Faculty Spotlight
December - January 1999
Now Serving: UT Guide to Vegetarian SuccessPaula ZemelAssociate ProfessorHealth and Safety Sciences |
An eventful semester for UH 338 Issues in Vegetarianism culminated with the November 30 preview of a Web site designed by the students in the course. The UT Guide to Vegetarian Success project is led by Paula Zemel, Associate Professor of Health and Safety Sciences, as part of UH 338 which she co-instructs with Michael Zemel, Professor of Nutrition and Medicine.
Students worked together to select their target audience and
determine the components of the site. They took on roles as
HTML programmers, graphic designers, researchers, and writers.
The resulting Web site contains vegetarian nutrition information
geared toward the University of Tennessee community. The site
features information on vegetarianism in general; guidelines
for eating in campus dining facilities, cooking, and shopping;
and facts about nutrition and dietary supplements. Interviews
with campus vegetarians, a quiz to test knowledge of vegetarianism;
and links to external vegetarianism resources are included as
well.
Members of the campus community and visitors from the greater Knoxville area attended the preview. The next step for the UH 338 class is to determine how the Web site can be expanded to connect UTK to community nutrition projects in Knoxville and the surrounding area.
The Web site project is one of several technology-based components of UH338. Students are also required to contribute to a Web-based discussion forum and to seek out and evaluate the credibility of Internet-based nutrition information.
In addition to the technology-based components of UH 338, Zemel weaves instructional technology components into the other courses she teaches. Based on assessments of student's needs she integrates Internet-based components, PowerPoint presentations, and stand-alone software applications into her courses. An integral part of the process is working with her students to make them feel more comfortable with technological tools. Zemel creates a space where students feel free to take chances and learn from their mistakes.
Through the use of instructional technologies and other innovative teaching techniques, Zemel is finding that her students are becoming more self-assured and responsible for their own learning. These activities are also fostering cooperation and team building. Students are leaving Zemel's courses with technology-related skills that they can apply in future academic and professional settings.
For more information about UH338 and other technology-enhanced courses contact Zemel via email at pzemel@utk.edu or visit her homepage.