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Getting to Know You: The Faculty/Student Connection

32 Teaching Conference

Thank you to all who were able to join us for this year’s conference! By your engagement, you help build and sustain the energy and motivation for all of us to continuously improve teaching at Tufts.

To view the schedule, click here.

Keynote: Why do Generational Differences Pose a Challenge to Educators?

To view a recording of the keynote address, click here.

To view slides from the keynote address, click here.

Dr  John F. Mahoney, M.D., M.S., University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

The current generations of mid-career and senior faculty grew up in what might be considered an old school environment, complete with old school professional values and behaviors.    In contrast, today's students and young faculty approach work as a finite activity (with fixed boundaries), and place greater priority on non-work activities and a more balanced lifestyle. These generational differences in values and in daily functioning have huge ramifications for the learning environment and the workplace.  When either generation fails to maintain awareness of these differences, and to adjust and accommodate to the other generation, the resulting clash can be highly disruptive. This presentation will focus on the Millennial and post-Millennial (“Gen Z”) generations and establishing effective teacher-learner relationships.  This presentation will reveal opportunities for improved communication, teaching, and mentoring.

About the Speaker: Dr. John Mahoney, associate dean for medical education and professor of emergency medicine, has long championed curricular improvement and innovation at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Mahoney continues to develop curricula to promote better communication between students and faculty.