"Ageism can affect anyone": teaching ageism as a threshold concept.
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| Title: | "Ageism can affect anyone": teaching ageism as a threshold concept. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Cao, Jiawei1 (AUTHOR), Janssen, Leah M.2 (AUTHOR) JansseLM@MiamiOH.edu, Flores, Valerie3 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Gerontology & Geriatrics Education. Apr-Jun2026, Vol. 47 Issue 2, p287-306. 20p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Threshold concepts (Learning), *Qualitative research, *Teaching methods, *Gerontology, *Age discrimination, *Student attitudes, *Curriculum planning, Ageism |
| Abstract: | Threshold concepts are key ideas that once understood, lead to fundamental shifts in knowledge that transform how people learn and understand the world. This study examines the effects of using a threshold concept approach to teach ageism and compares undergraduate students' perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors across different classes. Four entry-level gerontology courses participated; two used the threshold concept framework, while the other two employed a traditional one-time module. In-class survey data were collected from all four courses; word clouds and qualitative reflections were collected from intervention courses before and after the intervention. SPSS was used for descriptive analysis, and content analysis for qualitative data. Results indicated a shift in the intervention groups' understanding of ageism. Initially, students associated aging with negative stereotypes and physical decline, but they later developed a more nuanced view of aging, recognizing ageism's broader societal implications after the intervention. Word clouds revealed a shift from negative to more diverse descriptors of aging. The findings suggest that integrating threshold concepts into curriculum fosters irreversible changes in attitudes and perspectives toward aging, encouraging a more positive and inclusive view. Future research should explore the long-term effects of this approach and its application across other gerontological contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Gerontology & Geriatrics Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 193490061 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: "Ageism can affect anyone": teaching ageism as a threshold concept. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cao%2C+Jiawei%22">Cao, Jiawei</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Janssen%2C+Leah+M%2E%22">Janssen, Leah M.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> JansseLM@MiamiOH.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Flores%2C+Valerie%22">Flores, Valerie</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Gerontology+%26+Geriatrics+Education%22">Gerontology & Geriatrics Education</searchLink>. Apr-Jun2026, Vol. 47 Issue 2, p287-306. 20p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Threshold+concepts+%28Learning%29%22">Threshold concepts (Learning)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+methods%22">Teaching methods</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gerontology%22">Gerontology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+discrimination%22">Age discrimination</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+attitudes%22">Student attitudes</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Curriculum+planning%22">Curriculum planning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ageism%22">Ageism</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Threshold concepts are key ideas that once understood, lead to fundamental shifts in knowledge that transform how people learn and understand the world. This study examines the effects of using a threshold concept approach to teach ageism and compares undergraduate students' perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors across different classes. Four entry-level gerontology courses participated; two used the threshold concept framework, while the other two employed a traditional one-time module. In-class survey data were collected from all four courses; word clouds and qualitative reflections were collected from intervention courses before and after the intervention. SPSS was used for descriptive analysis, and content analysis for qualitative data. Results indicated a shift in the intervention groups' understanding of ageism. Initially, students associated aging with negative stereotypes and physical decline, but they later developed a more nuanced view of aging, recognizing ageism's broader societal implications after the intervention. Word clouds revealed a shift from negative to more diverse descriptors of aging. The findings suggest that integrating threshold concepts into curriculum fosters irreversible changes in attitudes and perspectives toward aging, encouraging a more positive and inclusive view. Future research should explore the long-term effects of this approach and its application across other gerontological contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Gerontology & Geriatrics Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=193490061 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1080/02701960.2025.2512742 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 20 StartPage: 287 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Threshold concepts (Learning) Type: general – SubjectFull: Qualitative research Type: general – SubjectFull: Teaching methods Type: general – SubjectFull: Gerontology Type: general – SubjectFull: Age discrimination Type: general – SubjectFull: Student attitudes Type: general – SubjectFull: Curriculum planning Type: general – SubjectFull: Ageism Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: "Ageism can affect anyone": teaching ageism as a threshold concept. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Cao, Jiawei – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Janssen, Leah M. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Flores, Valerie IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 04 Text: Apr-Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 02701960 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 47 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Gerontology & Geriatrics Education Type: main |
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