title: It's all in the delivery! An analysis of instructional strategies from effective health education curricula.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study explores the relationship between instructional strategies and effective health education curricula.
  
  
  METHODS
  A content analysis of 10 health education curricula was conducted to determine if they include common instructional strategies for actively engaging students in acquisition of health skills. To be included, the curricula had to (1) be research-based and proven via empirical testing to positively influence the health behaviors and (2) address 1 of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 6 priority health risk behaviors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Content analysis revealed 5 active learning strategies incorporated to involve students in acquiring health skills. Role play, group cooperation, and small group discussion were found in all 10 curricula. To a lesser extent, interactive technology and team games were also included.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When combined with previous research regarding the characteristics of effective teachers, it becomes clear that effective health education is delivered by teachers who employ a wide repertoire of active learning strategies while devoting substantial instructional time to those specific strategies that involve students in skills practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, HPER 116, Bloomington, IN 47401, USA. pcherber@indiana.edu
authors.forename: Patrick C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lohrmann
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods; D007858:Learning; D012381:Role Playing; D012574:Schools; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*