In September 2018, Div. 20 members received a survey via email to assess the educational resources most useful for our members. Resources could relate to teaching courses in adult development and aging or research topics relevant to adult development and aging. Members were asked to rank order projects from the most useful (1) to the least useful (7) for them and their students. Projects for input were selected from past and current resources as well as potential new resources suggested by the Executive Committee. A free-response for “other” educational resources was also provided.
Thank you for your input. We received responses from 119 members. The average ranking for the seven projects is listed below. The Teaching Tips column was ranked as the most useful and Continuing Education (CE)/Video Modules as the least useful. There was a lot of variability in the rank orderings, with all seven of the average ranks falling between Rank 3 and Rank 5.
Average Rank Order of Resources, N = 119 | ||
| M | SD |
Teaching Tips | 3.45 | 2.43 |
Textbook Listing | 3.66 | 2.09 |
Cinematic Film Listing | 3.75 | 1.93 |
Syllabus Library | 4.01 | 2.17 |
Educational Video Listing | 4.04 | 1.85 |
Guide to Graduate Study | 4.19 | 1.47 |
CE/Video Modules | 4.89 | 1.62 |
The top ranked materials (with the percentage ranked number one) were:
- Teaching Tips (30 percent)
- Textbook Listing (20 percent)
- Cinematic Film Listing (17 percent)
- Syllabus Library (12 percent)
Other Resources Requested:
- Discussion board for instructors to discuss ideas for activities and receive feedback.
- Links to online resources.
- Networking opportunities.
- More CE courses for assessment and treatment of seniors (decision-making, fiduciary).
- Summaries of new and relevant research to use in classes.
- PowerPoint slides with premade modules.
- Engaging students/exercises.
- New and innovative student assignments.
- Primary readings in adult development and aging.
- Reviews of existing textbooks.
- List of faculty available for guest lectures.
- Research that informs clinical practice and screening/diagnostic instruments.
In addition, 32 members indicated they would be willing to help in developing these resources. (Thank you.) This Needs Assessment provided valuable information regarding the resources we should maintain and develop for our members. It also highlighted the diversity of needs among our members ranging from teaching and research resources to clinical resources. The next steps of the Education Committee include identifying projects to update and develop and ways in which different subcommittees might work synergistically to provide these resources.