jo watson what are 3rd age learners
TRANSCRIPT
What are 3rd Age Learners and how should we teach them?Jo WatsonOctober 2016Florence
www.eaquals.org
• To identify present thinking on this subject and relate this to our own context
• To explore and share our own thoughts and experiences
• To identify barriers and obstacles to learning in this age group
• To create tips for working with the over 50s
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Aims
Definitions
• Oxford Dictionary - the period in life of active retirement, following middle age
• University of the 3rd age - U3A is for people no longer in full-time employment. For this reason it attracts a lot of members aged 50 and over.
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Characteristics
A very diverse group;•Age•Different previous educational experience or lack of it•Different financial circumstances•Nationality•Different family commitmentswww.eaquals.org
What motivates older learners?
• A change in direction – why?• Improve qualifications• Interest/curiosity• Opportunity for personal
development• Socialising
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Barriers to learning
• Fear of failure• Thinking, ‘I’m too old’• Lack of self-esteem• Previous learning experiences• The learning environmentto name a few. Any more?
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What do we need to consider?
• Affective factors which may impede learning
• Make the material relevant and motivating
• Encourage the use of adult learning strategies
• Maybe even doing some action research?
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ERIC DIGESTS
• ‘there is no decline in the ability to learn as people get older’
• ‘except for minor considerations such as hearing and vision loss, the age of the adult learner is not a major factor on their ability to acquire a new language’
• ‘the context in which adults learn is the major influence on their ability to acquire a new language’
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Task
Taking everything into consideration, what tips would you give to…..a) teachers b) directors of studiesc) owners
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Eaquals International Conference, 21 – 23 April 2016www.eaquals.org
Eaquals International Conference, 21 – 23 April 2016
http://www.bia-net.org/en/eubia.html
https://www.coursehero.com
www.teaching English.org.uk
https://eric.ed.gov/
Walters, M. (2000). The mature students’ three Rs. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, Vol 28(2).
University of Surrey Report
‘Understanding the support needs of mature students’
Carey Newson Dr Almuth McDowall Professor Mark NK Saunders
http://www.surrey.ac.uk