CURRENT EFFORTS TO INCLUDE HIV/AIDS PREVENTION EDUCATION IN PRESERVICE TEACHER EDUCATION

CURRENT EFFORTS TO INCLUDE HIV/AIDS PREVENTION EDUCATION IN PRESERVICE TEACHER EDUCATION

HIV/AIDS education can have a significant impact on college students. For example, in one study, participants in an elective course on the HIV/AIDS epidemic exhibited decreased homophobic attitudes, became more tolerant towards persons with AIDS, and improved knowledge about AIDS. However, there was no change in their perception of personal vulnerability (Goertzel & Bluebond-Langner, 1991).

Although less than one-third of preservice teacher education students in another study felt that HIV/AIDS prevention education should be taught in a separate course (Quinn, Thomas, & Smith, 1990), several universities have developed specific courses for teacher education students. For example, a course at the University of Florida called "HIV/AIDS Education: Issues & Strategies," was developed for not only preservice teachers but for students in social work, nursing, premedicine, allied health, and social and behavioral sciences (Dorman, Collins, & Brey, 1990). In California, Project TEACH (Teacher Education to Achieve Comprehensive Health) was organized to assist college faculty who were teaching a required preservice health course for elementary and secondary education majors (Lovato & Rybar, 1995).