K+C=PXC: KIDS & COMPUTERS RESULT IN PREVENTION OF CANCER

PATTERNS OF DECISIONS ABOUT NUTRITION ESTABLISHED DURING EARLY ADOLESCENCE CAN INFULENCE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING CANCER LATER IN LIFE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE CHILDREN OF THIS AGE GROUP WITH INFORMATION ABOUT CANCER AND NUTRITION TO GUIDE THEM TOWARD WISE NUTRITIONAL CHOICES. HOWEVER, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO IMPRESS ADOLESCENTS DUE TO THE PRESSURE OF PEERS AND THE ADVERTISING MEDIA. THE FLEXIBILITY AND APPEAL OF COMPUTERS MAKES THEM ESPECIALLY APPROPRIATE FOR PRESENTING NUTRITION AND CANCER INFORMATION TO THIS POPULATION. WE WILL DEVELOP A COMPUTER-BASED INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM FOR SIXTH THROUGH EIGHT GRADE STUDENTS WHICH PRESENTS INFORMATION ABOUT NUTRITION AND CANCER IN AN ENGAGING AND ENJOYABLE MANNER. THE SYSTEM WILL INCORPORATE THE ADVANCED COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES OF INTERACTIVE SIMULATION, GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE, AND HYPERMEDIA, ALONG WITH AN INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN APPROACH. THE RESULTS SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO OTHER AGE GROUPS AND INSTRUCTIONAL DOMAINS.