Preparing for the Silver Tsunami: The Demand for Higher Education Among Older Adults

Over the next decade, Baby Boomers will be reaching retirement age in large numbers and the U.S. will be undergoing one of the most significant demographic shifts in its history. This demographic shift has important implications for the role of higher education as a provider of lifelong learning and for the changing composition of postsecondary institutions. Using data from the 2005 National Household Education Survey, the results of this study informs the higher education community about this emerging student market segment as a way to help us better respond to older adults?? demand for formal learning in postsecondary institutions.     

The International Network for Older Adults

Conclusion Although funds were not available to bring members of the Older Adults Network to the World Assembly of Adult Education in January 1990, there was, among the delegates, considerable interest in the subject and several meetings were arranged. The thing that struck me most was not how different were our situations, coming as we did from every corner of the earth, but how many problems and concerns we had in common.With the second Network Newsletter, sent out in the spring of 1991, questionnaires asked for brief details of schemes which involved older people in projects that were, in some way, conservational. They could be involved in conserving language, mythology or history. They might be working to improve and save their environment. The aim is to establish a small but useful register of such projects in sufficient detail to encourage contact and replication by others. For this purpose, small grants are being made available from the money given by CIDA. Slowly but surely, the Older Adults Network is gathering information about positive actions being taken to ensure that older people, in all countries, have the skills and opportunities they need to continue as fully participating citizens. With the rapidly increasing number of older people in all our countries, this small beginning will, hopefully, be a foundation on which much important work will be done in the years to come.     

A Life-Course Perspective on Physical Activity Promotion: Applications and Implications

This article illustrates how a life-course perspective can be infused more fully into the research field of physical activity promotion. A life-course perspective is particularly promising in connecting, organizing, and supplementing current knowledge and can potentially stimulate and direct future research and intervention efforts by using a time-sensitive, opportunistic, and developmental approach. The first section summarizes this approach into five key life-course principles including human agency, linked lives, time and place, life-span development, and timing. The second section takes a closer look at three time-based components: trajectories, transitions, and turning points. The final section highlights some of the implications of a life-course perspective for research methods and interventions, especially among children and older adults.     

Break for Physical Activity: Incorporating Classroom-Based Physical Activity Breaks into Preschools

Engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is essential to lifelong health and wellness. Physical activity behaviors established in early childhood relate to physical activity behaviors in later years. However, research has shown that children are adopting more sedentary behaviors. Incorporating structured and planned physical activity breaks into classroom transition times is an inexpensive and effective technique to increase children’s physical activity during school hours. However, this approach has not been studied in preschool settings. The purpose of this paper is to provide a simple, cost-effective method that incorporates structured physical activity into the preschool curriculum through classroom based physical activity breaks. Results of a case study along with an overview of the implementation of physical activity breaks are discussed.     

Training Older Workers: Implications for HRD/HPT Professionals

In corporations across America, a race is on to find new ways to maximize human capital. An emphasis on lifelong learning will be vital for the success of our future workforce. As demographic shifts occur, the “older worker” will emerge as a primary target for this human development effort. This article explores the implications of this demographic shift for the human resource development and human performance technology (HRD/HPT) professional and recommends strategies for meeting this business need. First, we discuss the realities of this demographic shift and compare our current workforce demographics to those of the future. Next, we examine the common myths about the “older worker,” as well as what current research reports about this special population. Finally, we examine the impact of this trend on our profession. We discuss strategies for modifying the workplace environment, reassessing workforce motivational strategies, and altering training practices in order to serve this older worker population. In conclusion, we look at the implications for the future in HRD/HPT research.     

Gerontological Counseling Grid: Making Judgments About Older Adults

The author describes the Gerontological Counseling Grid (GCG), an instrument for exploring experienced counselors' awareness of and judgments about older adults. Derived from Kelly's Role Construct Repertory Test, the GCG is based on the personal construct theory of understanding the way individuals make judgments and order their environments. The GCG provides a meaningful way to determine how individuals organize their implicit attitudes toward and evaluations of older adult groups. Administration procedures are presented and a case analysis of a GCG completed by a counselor trainee is presented.     

