Preparing the Next Generation of the Health Education Workforce to be Self-Directed Learners
Recorded On: 10/21/2025
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The HPBS MPH core course successfully trains students to become self-directed learners about HPBS topics. Faculty teaching the course can be assured that regardless of students’ demographic characteristics, discipline, or academic preparation, students will complete the course with similar self-efficacy to meet learning competencies. As part of their course evaluation, HPBS faculty in schools of public health might want to add an assessment of self-directed learning.
In addition to training MPH students to meet core CEPH competencies, schools of public health should be training their students to become self-directed learners who are motivated to increase their knowledge and skills after graduation. This analysis evaluated how much students enrolled in UTHealth Houston’s MPH core Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences (HPBS) course rated themselves on measures of self-directed learning.
A total of 228 students provided post-course data. Students agreed that how the HPBS course was taught encouraged self-directed learning. Similar increases were found regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, discipline, campus location (UTHealth Houston has campuses in six Texas cities), semester enrolled, or the number of previously taken social science or health promotion courses.
At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the rationale for competency-based education and the competencies that guide public health education programs.
2. Explain the domains and factors included in the API and how the inventory can be used by public health professionals to evaluate the extent to which a curriculum is designed to encourage students to become self-directed learners.
3. Articulate a study design for their academic or community setting to assess changes in self-efficacy to meet learning objectives and self-directed learning.
Competencies that will be covered include:
7.2.4 Plan training, including technical assistance and support.
7.2.5 Implement training
7.2.6 Evaluate training as appropriate throughout the process.
Sponsored by the Society for Public Health Education, a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 1.00 total Category I contact education contact hours. Maximum advanced-level continuing education contact hours available are 1.00. Provider ID #98029 and Program ID PM98029_01741DL.
SOPHE is a provider of Certified in Public Health (CPH) Renewal Credits. A total of 1.0 CPH Renewal credits are provided on behalf of the National Board of Public Health Examiners.
J. Michael M. Wilkerson, PhD, MCHES
Associate Professor
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
J. Michael Wilkerson (speaker) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. His academic training includes a doctoral degree in adult, professional, and community education, a master’s degree in health education, and a master’s degree in epidemiology. He has been working as a practitioner and researcher in community health education for over twenty years. Dr. Wilkerson teaches graduate courses in health promotion theory and methods, health disparities, and adult and community education.
Nola Eugene, DrPH, MPH, BSW
Assistant Professor
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Dr. Nola Eugene is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences (HPBS) at The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, School of Public Health. Her graduate training concentrated on behavioral sciences, health promotion, and health education. Dr. Eugene has over a decade of experience evaluating community health education programs and providing education and training to community-based organizations. She currently teaches the following courses: Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health, Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health, Health Promotion Theory and Methods, and the Capstone for HPBS students.
Kristin Stoepler, MSEd, CHES (Moderator)
Term Associate Professor, Health Sciences Program Chair
University of Alaska Anchorage
Kristin Stoepler, MSEd, CHES®️, is a dedicated certified health education specialist, public health practitioner, and program leader committed to enhancing population health-based initiatives, workforce development, and student success. As an Associate Professor and Program Chair for the Health Sciences program at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), she plays a key role in curriculum development, student mentorship, and community partnerships. She also serves as the Practicum Coordinator, ensuring students gain hands-on experience in health sciences through meaningful placements with community organizations.
Additionally, Associate Professor Stoepler has an extensive background in program and supervisory management, administration, health promotion, health informatics, and higher education. Associate Professor Stoepler’s academic expertise spans health education practice, population health sciences, health program planning, and interprofessional education. She teaches courses that prepare students for careers in public health, health promotion, and healthcare, with a strong emphasis on applied learning and professional development.
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