Evaluation of the Puberty: The Wonder Years Curriculum
Entre enero y abril de 2017, un gran distrito escolar urbano participó en una evaluación de Puberty: The Wonder Years, su programa de educación sobre la pubertad para los grados 4, 5 y 6. El objetivo era saber si el plan de estudios ayudaba a los estudiantes a aumentar sus conocimientos, desarrollar actitudes positivas y practicar las habilidades necesarias para afrontar la pubertad de forma positiva.
Evaluation Design
Thirty-two classes of fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students participated in Puberty: The Wonder Years lessons using the 2015 edition of the curriculum. An experienced health education teacher taught the lessons as a guest in the regular classroom teachers’ classes. The teacher kept an implementation fidelity log to identify any modifications in the delivery of the lessons.
Student surveys measured changes in students’ knowledge, attitudes, and skills resulting from participation in Puberty: The Wonder Years™. Students in each class completed a pre-survey prior to participating in the Puberty: The Wonder Years lessons.
Following completion of the Puberty: The Wonder Years™ lessons, the students completed a post-survey. The surveys were matched using a unique code generated by each student. Only matched pre- and post-surveys were included in the evaluation results.
Evaluation Results
This evaluation of Puberty: The Wonder Years revealed useful information, including the following:
Teaching Puberty: The Wonder Years™ is worth the time and effort.
It resulted in statistically significant increases in student knowledge, attitudes, and skills that are needed to navigate puberty in a safe and healthy manner.
Time constraints and conflicting priorities in schools are a major factor in how puberty education is taught.
When lessons are not taught or are condensed, students do not gain the full set of important knowledge and skills they need.
Teacher implementation is key to ensuring that students learn the content and the skills needed to positively navigate puberty.
Using implementation fidelity logs provide the context for understanding evaluation outcomes.
Evaluation of Puberty: The Wonder Years Indicates Positive Student Outcomes
An independent evaluation conducted in a large urban school district found that Puberty: The Wonder Years™ significantly improved student knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to puberty.
Evaluation interview
with Beth Perez, Health Education Specialist, Lansing School District