Engaging graduate students & lifelong learners with intergenerational justice issues

Area of Science:

• Social Work Education
• Gerontology
• Social Justice Studies

Background:

• Generational equity is a growing concern across various policy areas.
• Gerontological education often overlooks intergenerational justice issues.
• There is a need for innovative approaches to aging education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a graduate social work course framework centered on intergenerational justice.
• To engage students and lifelong learners in aging-related social justice.
• To challenge ageist assumptions and foster cross-generational empathy.

Main Methods:

• Thematic modules and experiential activities were used.
• Interdisciplinary content was integrated.
• A unique iteration included older adult learners from a lifelong learning institute.

Main Results:

• High student satisfaction and increased engagement were reported.
• Ageist attitudes were reduced across all participating age groups.
• The partnership with older adults enriched classroom dialogue and modeling.

Conclusions:

• The course provides a replicable model for integrating aging content into social work curricula.
• Intergenerational justice education can attract diverse students to gerontology.
• This approach can help address workforce shortages in aging-related fields.