Introducing the Synthesis Project

Course-Level Learning Outcomes

This assignment meets the following course level learning outcomes:

• Use an understanding of the relationship between nutrition and aging to identify challenges to healthy aging.
• Create effective wellness promotion strategies that account for psycho-social, economic, and environmental influences on individuals and communities.
• Apply knowledge of clinical, community, and commercial resources to promote the nutritional well-being of older adults.

Getting Started

The issues are complex and inter-connected. So, it makes sense that your final work will be an attempt to apply these interconnections. Before I introduce the assignment, let's take a few minutes to consider the following video.

Here is another resource for the big picture: Maturing of America: Communities Moving Forward for an Aging Population.

How well-situated are we, as a society, for the Coming of Age? What are some big, bold visions to address issues related to aging, nutrition & wellness that are uncovered during this course?

Synthesis Project- Your Big Idea

Your final project for this course, the Personal & Social Frameworks for Nutrition & Healthy Aging, offers you a great opportunity to review, synthesize and apply the information we've been exploring. You will use a bio-psycho-social approach (Units 1 & 2) or the social-ecological model (Units 5 & 6) as a framework for pondering how you might address a particular issue related to nutrition, wellness and aging.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This project is being introduced so that you will keep it in mind as we progress through the next few units. There is still significant material left to cover before you will be ready to consider or choose topics...So, no need to begin yet... this is just an FYI to sit and simmer on the back burner for now.

Your Big Idea

1. Step One: Identify a challenge to healthy aging that has captured your interest during this course. You will choose to examine the issue through either the bio-psycho-social approach (Units 1,2) or social-ecological model (Units 5,6).
2. Step Two: Audit your local community to uncover existing resources that attempt to address this challenge.
3. Step Three: Propose health promotion strategies that prevent, mitigate or manage this challenge. Be sure to include at least one strategy for each of the levels of your chosen framework (bio-psycho-social approach or social-ecological model).
4. Step Four: Create a "Show & Tell" that captures a basic essence of your issue and approach/strategies. The format is up to you- could be a brochure, a video, a powerpoint, poster, or ???
5. Step Four: Create a "SHOW & TELL" that captures a basic essence of your issue and approach/strategies. The format is up to you- could be a brochure, a video, a powerpoint, poster, or ??? On the first day of Week Ten, you will upload your Show & Tell (directions to come...) and then spend the rest of the week learning from one another.
6. Step Five: Submit your BIG IDEA paper to the assignments. Discuss, share and reflect upon each other's creations.

For now, you are encouraged to keep this overview in the back of your mind as you complete each unit. Pay attention to areas or issues that generate the most interest and energy for you- what intrigues you, what troubles you, what calls to you? When we get to Unit 6, we will begin a collaboration via a discussion forum “Synthesis & Action Forum for Brainstorming” to allow you to explore and discuss ideas for capstone projects with your colleagues. By the end of Unit 7, you will make a commitment to your project topic and spend Units 8 and 9 to complete the Synthesis project- Your Big Idea. In Unit 10, you will review and comment upon your colleagues' projects.

Support

• A library research guide links to the course to provide students with suggested resources and options when undertaking one of the three types of assignments.
• Find all relevant information for the synthesis project in the "Synthesis Project Guidelines" module at the end of the Table of Contents.