Refining the Measure and Dimensions of Social Values of Older People (SVOP)

The research reported in this study concerns older adults from Australia who voluntarily chose to learn the craft of woodturning. The paper examines the literature of adult learning under the themes of presage factors, the learning environment, instructional methods, and techniques for facilitators. The paper then reports on the analysis of two sections of a questionnaire completed by 123 respondents: the first on motivation to learn and the second on learning strategies. The older learners reported using both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, with intrinsic motivation constructed of both general and specific elements. There were four main learning strategies used: actively seeking knowledge, independent learning, dependent learning, and passively seeking knowledge.     

Predictors of Adult Education Program Satisfaction in Urban Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Lifelong learning is receiving greater attention due to population aging in modern societies. Lifelong learning benefits individuals by supporting their physical, psychological, social, and economic well-being. However, older adults generally have lower motivation for learning than younger adults, and facilitating long-term participation in learning activities is still challenging. Previous studies mainly identified negative factors such as barriers and obstacles to individuals’ initial participation in lifelong learning programs. As such, less is known about positive factors that promote long-term participation. To address this gap, data were collected from 330 older adults who participated in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program in an urban community in the United States. Results from proportional odds ordinal logistic regression analysis demonstrated that gender, number of household members, income, religious affiliation, self-rated health, and number of courses taken were associated with satisfaction with the program. In hopes to promote true lifelong learning, possible explanations about the findings are explored and several recommendations for existing lifelong learning programs are derived in this study.     

Older adults’ learning motivations in massive open online courses

With the popularization of massive open online courses (MOOCs) in the e-learning landscape, more and more older adults are participating in MOOC learning activities. Understanding older adults’ learning motivations in MOOCs will help MOOC developers design suitable learning systems and appropriate course content for older learners. Using a content analysis method, this study identifies six types of learning motivations of older adults in MOOCs: solving problems, acquiring knowledge, improving cognition, seeking fun, benefiting others, and social contact, among which improving cognition is unique to older adults. Based on the above classification, we found that the learning motivations among older adults vary with age and gender. The findings enrich the theories of education for older adults and of learning motivation, and can be used to improve the design of MOOCs for older adults.     

MAXIMIZING LEARNING EFFICIENCY IN LATER ADULTHOOD: A COGNITIVE PROBLEM‐SOLVING APPROACH

An age‐related decline in performance is typically observed in research on tasks that rely on cognitive processing. However, such declines must not be accepted as indisputable evidence that the learning efficiency of older adults is necessarily impaired. Cognitive factors such as a production deficiency in long‐term memory and/or a retrieval deficiency do operate to depress the performance of older adults. However, a number of noncognitive factors such as functional and pathological sensory deficits, psychomotor slowing, poor physical and mental health, and insufficient or excessively high motivation also mitigate against optimal performance in the aged. The learning efficiency of the aged may be improved through the use of teaching and learning techniques designed to compensate for the negative effects of both detrimental cognitive and noncognitive factors.     

职业培训中成人学习动机的培养和激发

借鉴成人教育界对成人学习动机的研究成果,梳理了具有代表性的成人学习动机理论,包括成人学习动机的指向理论、影响成人学习动机的因素以及成人学习动机的形成理论,并结合职业培训中成人学生的学习特征,提出职业培训中成人学习动机的培养与激发策略.     

Back to school in later life: Older Chinese adults’ perspectives on learning participation barriers

ABSTRACT

Background and aim: Even though the beneficial effects of elderly learning are widely acknowledged, many older Chinese people are still not involved. This paper aims to examine the barriers that affect the level of educational participation of older adults in China. Methodology: Using a focus group methodology, 43 older participants (aged 55 years and over) were assigned to five focus groups based on gender and (in)activity rate in Xi’an, China. The focus groups were conducted to identify the individual learning experiences including motivation, learning preferences, and, especially, participation barriers between older adults who have already participated in the Universities of the Third Age (U3As) and others who have not. Strategies to overcome or minimize these barriers were also raised in focus group interviews. Results: The results have demonstrated that barriers associated with situational factors were reported the most; informational barriers and dispositional barriers were perceived as the least obstructive. The active group was characterized by a more optimistic mood in dealing with these learning barriers. The study also suggests that the Selective Optimisation with Compensation Model of successful ageing can be useful in explaining older adults’ strategy for coping with the barriers. Conclusion: The findings of the study provide policy makers and U3A practitioners an insight into the barriers to educational participation. These findings provide input to develop targeted intervention strategies and tailor-made measures to reduce these constraints and increase participation.     

