Jo Watson & Valérie Clochard: Classroom observation and feedback
Jo Watson What are 3rd age learners
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What are 3rd Age Learners and how should we teach them? Jo Watson October 2016 Florence www.eaquals.org
Transcript of Jo Watson What are 3rd age learners
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
