How to Engage Gen Z Learners
Recorded On: 08/30/2025
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Course Description:
Although academic programs have been asking the question of how to address student stress and mental health concerns for the past several years, the current generation of healthcare students has academic programs reeling for better ways to support overall student success. Our post-COVID students are dealing with the aftermath of interrupted education plans, economic pressures of student debt and the rigor of transitioning into graduate level academic programs – bringing a high level of stress and anxiety into their educational journey. In addition, the to challenges of a group of students who dealt with education interruptions and changes in content delivery methods during the pandemic, educators are also dealing with a different generation of student – Generation Z. Understanding the characteristics of these students and learning strategies to guide them to success is vital in both didactic and clinical education programs. The goal and purpose of this course is to equip participants with ideas and information to enhance their understanding to be able to effectively communicate and teach the current generation of healthcare students.
Learning Objectives:
1. The participant will identify characteristics of the generation Z learner to appropriately develop learning activities in the didactic and/or clinical setting.
2. The participant will formulate communication strategies for the generation Z student to effectively provide feedback and problem resolution.
3. The participant will examine five critical focus areas in education for the generation Z student.
4. The participant will identify practical education strategies to promote student engagement for the generation Z student.
Course Agenda
• 10 minutes: introduction of topic, background of generational characteristic development; characteristics of generations
• 10 minutes: comparison of generation Y and generation Z, including the impact of the COVID pandemic
• 15 minutes: characteristics of generation Z will be shared through interactive lecture to identify educational challenges; practical and real-life examples will be shared through hided imagery and pictures of described learning experiences
• 20 minutes: lectures describing 5 critical focus areas in education to engage the generation Z student; strategies to address each focus area will be developed
• 10 minutes: conclusion of session and take-home points for implementation of the material; resources for further study of the topic will be shared
Angel Holland
PT, DPT, Ed.D, Department Chair & Program Director, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences – Department of Physical Therapy Associate Professor
Dr. Angel Holland is the Department Chair, Program Director and Associate Professor for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She was hired by UAMS in 2014 to assist in developing the physical therapy academic program, which was created based on educational theories and learning styles for the current generation of students.
Dr. Holland completed her undergraduate Biology degree from Oklahoma Christian University, followed by her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. She later completed her Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Arcadia University and earned a Doctorate in Education from the University of Arkansas with a focus on Adult and Lifelong Learning. She has been a physical therapist for 26 years and is an ABPTS Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatrics.
She is a graduate of the APTA Academy of Education Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership. Dr. Holland’s research areas include generational learning styles, interprofessional learning activities, and faculty development to enhance student success. She is a national speaker on the subject of today’s student and has served as a consultant for clinical and academic team development for a variety of universities and healthcare systems.
Course Instructions
- Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
- Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
- Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
- Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page.
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