Associations between motivation to learn,basic skills,and adult education and training participation among older adults in the USA

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study is to examine the associations between the motivation to learn, basic skills (i.e. literacy and numeracy), and organised adult education and training (AET) participation among the middle-aged and older adults in the USA. Rapid technological advancement and globalisation necessitate individuals to engage in lifelong learning to actively participate in society. However, little is known about the roles of motivation to learn and basic skills in the AET participation in the U.S. adult population. We obtained the data from the 2012/2014 Programme for International Assessment of Adult Competencies restricted-use file and adults aged 50 years and older (n = 2,580) are included. Structural equation models are used to examine (1) any AET, (2) formal AET and (3) non-formal AET participation as a function of the motivation to learn latent construct, literacy, numeracy, and other covariates. Results showed that the motivation to learn, literacy and numeracy are all positive predictors of non-formal AET participation. Only motivation to learn is associated with formal AET participation. Findings from this study may inform future interventions as well as policy changes to promote specific types of organised AET programmes among older adult population in the USA.     

Low‐skilled adults in formal continuing education: does their motivation differ from other learners?

This study aims to analyse low‐skilled adults’ motivation for formal adult education. The study examines how adults’ motivation for formal education is affected by educational level, age, gender, employment status and citizenship. Survey data were collected from adults enrolled in formal educational programmes at different educational levels. Of 753 respondents, 88 were attending primary or lower secondary programmes. The remaining participants were in upper secondary schools, post‐secondary/tertiary vocational education, or in Bachelor’s or Master’s degree courses. Differences according to education levels can be explained in part by typical characteristics of the people involved at various levels of the education system. However, even when controlling for factors that may cause differences in motivation, adult learners at the lowest educational levels differ from others. The main difference is that low‐skilled adults more frequently state that they have been obligated to undertake training. These results indicate that when recruiting low‐skilled adults for learning activities, there is a need to develop targeted policy instruments instead of alluding to moral and social obligations.     

新课程背景下生物学习动机因素的调查与分析

文章采用问卷调查法,在长治市范围内,对影响中学生生物学习的动机因素进行了调查。结果表明:(1)高中生物学习的动机水平较高,平均值为4.12,多属融入型动机。(2)影响高中生物学习动机的主要因素是个人需要、升学就业和学科特点,这些因素与学习动机的相关系数最高,均高于0.9,而消极归因与学习动机呈负相关,相关系数为-0.0555。     

Older adults,in Lebanon,committed to learning: Contextualizing the challenges and the benefits of their learning experience

ABSTRACT

The University for the Third Age, a relatively new concept in Lebanon, provides educational and social opportunities for older adults. The goal of later-life educational institutions supposedly covers more than a mere provision of learning. This being said, highlighting the significance of rewards associated with older adult learning—and the barriers it faces—is needed. Through this study, we hope to deepen the understanding of the benefits of later-life learning. In addition, we also payi special attention to environmental and social factors that were previously excluded dimensions of the challenges to learning. We explored the benefits perceived by older adults after finishing one term at a University for the Third Age in Lebanon. Also, we distinguished between the different types of barriers faced by seniors in the same context. We included 461 older adults from two cohorts, and we followed a qualitative approach, using content analysis of 247 solicited answers to our research questions. The data consisted of relatively short answers describing self-perceived benefits of the learning experience, as well as its perceived challenges. Findings indicated the existence of three types of benefits: social, cognitive, and psychological, with cognitive benefits the most reported ones. In addition, educational challenges were categorized into dispositional, situational, and institutional, with the latter being the most reported. After interpreting the findings with the Self-Determination Theory in mind, it was concluded that educational challenges negatively affect the well-being of older adults, while educational rewards could enhance it.     

Senior technology exploration,learning, and acceptance (STELA) model: from exploration to use – a longitudinal randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to examine the process from technology exploration to acceptance for older adults. A senior technology exploration, learning, and acceptance (STELA) model is proposed to examine the technology exploration and learning process. Adopting a new technology can pose challenges with increasing age. In order to help older adults use new technologies so they can be included in many important resources and support that are routinely accessed online, it is essential to understand factors affecting their technology adoption, and what the learning and adoption processes are like. This study employs four waves of data from a randomized controlled trial computer training intervention with 195 older adults (65 and older) in 19 different assisted and independent living communities (AICs). The results show the moderating effect of technology training and support for the relationship of exploring a technology and perceived difficulties of learning. These results suggest that training programs that are specially designed for older adults and continued support are needed to help older adults explore technologies and facilitate their learning process.     

大学生学习动力不足的原因及对策

大学生学习动力不足是我国高校面临的最为普遍和严峻的课题。导致大学生学习动力不足的原因既有环境因素,又有个体心理因素。文章提出了解决大学生学习动力不足问题的对策。     

Contact hours in Dutch and Vietnamese higher education: a comparison

The number of contact hours, one of the important institutional context factors, was examined and compared between Dutch and Vietnamese higher education at institute and student levels in Psychology and Business and/or Economics specializations. The quantity of contact hours per credit point given by institutions was investigated in a number of Dutch and Vietnamese universities. Additionally, 104 students in Groningen, the Netherlands, and 140 students in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, participated in the survey with a self-reported and self-assessed questionnaire on their study time allocation. Beside contact hours, other learning process related factors such as study activities, motivation, quality of instruction, and generic skills were examined to provide a better insight into these two systems. Results showed that Vietnamese students had significantly higher number of contact hours than Dutch students while their generic skills, motivation and time spent on independent study were a lot lower.     

