Poster Session
Elders and Grey Technology Gaps: Raising Awareness to Educators that Multilevel Approaches Needed for Digital Divides View Digital Media
Poster Session
Diana Rios,
Graciela Quinones Rodriguez,
Mary Helen Millham
The world lives with a grey technology gap exacerbated by AI. The authors wish to heighten awareness about the elder citizen gap because more attention is needed toward effective trans-generational communication, workshops, tutorials, counseling/advising and continuing education sessions. Educators are trying to harness a moving technology comet, so to speak, in personal and professional lives, with efforts not to leave life-long-learners (casual and formal) behind. Possibly, we educators imagine breakthroughs using AI that lift our community microcosms and global macro-worlds. As agents of educational change, what more do we need to know in our fast-changing environment? This presentation sheds light on US national demographic and technology trends (US Census; Pew) related to elders. We point out practical challenges related to aging bias (using current grassroots, biographical, examples from the northeastern US region) and ideals for elder advising and small group care-shops/workshops. We also touch on human responsibility needs at the level of civics (laws, regulations); health organizations, and private industries (commercial marketers; information conglomerates, etc). The jubilee years are inevitable, and tech gaps can be managed but never eliminated. With many issues in consideration, like-minded, compassionate professionals can tackle challenges together. Let us heighten our respect, awareness, and future-sight while addressing the grey tech gap.
U.S. Ethnic-Racialized Groups, AI, and Educational Equity: Steps Toward the Future for American Latinxs View Digital Media
Poster Session
Graciela Quinones-Rodriguez,
Diana Rios,
Mary Helen Millham
New national legislation was introduced to substantially invest AI-related funding to US ethnic/racial minority-serving, educational institutions. This study illustrates that economic attention to “global south”, marginalized communities, within a developed nation, is necessary. For a nation to advance, all people must be equipped. Also, practical hurdles call for notice and action. Groups for potential funding include Hispanic serving institutions (HSI), historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU), and Tribal (American Native) colleges and universities (TCU). Ideally funds would enhance both educators and students overall. Demographic trends illustrate that racial “minorities” such as Latinxs (62.1 million or 19.5% of US) are not numerically smallest in many cities. By 2060 the US Census Bureau projects Latinxs at 28% of the nation. The population mosaic continues to shift. As political and educational leaders sprint to plan initiatives, what are practical challenges? 1) professionals need time for self-updates; 2) renovating courses and curriculum requires time; 3) economically depressed regions and city zones need equitable infrastructure before state-of-the-art is layered from above; 4) policies, laws, Treaties on behalf of people of color are uneven, broken 5) authentic cross-cultural approaches are a necessity in scaffolding and building up. Overall, historically disenfranchised communities need multi-pronged considerations to participate more as knowledgeable and skilled workers, scholars, and leaders of tomorrow. Within our current era of technological adaptation, possibilities for remarkable educational inroads, uplifting all societal segments, are endless. It is with cautious and informed hope that we hasten forward.
Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Transformative Learning in Healthcare Education View Digital Media
Poster Session
Natalie A. Perkins
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping healthcare education by personalizing learning, enhancing clinical skills, and improving student outcomes. This case study examines AI’s role in healthcare curricula, focusing on its applications in simulation-based learning, adaptive platforms, and predictive assessments. AI-driven tools such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and predictive analytics enable tailored educational experiences, helping students engage with content at their own pace while developing critical thinking and decision-making skills. The use of virtual simulations allows students to practice complex clinical scenarios in safe, controlled environments, fostering skill development and confidence before direct patient interaction. While AI holds promise for advancing healthcare education, this poster also addresses key ethical considerations, including empathy, rapport, and the need for faculty training to ensure responsible usage. Findings suggest that AI can significantly improve healthcare education by providing real-time, data-driven feedback and fostering a personalized approach to learning. This research advocates for thoughtful AI integration, balancing innovation with ethical standards to prepare healthcare students for a dynamic, patient-centered field.
Electronic Health Literacy Associated with Older Adults' Self-Efficacy
Poster Session
Cherrie Park
According to the literature, health-related factors, such as health status, health anxiety, and health literacy, are established contributors to self-efficacy, but the relationship between electronic health literacy and self-efficacy is less known. The present study examines electronic health literacy in relation to self-efficacy among community-dwelling older adults in the United States. For this aim, cross-sectional survey data were collected between September 2022 and March 2023. The survey dataset consisted of 191 responses from individuals ages 65 or older. Analyzed with hierarchical linear regression, the dataset provided information about survey respondents’ sociodemographic status, perceived health status, health anxiety, electronic health literacy, and self-efficacy. It also revealed that electronic health literacy was positively related to self-efficacy, and health anxiety was negatively related to self-efficacy, with sociodemographic status and perceived health status controlled. As such, improving older adults’ electronic health literacy can help them maintain self-efficacy, and the improvement should be made, especially in the domains of evaluating health information found on the internet and making decisions based on the information.
