NUFD10: Introduction to Nutrition

AI, Challenging, New Assignment

Course Description

Catalog description: Introduction to the principles of nutrition science and the relationship of the human diet to health. Overview of the properties of nutrients and foods, the biological uses of nutrients, and tools for dietary planning and assessment. Examination of specific issues such as the microbiome, sports nutrition, food safety, the diet-disease relationship, and international nutrition. Analysis of special nutritional requirements and needs during the life cycle. Evaluation of dietary patterns using current dietary guidelines and nutritional assessment methods. Lecture/discussion. 3 units

Course Characteristics: Enrollment capacity: 132; Structure: Large lecture hall course; meets Mon/Wed 3-4:15; GE course area B2, one of the first courses in the Nutrition, Food and Dietetics curriculum.

Overview of the Redesign Project

1. 1. NUFD10 changed GE categories starting FA2025, that added a required assignment that had not yet been created. Course instructor decided to incorporate AI into that assessment based on her interest in AI and that it aligned with the Summer Teaching Institute topics.
  2. Weekly AI lectures/presentations were given at the start of class on Wednesdays to help prepare students for the group AI Medical Condition Assignment completed near the end of the semester. The AI lectures/demonstrations helped students see how their professor used AI as well as to learn about AI topics 'in the news'. Monday classes started with a nutrition 'myths and facts' mini-lesson, designed to engage the students on the topic that we covered in class that day/week. Students provided Myths and Facts topics at the beginning of the semester that the professor used
  3. Whereas the core concepts and the textbook did not change for the class with the redesign, the class structure and addressing specific issues of interest to the students was meant to engage them and provide relevance to the course material. With AI burgeoning, and employers expecting students to have some 'professional' experience with AI, the professor felt that it was important to include AI mini-lessons each week so that they would be prepared for the workplace.

Assessment of the Redesign Project

This table shows three ways I assessed my course redesign.
Qualtrics Survey question about Course Structure - Mon Myths and Facts, Wed AI Mini-lesson	Qualtrics Survey question about how prepared they feel about completing the AI assignment	Implementation of New Group Assignment - AI Medical Condition Assignment
Caption: Screenshot of Qualtrics survey getting feedback from students about the course structure.	Caption: Screenshot of Qualtrics survey inquiring about how prepared students feel to do the AI Assignment	Caption: Screenshot of New AI - Nutrition Disease Assignment. See also PPT Simplified version of the assignment Assessment: Not yet completed. Assignment parts: Posting of AI Output or Verification due November 23, Discussion board posts/reflections/compare and contrast on what was learned due December 1, 2 posts to peers due December 3.

Reflection

Success in the redesign: I was able to integrate weekly mini-lessons about Nutrition Myths and Facts (using topics provided by the students), as well as include weekly mini-AI lessons. The course is in a new GE category, so I created a new assignment that integrated critical thinking and learning related to using AI and evaluating the accuracy of the AI output.

Challenges: The greatest challenge has been students understanding the AI Medical condition assignment, what to do if some students don't participate (in terms of impact on grades), and what do after uploading the AI output. The assignments have not yet been submitted.

What has been learned (students and faculty): Students will have learned strengths and limitations of AI in an assignment, including the need to verify AI output. This can help students in their future as a student and professional. I learned that I need to get feedback on clarity of a new complex assignment before it is reviewed with the students.

Next Steps: I will review the student feedback on the Qualtrics survey and a question on the final exam about this assignment. I will explore the outcomes on the discussion board submissions and make revisions to implement next Fall 2026 when I will teach NUFD10 again.

Faculty Biography

This table includes my faculty biography.
	Nadine Braunstein, PhD, RD, LDN, FAND is an Associate Professor and the Dietetic Internship Director in the Nutrition, Food and Dietetics Department. She has received the Outstanding Dietetics Educator Award from the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Nadine started at Sacramento State in the 2017-18 AY. Those were the only times that she taught NUFD10 until 2025. In the last few years Dr. Braunstein has gotten interested in AI and ethics in education and in the health professions. She has spoken at professional conferences about AI and ethics in the US and Canada, which is why she wanted to find a way to incorporate AI into her course. Because NUFD10 is in a new GE category, an additional assignment was added to the course, which gave Dr. Braunstein the opportunity to add an AI component to the course.

**Program Sponsors**
	This work was supported by: Sacramento State Academic Affairs - Center for Teaching and Learning