三种学业成绩水平学生元认知、学习动机的比较

对学业成绩优、中、差三类学生的元认知、学习动机水平进行比较发现:与学习优秀生相比,学习中等生的元认知水平明显落后,其学习动机水平则与学优生基本相当,未表现出显著偏低的态势。而学习困难生在元认知与学习动机这两因素上都显著低于学习优秀生。与学习中等生相比,学习困难学生有着与中等生较为一致的元认知水平,但学困生的学习动机水平显著偏低。这对教育的启示是:对学困生的干预补救应以激发和培养学习动机为重点,而对中等生的促进则应以元认知水平的提高为关键。     

学习型社会视野下成人学习品质调查分析

提高成人学习品质是构建学习型社会的一个重要课题。在江苏远程开放教育的调查研究中发现,成人学习者的学习动力品质、学习操作品质、学习监控品质和学习评价品质,具有职业性、目的性、自主性和现实性的特点,其影响因素包括学习者自身、教育机构和社会管理等方面。综合各项因素指标,构建出成人学习品质形成模型。远程开放教育提供的学习支持平台,应当激发成人学习者运用元认知策略,使成人学习者明确学习目标,提升学习动力,掌握科学学习方法,有效地控制和调节学习行为,引导自我学习反思,形成坚定的学习意志。     

Seniors’ demographic correlates for motivations to enroll in degree-conferring programs in universities

ABSTRACT

Policies, practices, and studies have long been focused on nonformal learning for older adults as if this were the only learning context for grey populations. In fact, today more elderly adults participate in degree-conferring programs. It is important to explore why formal learning environments attract the elderly. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore relationships between demographic characteristics and motivations of older adults who enroll in degree-conferring programs in higher education including undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in Taiwan. A total of 287 questionnaires filled out by students aged 60 and above were analyzed. The data showed that (a) The demographic characteristics of this group were dissimilar to those of elder learners in nonformal settings. Those who enrolled in degree-conferring higher education programs were predominantly male, young-old, and still employed. (b) The first five important motivations for elder adults enrolling in degree-conferring programs in universities were pursuing and updating knowledge and skills, fitting in with job-related needs and competitions, achieving a life goal, keeping abreast of social changes, and gaining a degree. (c) Retirement status and age predict enrollment motivations. This study enriches our understanding of heterogeneity of elderly learners and provides evidence to make more inclusive policies for elder education. More systematic learning with long-term and intensive requirements, such as enrolling in universities, is needed and desired by some older adults. The roles of higher education in promoting elder learning should be further discussed, addressed, and created.     

Effects of type of exploratory strategy and prior knowledge on middle school students’ learning of chemical formulas from a 3D role-playing game

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the type of exploratory strategy and level of prior knowledge on middle school students’ performance and motivation in learning chemical formulas via a 3D role-playing game (RPG). Two types of exploratory strategies—RPG exploratory with worked-example and RPG exploratory without worked-example—and two levels of prior knowledge—high prior knowledge and low prior knowledge—were examined in the study. The 5E Instructional Model was employed as a learning framework in the RPG game design of The Alchemist’s Fort. One hundred and fifteen eighth-grade students from a Taiwanese school voluntarily participated in the 3-week experiment. The results indicate that (1) significant worked-example effect was revealed on knowledge comprehension and marginal worked-example effect occurred on knowledge application; (2) regardless of the type of exploratory strategy employed, learners showed mild positive motivation toward learning chemistry via a 3D RPG game; (3) higher prior-knowledge learners outperformed their lower prior-knowledge peers on performance measures; and (4) high prior-knowledge learners showed a higher degree of motivation in self-efficacy and science learning value than did the low prior-knowledge learners; however, lower prior-knowledge learners revealed higher learning environment stimulation than did their high prior-knowledge peers.     

论成人情感与学习

情感是一种学习内容,成人学习情感强调自我反思。情感是一种学习方法,从动机的维度而言,成人需要维持一个合适的动机水平,即情绪处于中等唤醒水平;从思维的维度而言,成人需运用情感等非理性因素。情感是一种学习目的,即使人成为一个真正的"人"。有鉴于此,激励成人有意识学习并运用自己特有的"情感",促进成人更好的了解自己、认识世界。     

适应成人学习动机的特点改进成人教育管理措施

成人的学习动机具有被动性、实用性、个体差异性、对教育评价的成熟性和学习动机变动的刚性。成人教育机构应积极从成人学习动机及其变化出发，适当调整成人高等教育管理措施。