About This Publication
Learning in later life can help people gain personal satisfaction, development, fulfilment and also contributes to a sense of well-being. Learning provision should no longer just be a way of passing the time, it must support key measures that contribute to older people's ability to remain independent and active, well into later life. Learning, therefore, should be mainstreamed into the lives of older people.
Learning, Participation and Choice: A Guide for Facilitating Older Learners aims to provide an introduction to the context and practice of facilitating learning for older adults. Its purpose is to seed debate about learning and stimulate new ideas and directions. We invite you to explore this resource and take from it inspiration and practical measures for success. In doing so, we hope that you will develop new thoughts and ideas that can be shared with others.
Learning, Participation and Choice: A Guide for Facilitating Older Learners aims to provide an introduction to the context and practice of facilitating learning for older adults. Its purpose is to seed debate about learning and stimulate new ideas and directions. We invite you to explore this resource and take from it inspiration and practical measures for success. In doing so, we hope that you will develop new thoughts and ideas that can be shared with others.
Contents
IntroductionWhy is older peoples' learning important?
What is the importance of this publication and how should it be used?
Who is this resource for?
What does this resource provide?
Who are older learners?
What is the Third Age?
What is the Fourth Age?
What do we mean by learning?
What do we mean by facilitating learning?
Section 1 - The debate about learning
Is learning a good idea for older adults? Why?
What do older people say about learning?
Building the argument for learning. Policies and research
Mapping learning
Negotiating learning
Attitudes
Discrimination
Independence
Section 2 - Making Learning happen with others
Partnership
What partnerships?
The Government supports partnership working
Which partners?
Making partnerships work
Section 3 - Planning the curriculum
A curriculum for older adults
Consultation
From consultation to learning
Workforce development
Community learning
Stages of life
Delivering learning
Is your organisation user friendly?
Publicity
Section 4 - Supporting learners
Learning choices
Information advice and guidance
Barriers to learning
Overcoming barriers
Motivation
Maintaining motivation
Learning styles
Facilitation
Learning support
Programme planning
Section 5 - Facilitating learning
Getting started
Group activity
Learning outcomes
What happens in a class?
Assessment
Purposes of assessment
Recognising achievement
Evaluation
Resources
Useful contacts