The use of personas in gerontological education.

TitleThe use of personas in gerontological education.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsCanham, SL, Mahmood, A
JournalGerontol Geriatr Educ
Volume40
Issue4
Pagination468-479
Date Published2019 Oct-Dec
ISSN1545-3847
KeywordsGeriatrics, Health Status, Humans, Mental Health, Problem-Based Learning, Social Sciences
Abstract

Using mechanisms of active learning, we developed a Persona project for our undergraduate Introduction to Gerontology course. We conceive of Personas as fictional characters that are created through the amalgamation of physical, social, and psychological traits and have unique lived experiences. This article details the development of this innovative pedagogical tool and describes how Personas are used as part of an experiential learning assignment over the course of a semester. Student-generated Personas act to contextualize the broad course material, ranging from physical and mental health to environments and financial well-being in later life. Student feedback of the Persona project highlights what they learned, how this project was helpful for them, and suggestions for enhancing the experience for students in subsequent semesters. We conclude by recommending that other gerontological and social science educators incorporate Personas into their coursework to provide students an interactive tool to apply information learned through class lectures and readings.

DOI10.1080/02701960.2018.1506775
Alternate JournalGerontol Geriatr Educ
PubMed ID30124379