Introduction to Psychobiology examines how our brain influences behavior and includes an overview of how what we eat affects our brain. Students in the class shared some of this knowledge with the community by connecting with folks attending Skyline College’s Health Fair.
Students collaborated with our SparkPoint Food Pantry to create recipe cards containing ingredients commonly distributed at the Pantry, like eggs, vegetables, and rice. Importantly, each recipe provided information about how these foods contribute to good brain health. For example, one recipe shared that “Eggs contain choline, which is helpful for learning, memory, and movement.”
This assignment also allowed students to demonstrate Skyline College’s ISLO’s, reflected in their comments below:
- “We were actively sharing resources with the community. We used our academic knowledge to benefit others, by informing them about nutrition and why it is important. “ ”(Community Engagement: Developing Agency)
- “This activity aimed to empower the community with knowledge that promotes brain health and fosters a sense of communal care….It empowers people to take a proactive approach to their cognitive health and overall well-being.”(Lifelong Wellness: Understanding Physical, Mental, And/Or Emotional Health)
- “…We devised a way to communicate the information that we learned to the public in terms that are easily understood. (Effective Communication: Delivering Message, Critical and Creative Thinking: Thinking Innovatively )
- “I had to do research and make sure that the research was from a credible source.” (Information Literacy; Evaluating Sources)
This assignment also helped students practice the 21st-century skills of creativity when designing the recipe card, collaboration by working in groups, and communication and social skills when sharing their recipes with the public.