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Innovations in student-centered interdisciplinary teaching for general education in aging
JoAnn Damron-Rodriguez1, Rita Effros
1School of Public Affairs, Center for Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656, USA. jdamron@ucla.edu
Gerontology & Geriatrics Education
|December 2, 2008
Summary
This course introduces freshmen to aging studies using an interdisciplinary approach. The student-centered curriculum fosters essential academic and life skills for success.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
- Undergraduate Education Innovation
Background:
- UCLA General Education "Clusters" offer interdisciplinary undergraduate education.
- Gerontology and geriatric faculty saw an opportunity to engage freshmen in aging studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce freshmen to the multidisciplinary field of aging.
- Develop intellectual skills for academic and life success.
Main Methods:
- Created "Frontiers in Human Aging: Biomedical, Social and Policy Perspectives" in 2000.
- Implemented active, cooperative, student-centered teaching methods.
- Focused on complex phenomena requiring an interdisciplinary perspective.
Main Results:
- Successfully educated over 1,200 freshman honors students.
- Contributed to the development of essential intellectual skills.
Conclusions:
- The interdisciplinary, student-centered approach is effective for introducing aging studies.
- This educational model fosters critical thinking and lifelong learning skills.
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