Action research and millennials: Improving pedagogical approaches to encourage critical thinking.
BACKGROUND
This article examines the effects of intergenerational diversity on pedagogical practice in nursing education. While generational cohorts are not entirely homogenous, certain generational features do emerge. These features may require alternative approaches in educational design in order to maximize learning for millennial students.


METHOD
Action research is employed with undergraduate millennial nursing students (n=161) who are co-researchers in that they are asked for changes in current simulation environments which will improve their learning in the areas of knowledge acquisition, skill development, critical thinking, and communication. These changes are put into place and a re-evaluation of the effectiveness of simulation progresses through three action cycles.


RESULTS
Millennials, due to a tendency for risk aversion, may gravitate towards more supportive learning environments which allow for free access to educators. This tendency is mitigated by the educator modeling expected behaviors, followed by student opportunity to repeat the behavior. Millennials tend to prefer to work in teams, see tangible improvement, and employ strategies to improve inter-professional communication.


CONCLUSION
This research highlights the need for nurse educators working in simulation to engage in critical discourse regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of current pedagogy informing simulation design. Pedagogical approaches which maximize repetition, modeling, immersive feedback, and effective communication tend to be favored by millennial students.
['Erlam|Gwen|G|', 'Smythe|Liz|L|', 'Wright-St Clair|Valerie|V|']
D000328:Adult D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate D005181:Faculty, Nursing D005246:Feedback D005260:Female D006302:Health Services Research D006801:Humans D016901:Intergenerational Relations D007858:Learning D008297:Male D017145:Models, Educational D000066908:Simulation Training D013338:Students, Nursing D013850:Thinking
Action research Millennials Pedagogical approaches Simulation design Inter-generational discourse Undergraduate nursing