House Party Simulation—Reaching the Millenial College Student

Purpose: “House Party” was an educational simulation, highly collaborative in its planning and organization, involving staff and peer educators. Critical goals for the educational event included (a) raising student awareness and (b) reinforcing knowledge. Methods: Various situations encountered when attending a “party” were set up at a campus site. Alcohol and drugs were replaced with non-alcoholic beverages, props, candy and food. Students moved through the house where peer educators and other student volunteers enacted scenarios involving drinking games, marijuana use and sexual relationships etc., to provoke student reaction and challenge perceptions. Results: Over 300 students attended the event. Of those who completed an online evaluation (N=128), nearly 95% reported satisfaction with the event; 70% indicated they would attend such an event again. Overall, 3/4 of students reported an increase in knowledge of pharmacological/biological effects of high-risk drinking, and consequences law and policy violations. One quarter to 1/3 reported significant increase in knowledge and awareness as a result of attending the event. Conclusions: Millennial students are noted to present challenges to educators. Expectations about learning are colored by the way they learn technology, through trial and error. Living situations is more important than knowing about them. Using innovative strategies, like simulation, to reinforce knowledge, promote discussion and challenge ideas, can help to promote greater student awareness of health and safety risks and improve decisionmaking around the use of alcohol and drugs.