individuals and as a society

6. Describe the programs/services related to this topic of issue

7. Put into perspective: give statistics, morbidity, mortality, quality of life

8. Use appropriate outline form, spelling, & grammar

9. Bibliography of resources in APA format

C. Poster presentation addressing the main ideas or key points related to the topic from the reading done by individuals and from the submitted outline (worth 15 points). Due April 12, 2001.

Evaluation of posters based on:

Clarity and readability 6 points

Accuracy of information 6 points

Creativity in presentation 3 points

1. Assessment of learning from poster presentations, using the submitted questions.

IV. Class attendance is taken every class and recorded. The total number of classes attended and journal checks will result in the attendance grade.

V. Class Participation and Group Exercises (Contemporary Citizen Requirement a, b, d, e, f)

VI. Required reading as assigned prior to class

GRADING:

A. Journal Synthesis 10%

B. Health Goal 5%

Health Goal Evaluation 10%

C. Poster Two Annotated References 10%

Group's Outline & questions 10%

Group's Poster Presentation 15%

D. Attendance/Journal Writing 15%

E. Final Exam 25%

100%

Grading Scale: A = 91 - 100%

B = 81 - 90%

C = 71 - 80%

D = 61 - 70%

E = 60% or less