Learner Autonomy and Selected Demographic Characteristics as They Relate to Life Satisfaction Among Older Adults in Malaysia

Malaysia currently has about three million senior citizens. United Nations statistics show that Malaysia is likely to reach aging nation status by the year 2035. It is important to address the issues that may have impact on the needs and concerns of this growing population. This study examined the relationships of life satisfaction, learner autonomy, and selected demographic variables of older adults in the state of Kelantan, Malaysia. A convenience sample of 111 adults, age 50 or older, participated in this survey. Statistical analyses assessed relationships of demographic variables to Learner Autonomy Profile and Life Satisfaction Scores. Findings reveal ethnicity, education level and living area correlate significantly with the learner autonomy scores. Only education level was found to significantly correlate with life satisfaction. Results indicate a significant relationship of learner autonomy scores and life satisfaction scores. Implications for practice and recommendations for further study and public policy emphases are discussed.     

Estimation of Gestational Age: Implications for Developmental Research

Recent research in neonatology and obstetrics has challenged the validity of standard gestational age assessment methods. Length of gestation is a central component of research on the development of at-risk infants, yet issues concerning accuracy of this information are rarely addressed by developmental researchers. This article reviews prenatal and postnatal methods of gestational age estimation and evaluates implementation of this information in research. Recommendations concerning the assignment of gestational age in the perinatal period and the use of age correction for preterm infants are offered.     

研究范例:关于老人对远程教育需求的研究

一项能受到社会广泛关注的远程教育研究课题应该切合社会和人们的需要.本文介绍由作者主持的<香港老人的学习活动、年龄和专长、元认知知识的研究>这一课题的过程和经验教训,包括研究课题的选择、文献的收集和综合、研究的设计和方法、研究的过程、论文的撰写和交流、以及经验和教训.根据这一研究的主要成果所撰写的论文,于2002年在印度新德里召开的十五届亚洲开放大学协会年会上荣获了"最佳论文奖".本研究的主要经验是,成功的远程教育研究离不开严谨的研究设计、方法和过程,有效的研究工具也应基于本地的实情专门开发,同时,研究的结果能对远程教育的发展和实践具有指导作用.本研究的教训是,如果照搬西方的某些能力测量量表,不仅浪费研究经费,而且浪费大量的人力.本研究也同时说明,开发适合我国成人和老人的学习能力的测量量表成为急需.最后,本文附录了这项研究采用的问卷表,供同行们参考或修改使用.     

参与是为了更好的体验--一堂物理探究课的实践与认识

2000年11月,我作为上海市的代表参加了在广东惠州举行的第四届全国物理青年教师教学比赛并获金奖.在这次长达半年的备赛、参赛、总结的整个过程中,我学到了许多新的教学理念,也尝试采用了多种先进的教学方法来改革课堂教学.下面我就以参赛的这节展示课为例,谈谈自己对探究课的一点理解和认识.     

老年计算机教育教材内容研究

针对老年人学习电脑的需求快速增长与国内老年计算机教育研究的发展相对滞后的现实问题,国内老年人学电脑教材内容被分析评价。评价结果显示目前教材存在的问题:教育定位于丰富精神文化生活,忽略老年人发展性需求和价值性需求;无统一教学大纲,内容广度和取材深度差异较大;编排体系不符合老年人的生理、心理特点和认知规律,不利于激发老年人学习兴趣;教材结构大多不完整,缺少习题、思考题和参考文献。最后,从教材设计思想、系列安排和内容细节三方面阐述老年人学电脑教材的编写建议。     

