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Older Adult Learning

The Cohort Effect Common experiences of individuals born in certain times Studied in relation to culture and value orientation Cohorts of Older Adults WWI 1922 – 1927 Post-War/Depression 1928 – 1945

Now The Boomers In 2006, the first 77 million Baby Boomers turned 60 8,000 Americans turn 60 every day By 2050, almost 40% over 65 will be African American, Asian and Hispanic

What is lost? A steady loss in ‘fluid’ intelligence - processing capacity Attentional capacity, processing speed, and memory performance

What is lost? Relative ability to edit un- necessary information Declines in hearing, vision, and motor control exaggerate these deficits

Happily, not all systems decline Humans continue to generate new neurons throughout life New neuronal connections are constantly formed in response to life experience

Knowledge and Understanding Crystallized intelligence – the knowledge of general facts and information about the world does not change Experience and life-skills lead to more comprehensive understanding of the world

Limbic stability Self-worth, autonomy, and control over emotions increase or remain stable with age Stabilized limbic and autonomic nervous system activity in older adults

Limbic stability Evidence suggests Older adults regulate negative emotions better while experiencing positive emotions with similar intensity and frequency as young adults

Teaching for effective learning Respond to the experience, skills, and understanding of the “big picture” Instruction should relate to simple and complex situations in real life

Teaching for effective learning Stereotypes about memory loss can impact the ability to learn Instruction should reinforce the belief that they can remember Include information on how to remember the information/ new processes to stimulate recall

Instruction should build on the strong emotional bonds toward people, objects and beliefs that develop as people age Teaching for effective learning