Transcript The Elderly Learning Activities in an Aging Society

The Elderly Learning
Activities in an Aging
Society
Hsin Lan, Chen
Chen, Ying Chi
Cai, Qiao Yu
Outline
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Introduction
Elderly learning
Multiple types of elderly learning
Modes of learning for elders
Implementations for government
and educators
Conclusion
1. Introduction
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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.
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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.
2. Elderly learning
The myths about older
learners
 The reasons for older adults
to learn
 The benefits of elderly
learning
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2.1 The myths about older
learners
Bryan (1993) offered seven myths for older
adults:
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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.
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Older people do not change, can
not cope, and are pessimistic and
dependent.
Older people are useless, nonproductive citizens.
All older people become senile; it
is an evitable of aging.
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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.
2.2 The reasons for
older adults to learn
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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
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to get or keep certificate
or license
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to help change job or
career field
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to receive a promotion
or pay raise
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
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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.
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.
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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.
4 Modes of learning for
elders
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School
Community
Non-profit organizations
Open School
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Network
Library
Travel
Group learning
5. Implementations for
government and educators
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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.
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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.
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Educators should help older
learners learn from their rich
experiences.
Educators should respect the
individual learning activities for
older adults.
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Educators should set up an
evaluation system and improve the
quality of elderly learning activities
based on the result of evaluation.
6. Conclusion
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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.
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The implementations for
government and educators are
required to provide learning
opportunities and activities for
older learners.
Thank
you!