Adapting Strategically to Changing Times in Health Professions Education: A Generational Workshop for Educators.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education
• Generational Studies

Background:

• The current health professions student population is increasingly Generation Z (iGen).
• Traditional educational strategies effective for millennials may not resonate with iGen students.
• iGen exhibits distinct characteristics, including technology use, communication styles, and attention spans, necessitating pedagogical adjustments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide health professions educators with an understanding of iGen's unique attributes.
• To explore and discuss curricular adaptations to maintain educational quality for iGen students.
• To equip educators with strategies for effectively engaging iGen learners.

Main Methods:

• A 90-minute interactive workshop was developed and delivered to diverse groups of health professions educators.
• The workshop incorporated a literature-based presentation, self-assessment activities, and case discussions.
• Workshop effectiveness and longitudinal impact were evaluated using 5-point Likert-style surveys.

Main Results:

• 100% of respondents found the topic crucial for professional development and highly relevant.
• 79% of participants could recognize iGen and their own personal characteristics after the workshop.
• 58% of participants agreed or strongly agreed they could implement new instructional strategies.

Conclusions:

• Educators often underestimate the unique attributes of iGen students compared to other generations.
• Understanding generational dynamics, including iGen's specific traits, enhances educators' ability to tailor content.
• This enhanced perspective enables educators to more effectively create and deliver educational content to current health professions students.