1. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 1 DMA Certification Exam Blueprint and Curriculum Development

2. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 2 What Groups Are Involved in the Exam Development? Certifying Board for Dietary Managers (CBDM) Certifying Board Committees –Item Writers Committee –Standards Committee Certified Dietary Managers (CDMs) ACT (American College Testing)

3. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 3 I.EXAM BLUEPRINT: A. How is it Developed? Job Analysis - ACT coordinates survey with CDMs Major Job Tasks Identified – Certified Dietary Managers Exam percentages determined – Certifying Board Validation survey of job tasks and percentages – ACT coordinates survey with Certified Dietary Managers

4. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 4 B. How Often is Exam Updated? Last Validation survey was December, 2003 379 CDMs participated Exam Blueprint is updated/validated every 5 years

5. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 5 C. How is Exam Blueprint Used? Detailed outline of the exam content Determines the program outcomes and course competencies for the DMA curriculum Detailed outline for textbook Printed in the study guide Detailed outline for the study guide

6. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 6 C. How is Exam Blueprint Used? Blueprint for Student Success

7. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 7 III. Curriculum A. How is it designed? Program outcomes are established at the program level. They reflect abilities learners must master by the end of a program or major The major job tasks from the Job Analysis survey become the program outcomes.

8. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 8 III. Curriculum A. How is it designed? There are 10 program outcomes: –Gather Nutrition Data –Apply Nutrition Data –Provide Foodservice –Provide Nutrition Education –Hire and Supervise –Develop Personnel and Communications –Coordinate Professional Interaction –Manage Supplies, equipment use, sanitation, and safety –Manage Production –Manage Business Operations

9. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 9 III.Curriculum A. How is it designed? Major job tasks from the Exam Blueprint aka Program Outcomes serve as the foundation for the development of course competencies –major skills, knowledge, or attitudes the students must perform to complete the learning experience

10. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 10 III. Curriculum A. How is it designed? Exam Blueprint Task #1 or Program Outcome: Gather Nutrition Data has five competencies or major tasks: –Document and file nutritional information in Medical Records –Interview Patients/Clients/Caregivers for diet history –Conduct routine nutrition screening –Utilize nutrient intake, such as Calories and sodium –Identify nutrition problems and needs

11. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 11 III. Curriculum A. How is it designed? The competencies that relate to the program outcomes aka Exam Blueprint sections are clustered into different courses: –Nutrition Course Gather Nutrition Data Apply Nutrition Data Provide Nutrition Education Coordinate Professional Interaction

12. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 12 III. Curriculum A. How is it designed? The competencies that relate to the program outcomes aka Exam Blueprint sections are clustered into different courses: –Human Resource Management Hire & supervise Develop personnel and communications Coordinate professional interactions

13. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 13 III. Curriculum A. How is it designed? The competencies that relate to the program outcomes aka Exam Blueprint sections are clustered into different courses: –Manage Foodservice Production Provide Foodservices Manage supplies, equipment use, sanitation, and safety Manage production Manage business operations

14. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 14 III. Curriculum A. How is it designed? Curriculum Learning Objectives –Come from the sub-tasks on the exam blueprint

15. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 15 III. Curriculum & Blueprint Coordination Example Blueprint 1.3 Conduct Routine Nutrition Screening Recognize routine versus at risk clients using established guidelines Identify appropriate data to be gathered Utilize appropriate data- gathering format/approach for specific client types(s) Complete forms with client in an efficient manner Identify federal regulations related to evaluating patient status and care Gather client information from medical record Curriculum Competency: Conduct Nutritional Screening Learning Objectives: What You Will Need to Learn to Master the Competency a. Discuss interview techniques b. Identify appropriate data to be gathered c. Differentiate between nutritional screening and full assessment d. Collect basic diet information e. Calculate calorie needs utilizing BMR and activity factor……….

16. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 16 III. Curriculum There are come introductory competencies in the curriculum that support the blueprint but are not specific job tasks –Describe the process of digestion –Use basic nutrition principles

17. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 17 IV. Textbooks Major job tasks from the Exam Blueprint become the chapters in the textbooks Chapter Objectives are the sub- tasks from the exam blueprint

18. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 18 IV. Textbook & Blueprint Coordination Example Exam Blueprint 1.3 Conduct Routine Nutrition Screening Recognize routine versus at risk clients using established guidelines Identify appropriate data to be gathered Utilize appropriate data- gathering format/approach for specific client types(s) Complete forms with client in an efficient manner Identify federal regulations related to evaluating patient status and care Gather client information from medical record Textbook Chapter 8: Nutrition Screening Chapter Objectives: Identify the goal of nutrition screening Explain the difference between nutrition screening & nutrition assessment Identify sources for nutrition screening standards and tools Relate the rationale for developing a policy and procedure for performing nutrition screening……..

19. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 19 IV.Study Guide A. How is it developed Using research based study tips –www.studygs.net From questions/concerns by students who have taken the exam Centered around the Exam Blueprint

20. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 20 IV. Study Guide B. How is it coordinated with Exam Blueprint? Exam Blueprint –Conduct Routine Nutrition Screening Sample exam question The section of the minimum data set (MDS) that contains the most nutrition information is designated as: –N –K –O –L

21. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 21 V.Certification Exam A. How is it developed? CBDM Item Writers Committee –2-day training from ACT in Iowa City ACT assigns areas needing questions from the exam blueprint Item Writers submit questions to ACT Proofed by ACT staff

22. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 22 V. Certification Exam A. How is it developed? CBDM Standards Committee reviews for: –Critical to practice –Accuracy, currency –Entry level ACT tests all new questions for reliability and validity Only questions with good statistics go into the exam bank

23. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 23 V. Certification Exam B. How is test assembled ACT programs computer to pull questions from the CBDM test bank Questions are pulled from bank according to the assigned percentages on the exam blueprint –Gather Nutrition Data is 8.5%, so there will be approximately 15 questions on the Certification exam devoted to this section

24. knowledge Dietary Managers Association 24 V. Certification Exam B. How is test assembled The students answer 200 questions 175 questions are scored The remaining 25 are the pre-test questions that are being tested for validity and reliability