How Should I Teach Sex Education in Middle School? An Action Research Study on an ICT-based Intervention

Authors

Diana K. Rojas Briñez, Institución Educativa Ismael Santofimio Trujillo and Grupo de Investigación en Zoología (GIZ), Universidad del TolimaFollow
Álvaro H. Galvis Panqueva, Conecta-TE, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de los AndesFollow
Irma A. Flores Hinojos, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de los AndesFollow

Abstract

In this article, we, Diana, Álvaro and Irma, present findings from an action research project aiming to promote self-care behaviors around sexual and reproductive health (SBSRH) in adolescents at a public school in Colombia through the use of ICT-based learning environments. I, Diana, the teacher-researcher carried out an action research study first reflecting on teaching practices for teaching healthy sexual behaviors, then assessing them in light of theoretical recommendations, and finally by creating a blended-learning project called “Self-Care in Action”. Irma was the action-research advisor and Álvaro the ICT-research and development advisor. Two groups of 7th graders participated in the project. We collected and analyzed qualitative data to document changes in student behaviors and perceptions. Since the pedagogical intervention, a favorable change occurred in the students regarding their knowledge, attitude, and intention to practice SBSRH. The results shed light on the complexity of developing healthy sexual behaviors in adolescents and provide a guide for designing a meaningful class project to encourage this transformation. The findings here are relevant for teachers, health advocates and policy makers striving to create effective school-based sex education programs.

Keywords

Action Research, Reflective Practice, Healthy Sexual Behaviors, Sex Education, Technology-Based Education, Big-Ideas Approach for Teaching

Author Bio(s)

Diana Rojas holds a Master in Education at the Universidad de los Andes, Colombia. She teaches sciences at the Institución Educativa Técnica Ismael Santofimio Trujillo and she is member of the Grupo de Investigación en Zoología at the Universidad del Tolima, Ibagué, Colombia. Her research interests are sex education, teaching-learning practice and technology-based education. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: dk.rojas10@uniandes.edu.co.

Dr. Álvaro Galvis is an innovation education advisor at Connecta-TE, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de los Andes. His research has been mainly in e-Learning and Blended-Learning, education enhanced with ICT, teacher training and professional development. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: a.galvis73@uniandes.edu.co.

Dr. Irma Flores is a professor in the Facultad de Educación at the Universidad de los Andes. Her research interests focus on teaching and learning, teacher training, curriculum development and pedagogy. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: ia.flores24@uniandes.edu.co.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Proyecto Formación de Talento Humano de Alto Nivel-Regional Tolima and the Universidad de los Andes, which helped to develop this study. We would also like to say thanks to Elvia Vargas for her advices on how to teach sex education at school.

Publication Date

2-23-2019

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2019.3610

Recommended APA Citation

Rojas Briñez, D. K., Galvis Panqueva, Á. H., & Flores Hinojos, I. A. (2019). How Should I Teach Sex Education in Middle School? An Action Research Study on an ICT-based Intervention. The Qualitative Report, 24(2), 405-428. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2019.3610