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Report| Volume 50, ISSUE 1, P96-99.e1, January 2018

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Increasing Sense of Community in Higher Education Nutrition Courses Using Technology

  • Mindy Haar
    Correspondence
    Address for correspondence: Mindy Haar, PhD, RD, CDN, FAND, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, School of Health Professions, New York Institute of Technology, Riland 366, Northern Blvd, Old Westbury, NY 11568; Phone: (516) 686-3818; Fax: (516) 686-7804
    Affiliations
    Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, School of Health Professions, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY
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      Abstract

      Sense of community is integral across education formats and can affect achievement, interactivity, and retention. Factors shown to engage students and foster sense of community include the instructor focusing and directing discussions, encouraging open expression of opinions, responding to communications and feedback in a timely way, and giving the opportunity to build relationships. Technology has tremendous potential to enhance these activities at all levels of higher education. This article presents ways in which several technologies are used to enhance student experience in undergraduate and graduate nutrition course work across delivery formats.

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