Food Nutrition Information Center (FNIC)
National Agricultural Library (NAL)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
(Beltsville, MD)
September 4-6,11, 17, 24: Technology Class
Corey Scarpero, RD developed and led the technology class for University of Maryland Dietetic interns. Corey is a former intern from the University of Maryland at College Park Dietetic Internship, Class of 2004. Our lessons began with basic html, which was an important building block to develop our electronic portfolios. I had some experience with html from a freshman year 1000 level college course at the University of Georgia, which gave me the basic background to build on with Corey's new concepts.
September 12 - October 18, 2007:
Corey introduced us to Dreamweaver and led us through steps for the following:
Defining local & remote sites
Configuring Dreamweaver for accessibility
Entering title and meta tags
Inserting and formatting text, graphics, Web pages
Creating hyperlinked text, cascading style sheets, and templates
Previewing Web page in browser
Paragraph formatting and lists
Page layout using tables and other table features
Dreamweaver date function, spell check function, javascript email code
Uploading files to WAM server
Creating and linking PDFs
Speakers during the Technology Classes included:
Writing for the Web, Janice Schneider, RD, WIC Works Resource System, FNIC
Web Usability, Corey Scarpero, RD, Healthy Meals Resource System, FNIC
Accessibility and the Web, Desiré Stapley, MS, RD, Healthy Meals Resource System, FNIC
Effective Power point Presentations, Desiré Stapley, M.Ed., RD, Healthy Meals Resource System, FNIC
Microsoft Access Databases, Kathleen Pellechia, RD, WIC Works Resource System, FNIC
September 12-14: Week 1: WICWorks, Web & Reference
On the first day, Laryessa and I became acquainted with the staff members of FNIC and toured the National Agricultural Library's facilities. Our preceptor for this rotation was Kathleen Pellechia, a former intern of the University of Maryland at College Park's Dietetic Internship, Class of 2002. Kathleen is part of the WIC Works team, maintaining and developing the WIC Works Resource System Web site. I met with Sara Wilson, MS, RD, a member of the Web & Reference team for an introduction to reference work for FNIC.
PROJECT ONE: Update WIC Works A-Z: Breastfeeding pages and Fruits & Vegetables pages
-Utilized web design skills obtained during technology classes during the previous week.
-Tested links and removed broken links.
-Searched for new or updated links and added those links.
Web Pages:
Breastfeeding Campaigns
Breastfeeding Educational Materials
Breastfeeding Friendly Community
Breastfeeding Peer Counseling
Breastfeeding Policy Statements
Breastfeeding Studies
Fruits and Vegetables
September 18-21: Week 2: WICWorks
I continued to work on my first project, revising my research after recommendations from Kathleen. I also began my second project by reviewing electronic resources, including a client-focused DVD on pregnancy and a counselor-focused DVD on cessation of smoking during pregnancy. Other resources included food models, cookbooks, kits, and flip charts. Many resources were out of date as a result of the new MyPyramid. The food models are very creative and informative visuals for clients and patients of all ages. The most effective food models include the test tubes of fat. When an individual witnesses the fat separated from the actual food product, the high amount of fat becomes quite realistic instead of just a number.
PROJECT TWO:
-Reviewed updated list of NAL nutrition-related resources available and ordered as of August 10th not already in WIC Works database.
-Utilized NAL catalog to locate possible items to add to WIC resource lists.
-Reviewed each item, and determined relevance for WIC professionals and clients.
-Wrote descriptions for the WIC database.
-Utilized Microsoft Access to insert new resources into WIC database.
In addition to working with Wic Works team members, Laryessa and I also studied under the Web &
Reference Team. Questions sent into FNIC via e-mail, letters, and telephone calls from the public and
from other government agencies were directed to Laryessa and I to answer graciously and appropriately according to the scope of FNIC. I completed 2/3 reference training days at this point. The last week Laryessa and I were at NAL, we were on reference duty for four shifts.
