In this research project, an in-depth study was done by the researcher with a view to
formulating an educational approach for the distinct generation profile of undergraduate
students in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FoHS), University of the Free State (UFS).
This research was initiated in response to the identification of a gap in the knowledge
regarding the so-called Generation Y (born 1981-2000), forming the current cohort of
undergraduate students at the UFS.
According to both scholarly and popular literature, Generation Y possesses unique
characteristics that impact on the teaching and learning environment. Their distinctive
values and behaviours, communication styles, skills and needs, learning styles and
needs, as well as the prevailing environment and the shaping events of their position in
history influence their attitudes and actions as students. In addition, the perceived
differences between these students and the academic staff lecturing them, who generally
belong to older generational cohorts, may lead to conflict and misunderstanding that
impairs the successful attainment of outcomes in Health Sciences Education.
Both education and health care face tremendous challenges in the 21st century. For
example, the current Information-Communication Technology revolution has exerted
compelling effects on social interaction as well as the current teaching and learning and
health care environments. However, the demands on education and health care stretch
further than just emerging technologies and their aftermath. Issues such as
globalisation, socio-political and economic instability, inadequate and unequal access,
as well as sustainability should also be addressed.
The aim of this study was to formulate an educational approach for the generation
profile of undergraduate students at the FoHS, UFS. This was attained by means of the following objectives, namely, obtaining data as to whether the characteristics of
Generation Y as described in the literature are applicable and relevant to undergraduate
students in the FoHS, UFS; identifying discrepancies in awareness and understanding of
perceptions regarding the characteristics of Generation Y between undergraduate
students and academic staff lecturing them; and finally, formulating an educational
approach (including recommendations) for the generation profile of undergraduate
students in the FoHS, UFS, incorporating the characteristics of undergraduate students
as well as discrepancies in perceptions between undergraduate students and academic
staff lecturing these students that could affect the teaching and learning environment.
This study made use of a mixed-methods research design in two phases. In the first
phase, concurrent triangulation, quantitative and qualitative data were gathered
simultaneously by means of closed and open questions in a questionnaire survey for
undergraduate students and academic staff members respectively. In the second phase,
sequential explanatory design, the results from the first phase were used to inform the
formulation of an agenda for a focus group interview held with academic staff
members, yielding qualitative data. Quantitative data were analysed statistically, while
thematic analysis of qualitative data were done. The final steps in the second phase
included making use of the literature survey as well as the results of the questionnaire
survey and focus group interview respectively to inform the formulation of the
educational approach as indicated in the aim of the study.
From the results of the questionnaire survey it emerged that although many of the
characteristics typically ascribed to Generation Y in the literature are similar to those
perceived by both undergraduate students and academic staff members regarding the
cohort of undergraduate students in the FoHS, UFS, there were distinct differences
between these perceptions and those described in the literature, indicating that
Generation Y students in the FoHS possess a unique generational profile. In addition,
academic staff members indicated significant differences in their perceptions from those
of undergraduate students, with subsequent implications for the teaching and learning
environment. Major themes identified from the focus group interview indicated that
three important aspects were vital in the development of an educational approach,
namely the nature of the teaching and learning environment, the personal qualities and
attributes of the lecturer and the characteristics and role of the student.These findings were incorporated in the formulation of guidelines and recommendations
for the educational approach proposed by the researcher. The conceptual framework
guiding this approach alluded to the realisation that in order to stay relevant, educational
approaches need to move away from traditional and somewhat archaic teacher-centred
to innovative student-centred approaches intent on actively engaging students in
transformative knowledge construction, as well as providing for mentoring by
motivational role-models. Furthermore, emerging technology must be incorporated in a
rational and balanced way without losing vital human interaction to ensure that an
optimal teaching and learning environment is created. The training of skilled health
professionals who are equipped to deal with the challenges of the future should
ultimately lie at the heart of the educational approach in Health Sciences Education.
This research project generated comprehensive knowledge of the profile of the so-called
Generation Y undergraduate students in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of
the Free State, which informed the formulation of an educational approach that is both
thoroughly grounded in theory as well as applicable in practice. This research study
offers a novel contribution to the field of Health Sciences Education by providing
evidence-based data incorporated into an educational approach that takes into
consideration key elements for successful pedagogy in Health Sciences Education.
These include the a) teaching and learning environment, b) approaches to teaching and
learning as well as the role-players in this context, namely the c) participants (students)
and d) practitioners (academic staff). The approach is built on the four key elements,
and forms an integrated background to a central nexus alluding to concepts including
structure and support, a student-centred viewpoint, technology, relationships, student
characteristics, mentoring, engagement and supervision.
Both the survey instrument developed for the purpose of data collection in this study, as
well as the educational approach that was formulated, may be used to facilitate the
creation of optimal teaching and learning environments in Health Sciences Education,
both locally and further afield.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ufs/oai:etd.uovs.ac.za:etd-08232012-152731 |
| Date | 23 August 2012 |
| Creators | Van der Merwe, Lynette Jean |
| Contributors | Prof MM Nel, Prof GJ van Zyl |
| Publisher | University of the Free State |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en-uk |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.uovs.ac.za//theses/available/etd-08232012-152731/restricted/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University Free State or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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