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Education in later life

Education in later life. Franz Kolland, University of Vienna. Later life learning and the link with lifelong learning. Active ageing. Active ageing. Definitions.

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Education in later life

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  1. Education in later life Franz Kolland, University of Vienna

  2. Later life learning and the link with lifelong learning Active ageing Active ageing

  3. Definitions • Life-longlearning in old agecanbedefined as personally and sociallymotivatedexperience-basedlearning. Itincludeseverytargetedlearningactivitythatserves to continuouslyimproveskills, abilities and competencies. • Education in later lifecanbedefined as acquiringknowledge and newskills in a conscious and targetedmanner. Educationis a broadertermthanlearning as itimpliesthedevelopment of reflexive practiceswithinlearningrelationships.

  4. Three Models of LifelongLearning(Hans Schuetze 2007) • The human capitalmodelwherelifelonglearningrefers to continouswork-relatedtraining and skilldevelopment. (Employability) • Lifelonglearning as a system of learningforcitizens of democraticcountriesthatincludesopportunitiesforembracing modern technologies. (Knowledgesociety) • Theemancipatory/ socialjusticemodel. LL isavailableforeveryone in theinterests of equality in a democraticsociety. (Activecitizenship)

  5. Higher educationallevels Startingpoints: Changes of age(ing) Demographic changes Disappearance of the „three boxes“ New scientificfindings

  6. 50+ Adults Represent Three Distinct Generations

  7. Low educationalstatus of older age cohorts:Averageyears of schooling, by age group Robert J. Barro Robert J., Lee Jong-Wha 2010. http://www.nber.org/papers/w15902

  8. Personswithloweducationalattainment, by age group, %, 65 yearsorover ISCED levels 0-2: pre-primary, primary and lowersecondaryeducation.

  9. Deficitmodels of ageing • „Whenthe age is in, thewitis out“ (William Shakespeare, MuchAdoAboutNothing) • In the normal course of ageing, peoplegraduallywithdrawfromsocialroles as a naturalresponse to lessenedcapabilities and diminishedinterest (e.g. DisengagementTheory)

  10. Review: Activitysummarydomainsassociatedwithwellbeing, healthorsurvival in 42 studies Adams, Kathryn B., Liebbrandt, Sylvia & Moon, Heehyul. 2011. A criticalreview of theliterature on social and leisureactivity and wellbeing in later life, Ageing & Society, 31, 4, 683-712.

  11. You can´tteach an old dog new tricks Theoretical age gradients e.g. P.B. Baltes et al. 1999; J.L. Horn 1982

  12. The Seattle Longitudinal Study (Schaie, K. W., Willis, S. L., & Caskie, G. I. L. 2004) 25-67 years 25-88 years At what age isthere a reliablydetectable age decrement in ability?

  13. Age dynamics in scientificcreativity: Nobel laureates 1875-2008 Findingsshow fundamental shifts in the life cycle of researchproductivity. Jones BJ, Weinberg BA (2011)

  14. From age-differentiated to age-integrated structures („Disappearance of the three boxes“) M. Riley & J. Riley, 1994, p.26

  15. Maintaining and strengtheningone‘shealth; preparingfor a restrictedmobility; Recognising and impartingone‘sowncompetences in volunteering and in intergenerationaldialogues Learning to operatenew media (research, networking). Social inclusion Effectsoflearning in later life Health and prevention Delay of retirement New technologies

  16. Why should the elderly learn? Positive effects of learning on Health • intellectual abilities by minimizing memory losses or even reversing them (Kotulak 1997) • likeliness to seek medical assistance sooner and more effectively prevent and treatailments by self-diagnosis • recovery from diseases • fitness and exercising • satisfaction with health (Khaw 1997)

  17. Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) 2005 • Individualswithloweducationare 70% morelikely to bephysicallyinactive, and 50% morelikely to beobesethanindividualswith a highereducation. • Cognitiveabilityisstronglyassociatedwitheducation – thehighereducatedaremorecognitivelyskilledthanthelowereducated. • All countries reveal a positive relation between well-being and education level. • Thelevel of educationisinverselyassociatedwiththereportedmedication. In thecategoryprimaryschool 27% of individualsindicatedthattheytakenone of thelisteddrugs. Amongindividualswithtertiaryeducation 46% do nottakedrugs.

  18. Why should the elderly learn? Positive effects of learning on Social Inclusion: • participation in social & political activities • counteract risk of poverty • improve equal opportunities • challenge negative images of ageing(Withnall 2010) Educationalparticipationisnotonlyenrichingforpeoplewhoattendcoursesorattainknowledgeforthemselves, butit also has “spreadeffects”, impactingtheentiresocialcontext.

  19. Why should the elderly learn? Positive effects of learning on Computer Literacy: • seniorsarenottechnologyadverse; however, theywanttechnology thatsupportsactivitesthattheyarealreadyfamiliarwith. • theywerewilling to learnnewtechnology as long asithas greatusability. • Socialsupports ist importantforlearningcomputerskills and developlastinginterest in computingtechnologies (Ng Ch-hung 2007).

  20. CanAdultEducationDelayRetirementfromthe Labour Market? • Adulteducation has no effect on thetiming of retirementfromthelabour force. • Highereducation has a positive effect. Adulteducationenrollees: Survival in thelabour force formales Highereducationenrollees: Survival in thelabour force formales Stenberg Anders, Luna Xavier de, Westerlund Olle J Popul Econ 2012.

  21. Outlook:Society benefitssubstantially Longlifeeducationaffect a societybygenerationskillswhich • are relevant forthelabourmarket(produceearnings) • improvedemocracybyactiveparticipation in society • „spillover“ on colleagues, family & friends • delevopindividuals(self-esteem, confidence) • improvehealth • reduceseducationalinequality, esp. Ifdirected to lowskilled

  22. Concluding comments • Learning as a lifelong activity – dipping in and out • Reducing the association with work • Learning as a form of social linking • The distinctive role of learning – self-reflective sensibility for the unknown • Learning is not only directed towards better functioning in daily life or self control but also towards a new culture of aging which includes social participation in civil society

  23. Adult learner?

  24. Future adult learners?

  25. „The real voyage of discoveryconsistsnot in seekingnewlandscapes, but in havingneweyes.“ Thankyouforyourattention! Marcel Proust (1871-1922) 1711-1776

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