September 25-28: Week 3: WICWorks
We completed our 2nd project on Tuesday, reviewing more materials and adding them into the WIC database. Laryessa and I also began our 3rd project on Wednesday, researching new and updated information (published 2005 - 2007) regarding childhood obesity to create a new "Food and Nutrition Resource List for Educators and Researchers." The current list was updated last in September of 2004. The topics include prevalence, assessment, outcomes and family/societal influences, and prevention and intervention. Laryessa and I will continue to review available articles next week while we wait for requested articles through interlibrary loan. With Kathleen's guidance, we identified and assigned topic sections for each article. Then we identified the most appropriate articles for our resource list, using the following guidelines:
-Dated 2005 and newer
-Study conducted in the US
-Variety (chose most appropriate article from same subtopic)
-Involved infants and children ages 0-18
PROJECT THREE:
-Reviewed current "Childhood Obesity: Food and Nutrition Resource List for Educators and Researchers"
-Searched Pub Med for possible articles to include on new list
-Requested any articles not available through the University of Maryland library through interlibrary loan
-Saved, printed, organized, and reviewed new articles
-Chose articles for each topic section (prevalence, assessment, etc.)
-Created new list for review
View updated Child Obesity Resource List (PDF)
View all resource lists
October 3-5: Week 4: WICWorks
Saturday through Tuesday were spent in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the annual Food & Nutrition Conference Expo. I attended an enlightening session on autism. Of course, I obtained many fun food and drink samples and toys!
Wednesday, Laryessa and I began to review the requested articles from interlibrary loans and worked on our electronic portfolios.
On Thursday morning, we toured all of the Beltsville-USDA area with Jay Green, RD. Jay directed our attention to environmentally friendly products created from everyday foods such as corn and soy.
For example, USDA scientist created felt-like material, packing peanuts that biodegrade in water within 24 hours, and crayons. The scientists also created a "peanut butter" out of sunflower seeds for individuals with peanut allergies. Jay also explained the many environmentally efficient methods for farming, including a method for recycling cow manure for energy to run the sprinkler and lighting systems in the cow barn. We continued to work on reviewing the articles for the childhood obesity resource list, and we began to create the list.
October 9-12: Week 5: WICWorks
Tuesday was my last training day. Since the weekend was a holiday, we received a greater number of reference questions than on an average weekend. This was the first training day I was unable to complete all of my assigned questions within the day.
On Wednesday, I had my first day of reference on my own, and it was, again, a busier reference day. Next Thursday, Laryessa and I will present our experiences to the rest of the FNIC staff, so I also worked on our presentation that Laryessa had started on Tuesday.
On Thursday, Kathleen, Laryessa, and I attended the 2007 Food Assistance and Nutrition RIDGE Conference at the ERS Conference Center in Washington, D.C. The ERS Research grant recipients presented their studies both in progress and recently completed to the conference audience and answered queries regarding their methods and results.
On Friday, Laryessa completed her first reference shift alone, and I worked on the resource list, our upcoming presentation, and my electronic portfolio. Kathleen reviewed our progress on the resource list, and we added resources to the list. Laryessa and I also assisted during the University of Maryland at College Park Dietetic Internship's online open house with Corey Scarpero and Phyllis McShane.
October 16-18: Week 6: WICWorks
On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, both Laryessa and I completed reference shifts on our own. Joyce and Sara remained nearby to help us smooth out our responses to patrons. We also received more hard copies of articles for the childhood obesity resource list, so we added those to the current files. On Thursday, we presented a review of our projects during our 6 weeks at NAL to the entire FNIC staff.
FNIC Presentation (PDF)
Rotation Reflection (PDF)
---------------------------------------------------------------
International Food Information Council
(Washington, DC)
October 29 – November 9, 2007
IFIC Projects:
-Caffeine NewsBite: Reviewed old NewsBites, reviewed previous Caffeine Review and current Caffeine review to create a NewsBite regarding the current IFIC Caffeine Review published in the Food Insight Newsletter.
-Reviewed IFIC web site to itemize all published articles by team. Created excel spreadsheet with articles listed on each team’s sheet and marked articles written jointly by 2 or more teams.
-Attended Biotechnology Forum.
-Participated in discussions on Facebook and MySpace.
-Researched MySpace for pages related to biotechnology.
-Completed CPE course for dietitians and gave feedback. View all IFIC CPE courses.
-Completed surveys for biotechnology team and gave feedback. Topics included biotechnology, low calorie sweeteners, caffeine, and food sensitivity.
-Reviewed professional health organizations for positions regarding biotechnology. Provided research to the biotechnology team.
-Administrative assistance: completion of binders for board meeting.
---------------------------------------------------------------
BIOGRAPHY