“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” -Alvin Toffler
At the gym this week the Crossfit coach suggested modifications of the workout to accommodate more “senior” people. It wasn’t until I looked around at the class of 20-somethings that I realized he was talking to me! Apparently, it’s all downhill after 40. This encounter highlighted for me generational differences and suggested a potential impact on health professional education.
An informal Google Scholar search led me to these characteristics that differentiate between generations. I won’t comment on the academic rigour of this “ethnographic” stereotyping. (For example, see the previous post on the accuracy of learning styles.). While many of the elements below will appear superficially accurate (especially for the generation that you are NOT associated with), I caution from drawing too many conclusions from this pop psychology. Yet, I believe there are some pearls to be discovered. I’m curious about the element(s) that might influence your education practice. Share your thoughts below!
MILLENIALS(click to enlarge)
GEN X (click to enlarge)
BABY BOOMERS(click to enlarge)
Images courtesy of stockimages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
