Is Med School a Cult?
According to the hosts of the “Sounds Like a Cult” podcast, it sure has some “culty” characteristics, like:
Highly structured
Elitism & exclusivity
Loss of control over life
Free/cheap labor expected
Exhaustion is a badge of honor
Once you’re in, the cost to exit is very high
Marrying into it - you go where your partner matches
Substantial power imbalances and history of power abuse
Class ranking promotes internal competitiveness for authority’s approval
Elaborate rituals around milestones (white coat ceremony, Match day, graduation)
What do you think?
Objective: How to Hook Adult Learners
What makes adult learners different from young learners?
Go ahead, have a think.
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How’d you do?
Here are some of the things I came up with:
Adults are older (duh!)
Adults have experienced things in life and have made it this far
Adults have more external pressures and responsibilities taking up mental energy
Adults typically learn in higher-stakes situations
Adults have more autonomy and can probably get up and leave if they want (usually without raising their hand for a bathroom pass)
Adults really hate getting things wrong or looking dumb in front of peers (especially physicians/medical students)
That said, adults and children share many characteristics as learners:
Naturally curious
Like getting their “hands on” when learning
Social and collaborative learning can be enjoyable
In fact, when it comes to acquiring and storing knowledge, adults and kids aren’t that different. But context and attitude set adults apart—and that’s where your approach matters. So how can you engage adult learners in active learning?
There are many ways, but since humans can hold onto 3-5 items in working memory at a time, let’s focus in on 4:
🧱 Use what they already know
Adults bring years of experience to the table. They expect their knowledge and skills to be respected. By intentionally tapping into their past experiences, you not only show that respect but also prime their minds to build on what they already know—or to find ways of reconciling new, conflicting information.
🧁 Make the upside obvious
This involves two key things:
Understanding their day-to-day challenges and experiences.
Tailoring your content so it clearly helps them achieve a goal or solve a problem
(Or, you could always bribe them with baked goods. That works too. 😆)
🤔 Allow them to struggle (a little)
Contrary to popular belief, adults don’t want to be spoon-fed. They’re self-directed and love achallenge. By introducing a bit of friction—also known as desirable difficulty—you can keep them engaged and encourage deeper learning.
🏆 Give them wins
Adults really hate looking dumb and will do almost anything to avoid it. So while it’s important to offer challenges, make sure they’re not constantly facing an uphill battle. Sprinkle in some wins along the way, so they get that sweet, sweet dopamine hit from making a breakthrough.
Resources for deeper dives:
📖Book Recommendation!
I absolutely love both of Julie Dirksen’s books on learning design.
I’m not an affiliate and I don’t receive any kickbacks for promoting these books; I’m a genuine fan.
Note: Originally published on 9/8/24