Transcript Older adults` engagement in younger people`s learning

Annual
Conference
2015
Learning in Later Life (3Ls)
Students’ Association
3Ls Research
Group
www.strath.ac.uk/cll/3lsstudentsassociation/
3Ls Research Group was supported by Dr Rob Mark,
former Head of the Centre for Lifelong Learning, and
Emeritus Professor Aline-Wendy Dunlop, School of
Education, University of Strathclyde.
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Older Adults’ Engagement in
Younger People’s Learning
The researchers
Val Bissland, Carole Ford, Kay Roberts, Carl Bow, Anne Cairns,
Peter Cairns, John Parkhill
Genesis of the project
The POET Project (Pedagogies of Educational Transitions)
Research questions
Methods
Findings and questions raised
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POET
Pedagogies of Educational Transitions
Scotland, Iceland, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand
Transitions
Professional beliefs
Family engagement
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Methods
Pilot interviews
Focus groups
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Research Questions
These ideas were developed in the focus groups.
Topic 1: Each person’s own experience of older
adults’ influences
Topic 2: Past or current learning experiences with a
younger person
Topic 3: Ideas on how society can better utilise the
current abundant resource of older adults
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Findings
Emerging themes
1: Diverse socio-cultural environments
2 : Attitudinal factors
3 : Influential types of empathetic relationships
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Findings
Emerging themes
1: Diverse socio-cultural environments
Different needs
Motivation
Barriers of class
Cultural capital
Limited resources
Rules and regulations
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Findings
Emerging themes
2: Attitudinal Factors
Trust
Commitment
Collaboration
Open to new ideas
Influence of own beliefs and others’
beliefs
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Findings
Emerging themes
3 : Influential types of empathetic relationships
Paired effort
Mentoring
Practical help
Emotional impact
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Questions raised
1: How can we break down some of the barriers?
2: How can we create a shift in societal attitudes so
the benefits of collaboration between young and old
are clearer?
3: How can we make it more attractive to older
adults to become involved with younger people?
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