The Elderly Learning Activities in an Aging Society

1. The Elderly Learning Activities in an Aging Society Hsin Lan, Chen Chen, Ying Chi Cai, Qiao Yu

2. Outline • Introduction • Elderly learning • Multiple types of elderly learning • Modes of learning for elders • Implementations for government and educators • Conclusion

3. 1. Introduction • With the increase of elderly population, there are more elderly adults than before. • Older adults are also increasingly better educated, in better health and economically better off than ever before.

4. All of the learning opportunities and activities are the keys for older adults to accommodate an aging society. • To make an accommodation, older adults need to take part in the learning activities.

5. 2. Elderly learning • The myths about older learners • The reasons for older adults to learn • The benefits of elderly learning

6. 2.1 The myths about older learners Bryan (1993) offered seven myths for older adults: • You can not teach an old dog new tricks. • Old people want to be alone and isolated from society. • Older people are not as intelligent as their younger counterparts. • Older people can not take tests; all courses should avoid testing.

7. Older people do not change, can not cope, and are pessimistic and dependent. • Older people are useless, non-productive citizens. • All older people become senile; it is an evitable of aging.

8. As a matter of fact, Knowles (1975) noted that older adults learned new tricks better than younger persons. • They have the potential and ability to learn.

9. 2.2 The reasons for older adults to learn • According to the U.S. Department of Education (2006): • to maintain or improve the skills or knowledge • to learn completely new skills or knowledge • because employer required or recommended it

10. to get or keep certificate or license • to help change job or career field • to receive a promotion or pay raise

11. 2.3 The Benefits of Elderly Learning OBrian (2007): • To keep their mind sharp • To improve their memory • To increase their self-confidence • To offer an inexpensive way to try something new • To give them a feeling of accomplishment

12. To help make friends • To build on skills they already have • To offer an opportunity to learn a new skill or trade and increase their income • To give them a new interest that they can share with family and friends.

13. 3. Multiple types of elderly learning • Credit learning Though most of the older adults choose noncredit courses, there are still some older learners take credit courses. • On-line learning to proceed learning at his space, in his convenience, and with his friends.

14. Interactive learning to assist elders to build up their friendship with others. • Individualized learning Through self-help or self-control, learners design their own learning activities or curriculum.

15. 4 Modes of learning for elders • School • Community • Non-profit organizations • Open School

16. Network • Library • Travel • Group learning

17. 5. Implementations for government and educators • Government should create more learning opportunities and activities for the older adults and provide more financial support. • Government should help establish more elderly educational institutions.

18. Government should provide more financial support on learning activities to promote high participation of older adults. • Educators should provide learning activities according to the needs of older learners.

19. Educators should help older learners learn from their rich experiences. • Educators should respect the individual learning activities for older adults.

20. Educators should set up an evaluation system and improve the quality of elderly learning activities based on the result of evaluation.

21. 6. Conclusion • Under the influence of life long learning, people learn from cradle to grave. • Older adults can learn and have to learn. • By understanding the learning types of the elderly, the improved educational plans or learning activities concerning the elderly can be set up.

22. The implementations for government and educators are required to provide learning opportunities and activities for older learners.

23. Thank you!