Lancaster University Department of Continuing Education Senior Learners Programme

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Lancaster University Department of Continuing
EducationSenior Learners Programme
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Senior Learners ProgrammeBackground

• Formed October 2006 and ran for two years
• University education aimed at older learners
• Short courses of five or ten weeks plus
  lunchtime lectures presented by academic staff
• Senior learners also contributed to Departmental
  research projects e.g. In health, psychology
• Second phase Autumn 2008

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Senior LearnersOpen Lectures Pilot Jan 2009

• 18 senior learners attended undergraduate
  lectures in a range of subjects history,
  philosophy, psychology etc.
• Some were new subjects, some learners had prior
  knowledge
• Group met weekly as a learning community to
  share learning and ideas
• Facilitated by a staff member from
• the Dept. of Continuing Education

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Feedback

• Most found lectures easy to understand,
  stimulating and exceeded expectations
• The majority felt included in lectures
• Weekly group session valued
• BUT
• Some lecturers and students bemused by an older
  learner appearing in their midst
• Lack of access to online communications
• systems a problem

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Overview

• Improved health benefits , both mentally
  physically
• Valued weekly session - opportunity to share
  compare with others
• Ability to learn in a university environment
  alongside younger students
• Desire to explore and increase knowledge
• ALL would recommend programme

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Where next? SLP Summer Term 2009

• Training to facilitate future learning groups
• Planning for larger intake in September
• Continuing to attend lectures and do personal and
  group learning projects

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Benefits of Learning

• Research by three senior learners this term
• Will lead to special project next term for the
  whole group on different theories of benefits of
  learning for older people

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Books we have been using

• THE MATURE MIND The Positive Power of The Aging
  Brain by Gene D Cohen, M.D., Ph.D Director of
  the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities,
  George Washington University.
• WISDOM PARADOX Elkhonon Goldberg

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Some findings from these books indicate

• The brain is continually resculpting itself in
  response to experience and learning.
• New brain cells do form throughout life.
• The brains emotional circuitry matures and
  becomes more balanced with age.
• The brains two hemispheres are more equally used
  by older adults.

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Other factors indicate

• The importance of lifelong learning.
• That we become more creative as we age.
• Mutual care in small, supportive groups or
  communities of learners, networks and
  partnerships can help significantly.

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Will lead to special project next term for
the whole group on different theories of benefits
of learning for older people.Many senior
learners are also members of Lancaster and
Morecambe U3A....
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LANCASTER AND MORECAMBEU3A
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Ethos of U3A

• Self-help learning using committed volunteers
• Members are the tutors as well as students
• Uses skills, enthusiasm, ideas of membership
• Locally organised but affiliated to national
  body

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Wide range of opportunities

• Social pub lunches!
• Physical walking groups, yoga
• Practical art, cards crafts
• Cultural concerts, theatre, opera, drama
• Academic history, science, geology,
  languages

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Learning Community

• U3A a learning community
• Members value learning with others with similar
  interests
• Little support for on-line courses in survey

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National Challenges

• Numbers rising
• Older population - increasing living longer
• Government funding reducing for non- vocational
  learning

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Local Challenges

• Huge rise in membership - 20 when founded 21
  years ago 620 now and rising
• Administration needs are growing
• No office base for records, equipment, storage

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Current questions how do we...

• Get message across that U3A exists
• Fill gaps where no member skills
• Get recognition for social/welfare/medical
• benefits of continued learning