我国老年教育政策的逻辑演变——基于历史制度主义视角

用历史制度主义的分析范式,检视老年教育政策的历史变迁与逻辑演变,是解读老年教育政策的一个新视角。改革开放以来,我国老年教育政策从初步探索到体系逐渐形成,呈现多元化和特色化的发展趋势。通过历史制度主义分析框架,采用扎根理论编码方式,梳理我国老年教育政策文本,审视我国老年教育政策的逻辑演变,可以发现,老年教育政策的发展受到教育实践定位、宏观制度环境、内生动力机制、教育发展理念、主导强化机制和关键时间节点的影响,在路径依赖和制度变迁两个方面表现出较为明显的特征。未来我国老年教育政策应完善制度体制,保障老年教育政策的运行;关注老年人需求,注重老年教育资源的有效开发;抓住关键节点,精准定位老年教育的发展方向;科学调整布局,加强老年教育内部的组织管理,促进老年教育政策体系的完善。     

Curb Cuts on the Information Highway: Older Adults and the Internet

With demographic and social trends in mind, technical communicators should be examining the online communication needs of elderly people who may share certain characteristics with other Internet users, particularly the disabled community. Although education, universal design, and accessibility initiatives help us address many of the developmental and cultural barriers elderly Internet users face, this article examines some current offerings, analyzing the growing elderly audience to better incorporate usability into Web design.     

基于学习参与度调查对远程学习支持服务的反思

随着我国高校网络教育的深入发展,关注学习者实际学习过程与学习效果成为改善与提升网络教育学习支持服务质量与网络教育质量的重要前提。本研究受远程交互研究中参与度概念的启发,以奥鹏远程教育北京直属学习中心服务的学习者以及一门2008年国家级精品课程(网络教育)的课程论坛为例,采用问卷调查、论坛帖子统计分析、访谈等方法对学习者的学习行为和参与度、参与度影响因素以及所需学习支持服务进行实证调查,并基于调查结果对学习支持服务的根本职能、未来服务重点与发展趋势进行了讨论。研究发现,案例学生的学习行为以课程考核为中心,社会性学习行为较少,学习参与度有待提高。研究建议未来学习支持服务需要更加关注认知或学术类支持,并适当组织人际交互活动促进学生的参与度、改善学生学习效果。     

Testing and Grading Practices and Opinions of Secondary Teachers of Academic Subjects: Implications for Instruction in Measurement

What are secondary school teachers' views on testing and grading practices? What clusters of opinions can be categorized as ‘flexible,”“opposed to difficult testing,” or “hard-nosed?” How should the use of test results for grading be treated in teacher in-service training programs?     

Applications of Achievement Goal Theory to Physical Education: Implications for Enhancing Motivation

Given the widespread concern regarding the motivation of students, the paucity of research in education on motivation enhancement is surprising (Arnes, 1992a; Maehr & Midgley, 1991). Recent research from an achievement goal perspective, however, has begun to address this issue. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the basic tenets of achievement goal theory and to analyze the research that has been conducted in physical education that focuses extensively on instructional practices and strategies that may improve the quality of school-age children's motivation. The paper will conclude by commenting on the potential utility of adopting an achievement goal approach to understanding and enhancing motivation in the physical education context.     

Chinese and Taiwanese International College Students' Participation in Social Organizations: Implications for College Counseling Professionals

This qualitative focus group study explored the meaning of Chinese and Taiwanese international students' lived experiences in social organizations. Participants were 9 Chinese and Taiwanese international college students in a midwestern U.S. university. The analyses uncovered 7 themes: social support, recreation, emotional support, practical benefits, contributions to the organizations, commitment toward organizations, and stressors associated with participation. Implications of the findings for college counseling professionals are discussed.     

创新理论的新发展：顾客参与创新

当前,企业正面临着市场环境的变化所带来的巨大挑战和威胁,一些成功的企业将其成功归功于不断的创新。但是,创新之路充满了艰难险阻。是什么原因导致了这种现况呢？企业又该如何解决这类问题呢？本文引入了新的产品创新方式,通过对比新旧二种创新方式,提出创新活动中顾客角色的缺失是导致问题出现的重要原因。文章阐述了顾客参与创新的四项主要优势,以及企业界如何从三个方面实现顾客参与创新。顾客参与创新这一新的创新模式的出现,对我国社会经济发展和企业发展都具有重要的实践意义。