Draw me a picture: Using a modified photo-voice method to investigate a National HPE curriculum resource

Background: In this research, we investigated the implementation of a school-based education program meant to improve students’ (i.e., those in primary grades K-3) knowledge, attitudes, and behavioural intentions related to... [ view full abstract ]

Background: In this research, we investigated the implementation of a school-based education program meant to improve students’ (i.e., those in primary grades K-3) knowledge, attitudes, and behavioural intentions related to physical activity and healthy eating/nutrition. The program, At My Best, is a free comprehensive curriculum-supported toolkit designed to promote and develop children’s overall wellness. Though a number of similar studies have investigated other school-based curricular interventions (Robinson, Berg, & Gleddie, 2018), none as of yet have investigated the implementation of Physical and Health Education Canada’s At My Best K-3 national resource. Participants & School Selection: Six primary-grade classes in five Canadian provinces participated in the implementation of this “intervention” program; 20-30 participants (approximately 5-8 students per class) took part as research participants. Data Collection and Analysis: Once each class completed the At My Best program, we conducted a drawing-telling method with all students in the classrooms in which they completed drawings in response to four questions/prompts related to At My Best and their own wellness. This drawing-telling method helps children “capture meaning beyond words, but words can help situate the expressive meaning of the drawing within a specific framework and context” (Freeman & Mathison, 2009, p. 127). Upon completion of the whole class drawing activity, we then interviewed pairs of students (i.e., the participants) who were classified by their teachers as “engaged” or “not-so-engaged.” For our analysis, we took digital pictures of all the drawings and asked participants to elaborate and explain their drawings. These interviews were audio-recorded; the transcribed interviews allowed for thematic analysis to occur. Conclusions: Findings from this study are currently being analyzed and will provide important information related to the implementation of this program, as well as other similar early-years intervention programs across Canada and elsewhere.