Home Preparing students to interact with clients in the workplace is the goal of the nutrition and dietetics internship. In an effort to better prepare students for dietetics practice, we decided to combine problem-based learning with technology to provide simulations of experiences students can expect to encounter in practice. The project required substantial preparation, including developing the situation and pinpointing all decisions a student can make. Unlike working with traditional case studies, the student's decisions impact Jill's response. QuickTime videos, which require a plug-in, are viewable in most browsers.
Students can interact with the virtual client until they attain the ideal outcome.
Using WebCT to deliver the course provides students with a variety of tools that help ensure a successful internship. Discussion forums allow students to collaborate outside the classroom and workplace. Rucinski and Hamilton will use the WebCT course beginning summer 2001.