Characteristics of the Current Student Generation and Considerations for Medical Education

의학교육에서 고려해야 할 신세대 학생의 특징

Current medical students are a distinct new generation who can be distinguished from the previous generation. Therefore, a clear understanding of their characteristics is vital in developing an appropriate educational program for them. The purpose of this article is to explore the characteristics of the current generation of high achieving medical students. Notable characteristics that define this generation include the following: they feel they are special, and they are sheltered, confident, highly optimistic, pressured, conventional, and have a strong desire to achieve. They are the digital generation, who can obtain information through various forms of technology. Furthermore, they are high achieving students in highly competitive educational environments. It has been suggested that various teaching methods be used in the medical school classroom. Using digital methods could be crucial in providing high-quality medical education. Educators should pay more attention to students' psychosocial development and help them to effectively cope with their academic stress.