This is an incredibly rich, data-packed module providing a basic outline as to why significant health disparities exist between whites and African Americans. It employs current health and disease data to draw on such differences, but then delves into the historical roots of health inequalities starting with enslavement in U.S. It is an interactive module which motivates viewers to actively learn the materials through testing. It has relevance for educating high school and college-level students, and particularly those engaged in health-care practice.
Type of Material:
An interactive tutorial with text as well as clickable links which chronicles the historical nature of African Americans health disparities.
Recommended Uses:
It can be used as a homework assignment, in-class lecture launcher, reference, and review source for students, teachers, community groups, and other health professionals.
Technical Requirements:
Flash plugin, browser
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Outlines major health disparities, and identifies origins of such differences. Brings racism, at individual and societal levels into the discussion. Offers steps to limit and combat racism within the context of health-care systems.
Target Student Population:
It is usable across various fields of study in high school, college, university, and professional schools where African Americans health issues are discussed. It can also be used by community groups as a reference to educate its citizens.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
No prerequisite skills beyond basic computer literacy are required for using this tutorial. No prior familiarity with the subject matter is expected or needed as the information in the Module is self-contained.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The learning object provides an excellent overview of African-American health disparities in terms of the historical and contemporary causes of such disparities, and current barriers to the effective delivery of health care services to this population. It is written in a clear and concise manner, and provides numerous opportunities for learner interaction, including self-testing and hypertext links to supplemental references. The interactive module provided exercises and quizzes where a participant clicks on the embedded bullets for instant feedback or URL for more information. The graphs, charts, animations, and photos add richness to the module.
Concerns:
The Information and statistical data in the tutorial need to be updated (the material contents have not been updated since its original submission date, January 2008).
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
The module provides an extensive and exhaustive exploration of the health disparities between Blacks and Whites. Learning goals are clearly stated and a table of contents is provided. Concepts are progressively reinforced throughout the module. A connection is clearly provided on the current status of health disparities among African Americans and whites. Information is provided in a way that one could learn a lot in a short time. It could be useful for higher education faculty and secondary school teachers as a tutorial, reference, and assignment and could be utilized in various fields including nursing, sociology, social work, public health, education, medical, dental, pharmacy, and political science to mention a few. Community groups could use it to educate citizens about the disparities of healthcare among African Americans and Whites.
Concerns:
For faculty interested in using the module as an assignment, it may take some time to work through it and decide how to use it.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The module is easy to use and navigate, interactive, engaging, visually appealing, with clickable links for exercises and additional information. The table of content and the tabs on top are great because participants can navigate to any page out of sequence.
Concerns:
None apparent.
Other Issues and Comments:
None observed.
Creative Commons:
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