The HiTECH Hearts (Help in Teaching Elementary Children
about Healthy Hearts) program is the largest school-based
heart health education initiative of its kind in Minnesota.
The heart model, built by the Science Museum of Minnesota,
and additional teaching materials were funded initially through
the Medtronic Foundation. The HiTECH Hearts program is designed
to provide 4th grade students with an inter-active learning
experience focusing on the heart, how it works and, most
importantly, how to take care of it through the adoption
of healthy behaviors. In addition, the HiTECH Hearts program
introduces the knowledge and skills necessary to make heart-healthy
choices beginning at a young age in three priority areas –
physical activity, nutrition and living tobacco free.
table 1 |
The HiTECH Hearts program has a six-year history of serving
4th grade students in Minnesota schools. After a very successful
pilot program in 1998, we began formal program delivery during
the 1999-2000 school year and reached 53 schools throughout
the state. Since that time, the HiTECH Hearts program has
grown tremendously in popularity. In Spring 2000, Great River
Energy supported the cost of a much needed second HiTECH
Heart model and dedicated vehicle. During the 2003-2004 school
year, we visited 260 schools and reached over 35,000 students
with a targeted, prevention focused message! This growth
is evidence that the topic, delivery method and age-appropriate
educational materials meet the needs of classroom teachers,
schools and, most importantly, students. One teacher from
St. Paul’s Lutheran School writes,
“The students were so impressed by what was being presented.
They were kept on task with great information, group participation,
and great facilitators. Every one of my students was extremely ‘fired’ up
about maintaining a healthy heart. Not one comment was negative.
WOW!”
The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation recognizes the
importance of ongoing program evaluation efforts and values
feedback from teachers, students and facilitators about the
HiTECH Hearts program. Most often, teachers cite the following
benefits of program:
> The number of hands-on activities which promote skill
development,
> The “highly visual” teaching tools, and
> Reinforcement of the 4th grade curriculum.
Additionally, the HiTECH Hearts program has proven successful
by increasing the heart health knowledge among 4th grade
students. During Fall 2004, a pre- and postknowledge test
was administered to 586 students in 12 participating schools
across Minnesota. Overall, the results documented a significant
increase in heart health knowledge (please see table 1).
Over the past several years, the HiTECH Hearts program has
undergone several enhancements to include additional visual
aids, teaching models and skillbuilding activities. While
teachers have always been very pleased with the HiTECH Hearts
program, an overwhelming number have commented on the difficulty
of finding credible, low-cost, heart health resources, materials
and learning modules to use in addition to, or as a follow
up to our in-class visit with the HiTECH Heart. Thanks to
grant support from the Medica Foundation, we are pleased
to announce that we will be enhancing our existing Kids’ Corner
section of the Web site to include an expanded section for
teachers, parents and children. The expanded site will include
follow-up teaching modules and activities for teachers to
implement in their classroom, recipe ideas for parents and
an enhanced interactive section for kids. Keep watching our
Web site at www.mplsheartfoundation.org for
more details!
The HiTECH Hearts program is available free of charge to
Minnesota schools. For more information about the program,
please call 612-863-3839. Primary support for the program
has been provided by Great River Energy, The Medtronic Foundation
and the Lions Club of Spring Lake Park.
MHIF receives over $2500
MHIF
was pleased to receive over $2500 in shared proceeds and
participant pledges from the 2004 Guidant Heart of the Summer
5K and 10K races through Charities Challenge (CC). These
funds will be used to support MHIF’s new Women’s Wisdom Initiative
being launched May 5, at the Spring Prevention Program.
(from left) George Kroeninger, MHIF Education Director,
Lea Howard, MHIF Graduate Mentorship Student, Joe Wirth,
CC Coach and Race Director of the Guidant Heart of Summer
10K and 5K races, Jeanne DeMartino, CC Coach, and Gary Westlund,
President of Charities Challenge.
